On Saturday September 25 Lucas Radebe, will make an emotional return to Elland Road to launch his official biography - Lucas: From the Streets of Soweto to Soccer Superstar.

He will officially launch the book with a book signing at Elland Road from 11am to 1pm ahead of our home game against Sheffield United.

"This is my hero" - Nelson Mandela
Lucas Radebe is one of the biggest sporting personalities in his native South Africa. He has iconic status as the man who led his country to two World Cup finals as they emerged from the sporting wilderness and whose reputation as a player and a man helped convince the rest of the world that South Africa should host the World Cup. Nelson Mandela once said of him "This is my hero".

Lucas is a legend too among Leeds fans. In fact, over 37,800 fans attended his testimonial match at the club in 2005 - the single biggest crowd of the season and more than attended both Billy Bremner and Jack Chalton's testimonials. Lucas so captured the hearts of Leeds fans that they still chant his name from the terraces five years after he last played at Elland Road and Leeds band the Kaiser Chiefs took their name from his first club.

Earlier this year, Lucas was presented with the PFA's Special Merit Award for his 'outstanding contribution to professional football for both club and country' - testament to the worldwide respect and admiration Lucas commands.

Lucas is quite simply an inspiration. Now, for the first time, in his official biography by Richard Coomber with forewords by Eddie Gray and Kaizer Motaung, Lucas's incredible story is told in full.

From Humble Beginnings in South Africa…
Lucas grew up just outside Soweto near Johannesburg in modest 'matchbox' house with no running water indoors, no electricity and with an outside toilet. He lived with his mother and father and nine siblings. Born in 1969, during the height of the anti-apartheid movement, Lucas's childhood and teenage years were heavily influenced by the political situation.

Lucas spent most spare daylight hours with other kids from the neighbourhood chasing a ball made of rolled up socks up and down the street for hours on end, returning home caked in red dust. The ground they played on was rock hard and the bare-foot boys picked many bumps and scratches but they would always get up and carry on playing. This attitude to get up and play on stayed with Lucas throughout his career and his many injuries. Fearing for his safety, his mother moved him out of Soweto away from the troubles and it was then Lucas started to attract the attention of scouts from some of South Africa's leading football clubs.

At the age of 20, he was chosen to play for the Kaizer Chiefs and his chosen career as a teacher was put on hold. Shortly after that, in 1991 the international sports ban imposed on South Africa as a reaction to the apartheid regime, was lifted and Lucas was named as part of the first post-ban South African football squad known as 'Bafana Bafana'. His career in football was about to take off.

Life at Leeds
Lucas's introduction to Leeds was bumpy to say the least. He suffered deeply from home-sickness, hated the weather and the Yorkshire food. He says of his first thoughts at the club:

"I could still feel the gap. I still felt they were 'boss' and I had to abide by what they said. Mick Hennigan [assistant coach] was a very critical man. I got the feeling that he thought proper football was played in English stadiums, by English players in front of English fans and everything we had known at home was not of the same standard. I was very quiet.'

But Lucas battled on despite everything, aware that if he gave up this opportunity it would mean his fellow South African sportsmen may be denied similar chances. His strength of character and determination made Lucas the legend he is today.

Former Leeds United player Eddie Gray, says of Lucas:

"Lucas Radebe is one of the nicest men you would ever want to meet. His story is an inspiration for everyone."

About the book
Lucas Radebe's story is much more than just another biography of a footballer. It is inspiring and heart-warming, tinged with tragedy yet marked throughout by his trademark smile that has lit up two continents and touched thousands of lives.

Richard Coomber expertly weaves together the worlds of sport and politics in a way that mirrors Lucas's life. He firmly puts Lucas's early experience and football career into the context of the political situation in South Africa at the time and tracks the changes in policy which impacted on Lucas's life, giving the book a much wider reach. The very fact that his elder brother (something of a local football star) was denied a chance to play internationally as a result of the apartheid regime, highlights the very real impact the political situation had on sport and indeed on Lucas.

Richard Coomber says on writing the book:  "Lucas's story is worth telling. It reminds us that it remains possible for kids born in tough circumstances to make the most of their talent if they are willing to put in the effort. It shows that not all highly paid sportsmen and women are in it for what they can take out. It restores your faith in people."

About the author
Richard Coomber is a freelance journalist, working in Yorkshire, and was reporting on Leeds United on a daily basis during Lucas Radebe's time at the club. A mutual respect and friendship developed between player and writer, which has given Richard unparalleled access to Lucas and has resulted in a truly exceptional book which tells Lucas's fascinating life story.

In addition to his press work, he has written a number of books including a monograph on John Charles; Give Me A Ring, the autobiography of boxing referee Mickey Vann; A Hard Road to Glory, the autobiography of World Champion boxer Johnny Nelson; Every Split Second Counts, the autobiography of karting guru Martin Hines; and No Boundaries, the autobiography of England and Essex cricketer Ronnie Irani.

Publishing Details
Lucas: From the Streets of Soweto to Soccer Superstar by Richard Coomber, published by Great Northern Books, August 2010. Hardback, 288 pages, £16.99, ISBN: 9781905080731. To order a signed copy phone 01274 735056 or visit our website at www.greatnorthernbooks.co.uk.