Book Review: Pay As You Play

Posted by on Feb 18, 2011 in Book Review, Uncategorized | One Comment

Pay As You Play
Paul Tomkins, Graeme Reilly and Gary Futcher
Published by GPRF Publishing
2010, £10.99, 978-0955925337

If a book analyzing the finances of Premier League clubs may seem slightly beyond the remit of this website, the presence among its contributors of two of our Unfortunates, Ben and William Abbs naturally attracted our notice, as well as the coverage of several teams now competing in the football league. In

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Book Review: My Favourite Year

Posted by on Jan 28, 2011 in Book Review, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

My Favourite Year
Edited by Nick Hornby
Published by Gollancz/Witherby
October 1993, £5.99, ISBN: 978-0-854-93236-8
(New edition, 2001 published by Phoenix)

For his second of hopefully many contributions to The Two Unfortunates, William Abbs of blog Saha from The Madding Crowd turns the spotlight on something of a lost classic of football fandom.

As football fans, we all have seasons that resonate in our memory more than others. That simple

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Book Review: Heartland

Posted by on Jun 26, 2010 in Book Review, Uncategorized | One Comment

Heartland

By Anthony Cartwright
Published by Tindal Street Press
2009, £9.99, ISBN: 978-0-9556476-5-9
Dullness is generally to be avoided in fiction, but on occasion, the backdrop and subject matter of a book calls for a low key, unhistrionic approach. Heartland is Anthony Cartwright’s second novel and constitutes a major stab at capturing the atmosphere of Noughties Britain. Topics include a General Election, a World Cup, the threat of the British
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Book Review: Hunting Grounds

Posted by on Apr 13, 2010 in Book Review | 8 Comments

Hunting Grounds: A Scottish Football Safari

By Gary Sutherland
Published by Birlinn Ltd
August 2008, £7.99, ISBN: 978-1-8415873-5-6
In his first contribution to this here site, Niall Slater, lifelong Forres Mechanics fan and sometime follower of Swindon, reviews a Scottish ground hopper’s account of his journeys to the venues that play host to many a future Championship player.
In Hunting Grounds, Scottish journalist Gary Sutherland undertakes a season long
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Book Review: African Soccerscapes

Posted by on Mar 30, 2010 in Book Review, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

African Soccerscapes

By Peter Alegi

Published by Hurst Books 2010

£12.99, ISBN: 9781849040389

This slim volume, from a scholar fast developing a reputation as a leading expert on the history of African soccer, has hallmarks of a high level research monograph but transcends the genre with its impeccably researched trawl through the development of the game on the continent.

Football is important for Africa. Its profile is the total

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