It's Saturday and we've no game. I've cleaned the kitchen, done the hoovering and the lad is occupied. There is literally no point in my existence. It's grey and the wind is doing a good impression of a thin faced knife carrying youth dosed up on amphetamines and with a grudge against the rest of humanity so I've no real urge to go outside. Listening to other teams play on the radio has little appeal in a crowdless world and my better half is so fed up of me after the months of lockdown and tier based house arrest that I think she'd probably rather have a conversation with Harold Shipman, Peter Sutcliffe and Jimmy Saville than me
So, what better thing to do than read a book?
Books are grand. Presumably, if you're reading this blog, you like football AND you like reading so perhaps some books recommendations would hit the sweet spot?
Firstly, let me point you in the direction of the ever inventive, ever engaging Jane Stuart whose has been writing about Blackpool in a passionate, observant and amusing way in various formats for many a year. Her book reviews series has put me on to some superb books, not least Paul Ferris's stunning 'The Boy on The Shed' - I'll let Jane's review do the talking, aside from saying, it's one of the most unusual, well written and essentially human biographies I've ever read.
If the idea of 'footballers with something to say other than "At the end of the guy, the gaffer's word was final and that was that. I didn't like it but what could I do?"' floats your boat then I'd really recommend Richie Sadlier's 'Recovering' - I'm no great fan of the 'misery memoir' but Sadlier offer his soul up for a complete dissection and reading the account of his struggle with his own habits and mind is fascinating. Cricket has been shaken by books by the like of Marcus Trescothick and Sadlier's honest exploration of the footballer's ego, lifestyle and the precariousness of the career has the potential to open the door for more exploration of the pressures of football and maybe the young male psyche as a whole. It's not so much 'enjoyable' as a 'fascinating and slightly disturbing read'
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Another player whose career was ruined by injury is Paul Lake. A classy footballer who would likely earn a place in the 'Duncan Edwards What Could Have Been England XI,' he tells a very powerful tale in an understated way. There's no great histrionics, no huge ego, just the story of his rise, fall and then the heartbreaking efforts he made to regain his place on the pitch. What emerges is a picture of a really down to earth, 'normal' bloke struggling to cope with having his dreams taken from him. It's also an interesting picture of football in transition from one era to another and Lake explores the changes at Manchester City alongside his own demons. I think the best way to explain why I like this book is ultimately, Lake comes across as a thoughtful, philosophical and human bloke.
Patrick Barclay's book on Herbert Chapman doesn't hit the literary heights of the above, but without direct access to his subject, he charts a different path, putting Chapman's achievements in the context of football and society as a whole. This means, as well as learning about Chapman's methods and personality, we also discover much about the mining village he grows up in and the big social changes that take place between his birth and death. It's not perfect - Barclay ascribes broader events in football to slightly the wrong point in history from time to time and once or twice, it feels a bit clunky the way he cuts to the wider world of politics, but it's a well written and impressively ambitious take on a familiar genre.
If football history is your thing, then I can't speak highly enough of Jon Henderson's magnificent 'When Footballers were Skint' - which works as a sort of oral history of a bygone era, focusing on life before the maximum wage was lifted. Henderson does more than just print the memories of the players he interviews though. For each of his subjects, he paints a picture of them in their heyday, and their characters in old age when he interviews them. It's a remarkable work, full to the brim with brilliant obscure facts. It leaves you feeling as if you have not only learned about players from another era, but have actually been in their presence. It really hasn't had the critical acclaim it deserves and as well as being very entertaining, it stands as an important effort in documenting football history.
If you really want to get your teeth into something then David Godblatt is your man. Firstly, 'The Ball is Round' charts the history of football from origins to early 21st century. It may be dense (actually, there's no 'may' about it - you want to know about football in Scandanavia in the 1910s? Goldblatt's your man!) but it contains one of the most interesting and thoughtful versions of British footballs origin story you are ever likely to read. When you've finished, you can pick up the state of the game today in his eye opening 'The Age of Football' which is ultimately (not due to his writing, but what he reveals) a troubling exploration of finance, politics, corruption within the global game.
Finally...
If Lake seems normal, Brian Clough's image was anything but. I've read a fair amount about Clough, but the ultimate insight into his gloriously contradictory and at times tragically self destructive character can be found in Duncan Hamilton's brilliantly titled 'Provided you don't kiss me.' This is a story you've read before perhaps, but told from a perspective that offers new insight and depth. It's brilliantly written, Hamilton balances poetry and pragmatism and creates the rare feat of a factual book with depth that reads with the flair of a great novel but doesn't have you cursing the writer's pretensions. It's just sublime and the conclusion of Clough's career is rendered so movingly, I defy you not to have a bit of grit in your eye.
Patrick Barclay's book on Herbert Chapman doesn't hit the literary heights of the above, but without direct access to his subject, he charts a different path, putting Chapman's achievements in the context of football and society as a whole. This means, as well as learning about Chapman's methods and personality, we also discover much about the mining village he grows up in and the big social changes that take place between his birth and death. It's not perfect - Barclay ascribes broader events in football to slightly the wrong point in history from time to time and once or twice, it feels a bit clunky the way he cuts to the wider world of politics, but it's a well written and impressively ambitious take on a familiar genre.
If football history is your thing, then I can't speak highly enough of Jon Henderson's magnificent 'When Footballers were Skint' - which works as a sort of oral history of a bygone era, focusing on life before the maximum wage was lifted. Henderson does more than just print the memories of the players he interviews though. For each of his subjects, he paints a picture of them in their heyday, and their characters in old age when he interviews them. It's a remarkable work, full to the brim with brilliant obscure facts. It leaves you feeling as if you have not only learned about players from another era, but have actually been in their presence. It really hasn't had the critical acclaim it deserves and as well as being very entertaining, it stands as an important effort in documenting football history.
If you really want to get your teeth into something then David Godblatt is your man. Firstly, 'The Ball is Round' charts the history of football from origins to early 21st century. It may be dense (actually, there's no 'may' about it - you want to know about football in Scandanavia in the 1910s? Goldblatt's your man!) but it contains one of the most interesting and thoughtful versions of British footballs origin story you are ever likely to read. When you've finished, you can pick up the state of the game today in his eye opening 'The Age of Football' which is ultimately (not due to his writing, but what he reveals) a troubling exploration of finance, politics, corruption within the global game.
There's few things more troubling in recent football history than Hillsborough, a tragedy with which has spurned documentaries, docudramas, alongside many books. It may not feel as if there's anything new to say about something which has been poured over in infinite, heartbreaking detail but 'And The Sun Shines Now" penned by survivor Adrian Tempany achieves this, laying bare not just the failings on the day, or the establishment cover up in the aftermath, but exploring with tremendous objectivity, the legacy of the tragedy and how it was used as a lever to create seismic changes in the game itself. It's a really interesting book that leaves you thinking as much about the modern era as it does the gross injustices stemming from the disaster itself. Chapters comparing German fan culture with the UK equivalent and exploring football's potential for community work are particularly insightful and really, quite unexpected.
You might be forgiven for feeling a bit down after the last couple of books and the themes therein. That's where the final book comes in. If any book has inspired me in the last couple of years on any subject, it's John Nicholson's 'Can we have our Football Back?' - it's a breathless race through 'the state of the football nation' written in an informal, but highly informed and witty style. It makes deep, serious points about the financial model of the game but offers hope for change alongside thought provoking ideas. It's accessible and easy to digest but devilishly subversive at the same time. As some gobby butter salesman once sang 'Anger is an Energy' and Nicholson avoids the trap of nostalgia, offering a path towards an alternative fueled by a bracing righteousness that never feels cloying or preachy
Free stuff!
Whilst the authors above definitely deserve to make a living from their trade, writing for the love of it is alive and well on that there internet and not all of it is shite. Below are some of my favourite bits of writing that have kept me sane over the last year or so written by people doing it essentially for the craic.
SAFC Blog: At its best this blog reaches the status of dadaist cultural collage. Weird photos, surreal humour and pop culture surround the business of following Sunderland through thick and thin. I love this blog, I read it every week. It's like the Fall. It's always different, yet always the same and dead good. Sometimes even 7/10.
Whilst the authors above definitely deserve to make a living from their trade, writing for the love of it is alive and well on that there internet and not all of it is shite. Below are some of my favourite bits of writing that have kept me sane over the last year or so written by people doing it essentially for the craic.
SAFC Blog: At its best this blog reaches the status of dadaist cultural collage. Weird photos, surreal humour and pop culture surround the business of following Sunderland through thick and thin. I love this blog, I read it every week. It's like the Fall. It's always different, yet always the same and dead good. Sometimes even 7/10.
This Is Not Football: Mark O'Brien is a name from fanzine glory days, once the editor of When Skies are Grey, an Everton fanzine of legend. His blogging is a thing of wonder, pithy, sharp, sarcastic but never indulgent. He takes wild flights of fantasy but always remains anchored to the game. I regard him as possibly the best football writer (not) in the business.
Beyond the Last Man: Articles on great games and heroes, mostly from days gone by. An absolute treasure trove of stuff ranging from the well known, to the niche history of East German Football and beyond.
The Itinerant Football Supporter: A simple concept, brilliantly done. Peter Miles goes to football grounds here, there and everywhere. He writes about it. He does so, very well. A brilliantly executed version of something a lot of people do, but sometimes not quite as well!
Beyond the Last Man: Articles on great games and heroes, mostly from days gone by. An absolute treasure trove of stuff ranging from the well known, to the niche history of East German Football and beyond.
The Itinerant Football Supporter: A simple concept, brilliantly done. Peter Miles goes to football grounds here, there and everywhere. He writes about it. He does so, very well. A brilliantly executed version of something a lot of people do, but sometimes not quite as well!
Finally...
Aside from absurdly long match reports, the very publication has produced some longer form writing over the last few months which might help you pass the time. I'm particularly proud of the interview with John Robb which let me live out a dream of being an NME writer. You can read my rambling and occasionally researched thoughts on a variety of things generally 'football related' by clicking here or if you're up for more over written Blackpool FC related nonsense than is probably healthy, then just head to the home page and knock yerself out.
Recommendations for decent blogs (any team) and books (especially ones that are slightly different or really well written) would be much appreciated, either in the comments or on twitter.
Recommendations for decent blogs (any team) and books (especially ones that are slightly different or really well written) would be much appreciated, either in the comments or on twitter.
If nothing else, it would keep me from subjecting you from so much shite as I can't read and write at the same time.
Go well.
Go well.
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