One of the most unconventional footballers of the pre-Premier League age, Pat Nevin delivers a characteristically thoughtful and eloquent memoir of a future ordained by ability rather than intention.
Pat Nevin never wanted to be a professional footballer.
His future was clear, he'd become a teacher like his brothers. There was only one problem with this - Pat was far too good to avoid attention.
Raised in Glasgow's East End, Pat loved the game, playing for hours and obsessively following Celtic. But as he grew up, he also loved Joy Division, wearing his Indie 'gloom boom' coat and going on marches - hardly typical footballer behaviour!
Placed firmly in the 80s and 90s, before the advent of the Premier League, and often with racism and violence present, Pat Nevin writes with honesty, insight and wry humour. We are transported vividly to Chelsea and Everton, and colourfully diverted by John Peel, Morrissey and nights out at the Hacienda.
The Accidental Footballer is a different kind of football memoir. Capturing all the joys of professional football as well as its contradictions and conflicts, it's about being defined by your actions, not your job, and is the perfect reminder of how life can throw you the most extraordinary surprises, when you least expect it.
Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group
ISBN: 9781913183387
Number of pages: 352
Weight: 323 g
Dimensions: 130 x 192 x 24 mm
As expected, a very interesting read from a multi faceted footballer. He was a maverick on and off the pitch and his stories reflect this. There are a lot of fascinating encounters with characters from the world of... More
Insightful, funny, and entertaining. Pat has a great writing style that brings these stories to life in a captivating way.
Often poignant, it’s refreshing to see an alternative to the stereotypical ‘footballer’. The...
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I bought the book for a friend who is a football coach. He loved it . Really enjoyed reading it so I bought it for my brother who is also football mad.
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