by IanPlenderleith (Author)
The ex-pro sitting in front of the TV, interminably replaying the last moment of his career; the political activist who's struggling to concentrate on a political seminar because he knows a vital international match is being shown in the bar; the failed, alcoholic actor who reflects on life from inside the club mascot; the quiet left-back who never speaks to any of his team-mates ...Ian Plenderleith gets inside the heads of all his characters in this wonderfully eclectic collection of stories with football as their base, though not necessarily their theme. Beyond that are a handful of non-football stories to prove that life does exist away from the sporting turf, touching on subjects such as the loneliness of mail-order brides and deranged central European traffic police.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Edition: New edition
Publisher: Orion
Published: 07 Aug 2003
ISBN 10: 0752842579
ISBN 13: 9780752842578
Book Overview: 'Excellent ... Well-crafted tales from a writer with a good grasp of the dynamics of the short story and a firm grip on the reality (and surreality) of what it means to be a football fan' TOTAL FOOTBALL 'Funny and poignant' GLASGOW HERALD 'Amid the self-deluding supporters, has-been players and incompetent officials, his love of football is evident' SUNDAY TIMES 'In this collection of short stories football is a mere springboard in a study of some wonderfully weird lives' FOUR FOUR TWO 'Grimly funny' OBSERVER 'Written with flair and substance...If you're anticipating Roy of the Rovers from start to finish, this is not for you' SHOOT MONTHLY 'Plenderleith injects genuine pathos into his tales ... Recommended' FHM