Football writers tend not to reveal which team they support. Award-winning journalist and author Michael Calvin has persuaded celebrated colleagues to share their secret passions. There are protestations of man love for Roy Keane and Stan Collymore. Tabloid titans sit on opposite sides of the North London divide. Heroes abound: Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso; Ted McMinn and Malcolm Crosby, perhaps the only manager to be sacked by the Pools Panel. Share the lives of Bob and Jean Lucas. Appreciate Portsmouth’s pain. Understand why Fulham fans don’t take themselves entirely seriously. Join Crystal Palace on a Chinese tour, and discover why Montpellier should be twinned with Belfast. If you need to understand Liverpool and Leeds, or relate to the young pro who fears his time at Arsenal is over, read on. This is a unique book, of interest to any football fan. In the words of Rafa Benitez: “These are the writers as you don’t normally see them: when they are fans with pens”Michael Calvin is a columnist for the Independent on Sunday, who has covered seven Olympic Games, and six World Cups. He had the idea for this anthology, which he has compiled and edited, while hosting vodcasts for BT’s website, www.lifesapitch.co.uk. His previous book, Family Life Death & Football was nominated as Football Book of the Year in 2011.
