Football has been my joy, my passion, my escapism from the realities of the world for as long as I can remember. Nothing else matters for those couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon other than the 11 players in your teams colours playing, trying to give you that feeling of Euphoria, that high, that nothing else in life seems to be able to replicate. Why do I support the team I do (which isn’t Manchester United by the way), simply, my Dad. Reading this book has reminded me why I fell in love with the game and my team, Bolton Wanderers in the first place, it’s that connection to my father and particularly to the time in his life before I was born. It resonates further as being a father myself now, it described my feeling towards wanting to indoctrinate my daughter with the game and my club because it will be a bond between us that is ours, and will always be ours. Simon’s prose beautifully captures the relationship whilst also laying bare what it’s like to lose someone close to you, it’s honestly been a heartbreaking read, but well worth it. Other themes in the book, have also struck a chord with me, like losing my desire to attend matches due to the club achieving a pinnacle that couldn’t be replicated, life in general meaning football has to take a back seat and, in my case as well, my Dad having an illness which meant he stopped going to games in 2009 and hasn’t returned since. It’s a brilliant read and it transcends the sport. The fact it’s been written by a fan of, about a fan of Manchester United shouldn’t matter to anyone with an interest in football, the general undercurrent I’m sure can be replicated by any one of the other 91 league and countless non league clubs in this country and beyond, it’s about Simon and his dad, yes, but it’s about me and my dad and also the countless children and parent throughout the world who share the 90 minutes together, hoping to see their team win. To Simon, as the French wold say, Chapeau!

Football has been my joy, my passion, my escapism from the realities of the world for as long as I can remember. Nothing else matters for those couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon other than the 11 players in your teams colours playing, trying to give you that feeling of Euphoria, that high, that nothing else in life seems to be able to replicate. Why do I support the team I do (which isn’t Manchester United by the way), simply, my Dad. Reading this book has reminded me why I fee in love with the game and my team, Bolton Wanderers in the first place, it’s that connection to my father and particularly to the time in his life before I was born. Simons prose beautifully captures the relationship whilst also laying bare what it’s like to lose someone close to you, it’s honestly been a heartbreaking read, but well worth it. Other themes in the book, have also struck a chord with me, like losing my desire to attend matches due to the club achieving a pinnacle that couldn’t be replicated, life in general meaning football has to take a back seat and, in my case as well, my Dad having an illness which meant he stopped going to games in 2009 and hasn’t returned since. It’s a brilliant read and it transcends the sport. The fact it’s been written by a fan of, about a fan of Manchester United shouldn’t matter to anyone with an interest in football, the general undercurrent I’m sure can be replicated by any one of the other 91 league and countless non league clubs in this country and beyond, it’s about Simon and his dad, yes, but it’s about me and my dad and also the countless children and parent throughout the world who share the 90 minutes together, hoping to see their team win. To Simon, as the French wold say, Chapeau!