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Football and How to Survive It

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Football and How to Survive It

By: Pat Nevin
Narrated by: Pat Nevin
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About this listen

So, you fell into football by accident. You've played for Chelsea, Everton and your country at an international level. But what happens when you discover you're in so deep that football has taken over your whole life?

In his brilliant new memoir, Pat Nevin takes us on a journey to the less glamorous side of football. From Tranmere to Kilmarnock, he plays some of the best football he's ever played. Then, in an unprecedented twist of fate, finds himself both player and Chief Executive of Scottish First Division club Motherwell.

What follows is an entertaining and revealing tale of the side of football that you rarely see as Pat tries to keep the lid on simmering tensions between owner and the manager; travels in Lear jets one moment, but has to sell off half the team, the next. So much is madness, like being the manager's boss, and his player at the same time; or discovering that the ground's goalposts are higher on one side than on the other!

And with impossible challenges at every corner, such as learning that their son is autistic, and the club hurtling towards administration, Pat strives to walk the impossible line between player, parent and boss.

Football and How to Survive It is a real one-off, uncovering the sport in all its complex, confusing and calamitous glory. Once you've listened to it, you may never look at the game in the same way again.

©2023 Pat Nevin (P)2023 Octopus Publishing Group
Football (Soccer) Sociology of Sports Sports Football
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Critic reviews

"The good news for those who loved The Accidental Footballer: this new book is even better. There were times as I read Pat Nevin's account of his years running - or, trying to run - Motherwell, I had to remind myself to breathe. It's a thrilling read - funny, nerve-wracking, precise and very, very human." (Roddy Doyle)

What listeners say about Football and How to Survive It

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More intrigue and subterfuge!

If you thought 'The Accidental Footballer' outlined some of the power, corruption & lies in the day-to-day of football you ain't seen nothing yet. I'm amazed Pat's sanity survived. He picks up the story as he crosses the Mersey to play for Tranmere Rovers and the legendary Johnny King, a good and honourable man - in stark contrast to some of the other characters we're introduced to. Certainly, many of the behind the scenes shenanigans at Motherwell defy belief. Through all of this Pat's family shine bright. Anyone with a loved one on the autistic spectrum will empathise with the journey travelled by Pat and the extraordinary Annabelle. Spoiler Alert: I'm not normally given to effusiveness but it was so uplifting to know what their son Simon has achieved so far, with no doubt much more to come. And their daughter - Dr Lucy - hasn't done too bad herself.

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why the business of football doesn't make sense

A brilliant look at football through one person's participation in the game. Pat shows why the business of football just doesn't make sense and how sensible people lose all logic when they get involved in the game. well read and told

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Enjoyed your interesting next instalment!

This is a good story,which is well narrated by the author as was the previous book! Will the next one be Life at 5Live ?

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A Joy to Listen to

Well written, heartfelt at times and no less than captivating. These are the stories from inside and outside the game that I love to hear. An outstanding book.

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Great

Great great Great great Great great Great great Great great Great great Great great Great great - very good - enjoyable- informative- went quickly

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As good as the first

Not your average football biography, much like The Accidental footballer. This second book deals with Pat’s career after Everton and covers Tranmere and his move into being at the sharp end of running a football club back in Scotland. I’m not a fan of any of the clubs Pat played for, but it’s a cracking listen and his performance is first class too - when something is funny, you can hear the smile in his voice.

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Intelligent,thought provoking, funny and heart felt

Excellent reading of a fabulous career and what comes across clearly is an honest and truthful account of a career in football. Pat really is a good guy. Thanks for writing.

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Pat Nevin’s humour & humility

Great to hear a name check for The Delgados - hopefully more music stories in Book 3 - The Pundit Years

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Great listen

Great insight into Pats later years in the game and his life in general and well read by the man himself.

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More Motherwell than Music

In Pat's previous book, many pages were devoted to his esoteric music tastes, which as a fan of The Fall and John Peel as well as football, I loved.
This time around, the music takes more of a back seat and gives way predominantly to the intrigue and rollercoaster of emotions during his many roles - carried out simultaneously - at Motherwell.
It is incredible then that all this took place against the backdrop of being a new parent of a child with SEN and the adjustments to family life which that required.
All this told with a unique blend of poignancy and good humour.

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