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The Accidental Footballer
- Narrated by: Pat Nevin
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
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The Accidental Footballer
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Summary
The Sunday Times best seller
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 it is the perfect reminder of how life can throw you the most extraordinary surprises when you least expect it.
Critic reviews
"Unusually vibrant and elegant with heroic doses of humour, insight and self-effacement, this is an absolute must-read for the football connoisseur." (Omid Djalili)
"I grew up captivated by Pat Nevin the player. As a man he taught me even more about the beauty of the game. One of football's great mavericks, and Chelsea's greatest players. And he can spin a mean tune too." (Sam Matterface)
"I used to walk miles to see Pat Nevin play football and I'd do the same now to read his thoughts. Always challenging, always entertaining." (Lord Sebastian Coe)
"A heroic outsider - a pleasure to read." (The Guardian)
"A fulsome evocation of football before the Premier League." (The i)
"Honest, raw, revealing and very funny. How to live a life and career to the full. Insightful book about the most successful outsider inside football ever...." (Henry Winter, chief football writer, The Times)
"Pat is a wonderful one-off...and this is the story of why that is." (John Murray, chief sports correspondent, BBC Radio 5 Live)
"The biggest influence of my professional career both on and off the pitch." (Graeme Le Saux)
"A refreshingly honest and thought-provoking autobiography. As deftly delivered as some of Pat's ball skills in his 1980's heyday." (ToffeeWeb)
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What listeners say about The Accidental Footballer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- John
- 21-08-21
St Pat the Sanctimonious
Pat Nevin was a fine footballer and always different. This autobiography - as you would expect - is not your standard football fare, but, goodness, does it leave you with the cloying sense of sugary syrup. According to Pat, he was always the smartest, the most assured, the most sensitive, the most empathetic of anyone else. He even calls himself St Pat a couple of times.
Even his indy hip style seems a bit too studied.
Some of his claims lack consistency - eg if he was on a par with another player for a squad tournament (1986 World Cup), he’d rather they were chosen, but by the 1992 Euros he was so keen to play he didn’t acknowledge to the management that he wasn’t 100% fit.
A lot of interesting issues covered and Pat is always to the forefront, according to himself.
But in the opening passages when he talks about smiling when told by his boyhood club Celtic that he wasn’t good enough for them because he didn’t really want to be a footballer anyway, you are left with a feeling that lasts throughout the book, best captured in a Glasgow phrase Pat will know well - did ye, aye?
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-06-21
outstanding
I absolutely loved it. Waited ages since he firsts spoke about having started this and excitedly flew through it. His story about his dribbles and waves to his Dad always has me hooked and how he tells his side of the game is as interesting as I had anticipated. He would have been a star in today's game of millions and more importantly be far more heard in his beliefs and take on things. A proper man first, footballer second, and a damn good orator.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jk
- 02-06-21
Enjoyable and Interesting!
What a thoroughly good listen , I really enjoyed this book,I had always liked Pat Nevin now I have the whole story to back that up,thanks for sharing the story!
Well narrated,another string to your bow ?!
From a long time Morton supporter!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marcella C.
- 21-03-24
a great listen
flows well , loved it ! Pat is a cool man, who tells his story in a very clear enjoyable, and easy way
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-02-24
Great insight in to 80’s football culture
Nevin sound like a lovely chap, maybe too lovely to be amongst some of the hard nuts around him.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- J. Thompson
- 14-02-24
Forgot how great Pat was!!
Well written and narrated with humour and authenticity by the author himself. Some great stories, a lovely book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jon Payne
- 21-12-23
Great insights and humour
Loved Pat's writing and the balanced way he tells his story - particularly enjoyed the authentic Glaswegian accent when deployed
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-12-23
A fascinating story
Always liked Nevin’s punditry as he’s authentic and a bit different. This book is that in spades. Some great stories and worth hearing for his contract negations alone!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- NiallB
- 28-09-23
Excellent
A really enjoyable listen, Pat recounts stories like they happened yesterday. A must for sports fans.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steph Atkinson
- 16-05-23
Shame it ended
Loved it, accessible and interesting
Thanks for sharing.
Said it all don't need 15 words
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