Product Description

'If I have an idealised still of my childhood, it's of standing amongst a small group of like-minded boys beside the player's tunnel as drizzle falls through the beam of the floodlights waiting to see which one of the team will come out to talk to the presenter...On an absolutely perfect occasion, on completion of his work in front of camera, the player might autograph my programme and possibly ruffle my hair and maybe even refer to me as mate. Sometimes on a Sunday I'd bike down to the ground and circle its silence, reliving the day before...' Last season Stoke City were unexpectedly propelled into the dizzy heights of the First Division, rare oxygen for a club that has been known to have three managers in one season. Stephen Foster, a diehard fan, who now lives in Norwich, follows the fortunes of his dire team as they struggle to retain their hold on this slippery peak of glory. From Icelandic owners, hopeless managers, hapless players, and a ground to rival the best of East German architecture, this is a marvellously mordant account of one fan's helpless obsession with a team that nearly always manages to let him down.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37757 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 193 pages

GUARDIAN
'Somewhere between Julian Barnes and Nick Hornby'

Synopsis
'If I have an idealised still of my childhood, it's of standing amongst a small group of like-minded boys beside the player's tunnel as drizzle falls through the beam of the floodlights waiting to see which one of the team will come out to talk to the presenter...On an absolutely perfect occasion, on completion of his work in front of camera, the player might autograph my programme and possibly ruffle my hair and maybe even refer to me as mate. Sometimes on a Sunday I'd bike down to the ground and circle its silence, reliving the day before...' Last season Stoke City were unexpectedly propelled into the dizzy heights of the First Division, rare oxygen for a club that has been known to have three managers in one season. Stephen Foster, a diehard fan, who now lives in Norwich, follows the fortunes of his dire team as they struggle to retain their hold on this slippery peak of glory. From Icelandic owners, hopeless managers, hapless players, and a ground to rival the best of East German architecture, this is a marvellously mordant account of one fan's helpless obsession with a team that nearly always manages to let him down.

About the Author
Stephen Foster is the author of the novel STRIDES. He has one son - also a Stoke supporter - with whom he shares his troubles and match days.

Customer Reviews

So funny but yet so true
Being a Stokie myself I purchased this book almost immediately after it came out and have now read it at least three times. I also had a season ticket that year and so can empathise with everything that Foster has to say. Also gives a reminder how bigger clubs are continuously a*** licked. Take Newcastle for example. There fans are described as being the LONGEST SUFFERING in football what a joke. They have been in the Top Flight nearly since its conception. They should try following Stoke or worse still Port Fail to experience long suffering. Still if you like football or have read or seen Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch then YOU should get this. It's a p*$$£r in places.

She Stood There Laughing
This is a great book following Stoke City through a whole season through the eyes of a born again exiled fan. As the title says 'She Stood There Laughing' so will you. I word of advice, don't read this in bed if you share a bed as you will annoy your partner with your continuous sniggling.

Very funny, very readable.
This is a highly enjoyable, readable book and I ended up reading the whole thing the day I started it as it related closely to a lot of my own feelings and also described matches that I'd attended. All Stoke supporters (and possibly all supporters of any other team) will be able to appreciate the agonies of losing when you expected to win and winning when you expected to lose. The author certainly comes across as a committed supporter, travelling from Norwich every week to watch his team and also comes across as inteligent and well-informed, following the fortunes an misfortunes of Stoke City throughout the 2002/2003 season.
Unlike the typical football supporter, the author does seem to have a glass that is half-empty rather than half-full, always expecting his team to do badly. Even more strange for a Stoke supporter, he regards the underacheivement of recent years as normality and the acheivements of the 1930's, 40's, 50's and 70's as 'blips'. That said, he has a good knowledge of his subject and describes the travelling and the football very well.
Some of his criticisms of Tony Pulis' management do, however, seem a bit unjustified in the light of this seasons vastly improved performance, but he wouldn't be much of a football fan if he didn't complain about the state or the performances of the club, the players and the management would he?
In all it's a hugely enjoyable, engaging, readable book.