Product Description

Most things in life that make you miserable you can change. But you can't change your football team. In his brilliant first book, Match of the Day 2 presenter and lifelong West Bromwich Albion fan Adrian Chiles asks why we feel the way we do about our teams and go to such great - almost bizarre - lengths to follow them. Seeking an answer to the oft-chanted question 'Who are you?', Adrian meets the fan who's missed only five games since the Second World War; the woman who has never seen her side concede a goal because she always covers her eyes; and the octogenarian who, relegated or promoted, weaves a rug to celebrate. The story, just like supporting a football team, is by turns hilarious, heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #104166 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'In his hilarious new book Adrian admits he thinks about his team more often than sex.' DAILY MIRROR 'endearing... no league winning histrionics, but plenty of nutty fans and tragic defeats.' ZOO 'this is a very funny book peppered with Chiles's trademark '2 Good 2 Bad' wit' MAXIM

About the Author
Adrian Chiles is a writer, journalist and broadcaster. He is the regular presenter of BBC TV's MATCH OF THE DAY 2, THE ONE SHOW, and THE APPRENTICE spin-off show YOU'RE FIRED!

Customer Reviews

A lovely human book
You don't have to be a Baggies fan to enjoy this book. You don't even have to be a football fan. This is just a book about people who share a common interest, and as such it is a lovely warm, very human book.

It is simply Adrian Chiles' account of the people he meets in a season of watching Albion as they struggle(unsuccessfully) against relegation. The people he meets are described openly with genuine affection - Nathan the unlikely Lothario, Gurdial the rebellious Sikh, Lee Hughes, the fallen idol, the tragic Steve, inevitably Frank Skinner, the list goes on.

What you get is an account of how people's passion, in this case for the Albion affects their whole lives.

Slightly disturbing is Adrian Chiles' account of his own feelings which a psychologist confirms border on the dangerous. (unless of course he is exaggerating for effect). Fans of Five Live will worry about his treatment of the lovely Jane Garvie. Adrian for goodness sake think more of her and less about the Albion!

But at the end of the day, Chiles is a fine journalist (which is why MOTD 2 is better than the main programme) and his real affection for his subjects is apparent. Thoroughly recommended.

We really don't...
As an Albion fan I found this book funny, touching and depressing. There are so many things that remind me of my own experiences, not just the games but the shared memories - the feeling at the first game, going with my Grandad, leaving the house to get the train and not knowing why I bother... The book can't ever explain why we do it, but as a document for Albion fans it's wonderful.

Good stuff
If Helen's face launched a thousand ships, then Nick Hornby's "Fever Pitch" prompted a thousand pale imitations by writers unfortunately not in the same league.

Thankfully, this is one of the rare exceptions to the rather depressing rule; Adrian Chiles' writing style shows that same approachability and likeable awkwardness familiar from his TV and radio work.

He examines the nature of support, with a number of examples, from the (somewhat underwhelmed) person attending his 750th consecutive WBA game to the long-distance supporter who has never actually been to a home game. He considers the effect of his team's performance on his own mood and his tendency to descend into a form of irrational despair as his team struggles and the response of others to his behaviour.

For all its honesty, sincerity and good humour, I could never quite shake my unease with the fact that this book was written by someone whose (hard-earned and obviously deserved) celebrity status necessarily provides him with a different perspective to those he is reporting on. When the fancy takes, for example, he is able to hire a box; he also has the ear of the upper echelons of the club. Those he meets on the coach to the match do so because it is their only option; the author has the choice.

That said, he does ask some of those questions a lot of those of us who have fallen out of love with the game at the top level would like to see answered: for example, what is it exactly which drives someone to spend £40+ on a match ticket only to spend most of the game in the bar?