You might remember several weeks ago that I asked for help with a football-based writing project, asking for details about the Hamburg semi-final at the Cottage. I said at the time I'd explain what it was for if things came to fruition. Well, they have. My mini eBook (or, if you will, Min-eBook) 'Humbled for a Season: In defence of football' is now published on Amazon for Kindle users for a bargain price of £1.50 or thereabouts. It's going to be on iTunes as well, but they take a lot longer to process things (and have a much less user-friendly content management system, by the way). The book is intended as a riposte to criticisms that football has sold its soul, and goes on to look at some of the reasons why we love the game so much. It's a general book about football, rather than specifically about Fulham, but there is at least a bit about Fulham in every chapter. Two of you even get username-checked in the acknowledgements. Due declaration: the book touches on the spiritual aspects of the game, but that isn't the main focus of the book and it shouldn't spoil the enjoyment for anyone who takes a different view to me on such matters. I only mention it because I wouldn't want anyone to feel they were tricked into reading that stuff under false pretences. If you want to buy it, here's the link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Humbled-Sea...F798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337763315&sr=8-1 It's on Facebook as well, if you're interested: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Humbled-for-a-Season/411556148876604 Apologies for the shameless plug, but I thought some of you might be interested in this. And, Dempsey's Revenge, it's even available for purchase via Amazon's German outlets. I think it'll be right up your street.
Captain, I've only read the preview on Amazon so far. First, a thank you for the acknowledgement. Second, I really, really want to read the rest but don't have Kindle and Facebook is also a summary. Is it for sale through the publisher or elsewhere ?
Just downloaded onto my Kindle. It will be consumed shortly. Hamburg was my all-time favourite match at The Cottage, so I look forward to the hairs on the back of my neck.......... Well done.
At the moment it's only available on Kindle, but it's going to be on iTunes soon for anyone with iPad, iPhone or other Apple kit that supports eBooks. Unfortunately there is no physical version of the book - it's digital only. I hope those of you who can access it enjoy it. Let me know either way (I can take it!). I'm not really an eBook person, so I understand the frustration of those of you who don't have suitable eReaders - sorry! It's a financial thing: only publishing electronically means a much lower up-front cost for the publishers (who I work for) and therefore a reduced financial risk. I'd love for this to exist in physical form one day, but I suspect that's only going to happen if it sells very well in the digital version. I'll certainly keep you all posted if anything changes on that. In the meantime, you could all try chatting up Bidley's Mrs to see how many people she'll lend her Kindle to! That's not meant as an inuendo, by the way.
Thanks all for the congrats, and thanks for GeraScores and RobespierreFFC for coughing up to buy it (and anyone else who does likewise). As I said before, I hope you all enjoy it.
Cottager58, Fulhamireland and anyone else who (like me) isn't equipped for eBook reading, I've just discovered that you can download free software that lets you read eBooks on a PC. I haven't tried this - though I probably will over the weekend - so I don't know how well it works. It will mean that those of you who want to buy my book will be able to. Here's the link:http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000423913
It's available on iTunes as well now. Hmmm, three posts in a row from me on this one. That looks a bit needy, doesn't it? Sorry.
Yarroo, goddit. Thanks for this tip Captain - shall also read over the weekend. Expect critique Monday !!
Yes, the Kindle for PC software was quick and easy. I'm looking forward to the book, though it better have vampires. I only read vampire books.
I actually saw someone call Michael Howard play against us for Swansea in the early 90s. They had Leon Britton in that team as well, so it was worryingly right wing (which, ironically, was Britton's position back in those days).
A provoking read Captain. Some thoughts, with apologies for them being in the third party and not exactly in the order of the book chapters - HUMBLED FOR A SEASON This book is about power and tribal honour. The reader is given a hint of corruption, greed and even nastiness that is tempered with a gutsy belief that good will out. The author provides a wealth of tall tales from the days before âprofessionalismâ, through the traumatic arrival of Sky in 1992 before landing bang up to date on a âBartonâ with the last premiership game of season 2011/12. As a reader I would have preferred more dalliance on that early period when money first raised its head.; not least because with it came the dishonesty (or corruption if you like) and the individuals seeking power through the clubs. [In the 1890s Blackburn Rovers were the first to bend the rules by importing talented Scottish footballers and employing them in local Mills (at inflated wages). Others soon followed with our beloved Fulham being the last bastion to fall - perhaps this is when the notion of Fulhamish first came into play? In the 1930s the âownerâ of Moscow Spartak was imprisoned for making under the counter payments to star players. Ironically it was a Blackburn footballer and Rovers fan who first introduced the Russians to football (again in the 1890s). As general manager of a Moscow Mill he got employees playing on their day off (a Sunday) so that he âcould woo them off drinking vodka that dayâ.] The analogy where the author draws on the Moscow football teams is a good one. It demonstrates the collectiveness, the belonging to a specific club, the class differences and the rivalry. None more than between Moscow Dinamo and Moscow Spartak, although here the rivalry was political and personal; driven by individuals whose ultimate goal was Power. It was the Dinamo âownerâ (Laventry Beria) who had the Spartak âownerâ jailed - the backhanders mentioned above were simply a means to an end; to get the best players and be the best. So Beria fought dirty. Fast tracking in the book to 1992 and the birth of the Premiership, the author illustrates with wonderful stories the emergence of player power. Fast tracking again to 2012 and the role of the Venkys at Blackburn Rovers takes us full circle and in this instance, avarice takes a tumble. [Could the author have written the book as one of intrigue as well as insight and where Rovers are revealed in the end as the villain of the piece??] In the various short stories, the author sets the timeline for the power brokers (the individuals and organisations who have exploited football clubs for personal gain) but also sets his sights on the Tribes - the Fans. What do they get out of it ? Why on earth do they have an affinity with a particular club ? In searching for an answer the author on this occasion uses the Church as an analogy and again itâs an appropriate one. [And not just because our own Fulham was spawned from St Andrews Boys Club. ] What he does above all is to demonstrate a common denominator (doesnât matter whether itâs high or low) and that is, the sense of fulfilment by being there and participating. The author correctly challenges racism but he does however avoid sectarianism - something anybody following the 2012 Euros is desperately afraid of. Itâs out there in this country too and the author could have challenged the various religious orders to show guidance. [One of my own experiences of this particular prejudice was when hitchhiking in Eire. One lift was from a Roman Catholic priest who, when we were no sooner in the car, asked âSo boys, what are you Rangers or Celtic?â Recognising the code, I replied âNeither, weâre Fulham.â âAch now, â he said â sure and thatâs no sin.â] When I finished reading the book I did feel, as the title suggests, humble - and certainly a little better about what it is to be a human being.
Gosh. Great write up, Cottager, thanks for taking the time to do that. I particularly loved your closing line. One of the things that struck me as I was writing was how much more there was to say in some areas. The format of Damaris' min-eBooks series mean we're aiming at 5000-8000 words, so I was right up against my word limit. If it sells well I might look to writing an expanded version one day at proper book length. If I do then it would be great to spend a little more on the development of the professional game and to look at other areas of prejudice than race. As you say, I don't tackle sectarianism and I think there's a very interesting comparison to be drawn with how the game has tackled racial prejudice but made very little headway on issues of homophobia. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Feel free to recommend it to your friends!
