You'll Win Nothing with Kids: Fathers, Sons and Football |
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Author:
Jim White
By Abacus
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £0.70
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.33462092
EAN: 9780349119885
ISBN: 0349119880
Label: Abacus
Manufacturer: Abacus
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2008-05-15
Publisher: Abacus
Studio: Abacus |
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A fantastic read, 2008-07-20
I was briefly tempted to give this book only 4 stars because, in order to really, really appreciate where it is coming from, I think you also need to be a football dad and that seems a bit limiting. But, on reflection, that's harsh given that it is probably only football dads who would buy the book anyway.
If you are a football dad, however, you should definitely hit it off with the book and the story. The full range of characters is there: the officious ref ("the prat in black") who can make even the most even-tempered middle class parent lose his cool, the desperate dad, the obnoxious, pushy mum who doesn't mind who she upsets as long as her (presumably) putrid offspring gets more gametime, the dedicated / obsessive chairman, the good players and the not-so-good, the early bloomer who hasn't quite fuflfilled that esrly potential (although in this case "Lee" does seem to have been unfairly struck with injuries).
You'll probably also recognise a lot of the settings: the fight between parents, dog sh*te on the pitch, aggrieved locals etc etc. I was particularly taken with the description of parents "settling in for the long haul" at the start of a tournament day.
It jusy goes to show that what we see at our kids' football is probably universal. Having said that, I don't think I've ever seen any same sex partners watching the footy in my neck of the woods!
 Gets better as you read on., 2008-10-14
I found Jim White's book rather clichéd and predictable. I began to wonder if it would have made a better read if he'd used even more `poetic license.' For that reason the book is not as good as it could have been but readable all the same.
The book made some good observations, however, about youth football in Britain although, in my experience, the antics of most parents I've encountered are not quite as over-the-top as those in the book!
One final question: why is Doug's name suddenly changed to 'Marty' in Holland? Or did I skip a paragraph when that was explained (which has been known)?
You'll win nothing with kids, 2009-02-02
As a coach of an under 14 team I can identify with loads of the stories from this book. I also found the book useful in that being a top journalist the author had access to loads of insightful information from top coaches which I've now put to good effect with my team.
Only Mad People Become Kids Football Team Coaches, 2010-01-23
... And I did it too.
This book explains the year in a life of a coach of a kids team.
If you have ever done it you will laugh knowingly at the authors comments about the over-competitve parents, the rows when you have to rest a good player, the scraps about which boy will be in which team, the endless committee meetings that always go on for hours longer than planned, the ungrateful parents, the parents who only communicate by email, the parents who cannot read a map to get to the game and phone you up for directions anyway - even though you gave the full grid references, postcodes and enough co-ordinates for a special forces mission.
Oh, and the politics of boys club team management.
Yes, the sheer nuttiness of it all is all in this book.
Managing a boys team could be the most stressful thing you may ever do - up there with divorce and moving house, and just behind bereavement - and this book will be enjoyed by anyone who has done it.
Just wish I had thought to write it first.
Don't bother watching 'The Cup' read this instead, 2008-08-26
On the very same day that I finished this book the BBC started screening a sitcom called 'The Cup'. Although they were both about a childrens football team the differences between the two couldn't be more stark. Whereas the TV show was completely unfunny and unbelievable (I turned it off after 20 minutes) the book is both deeply entertaining but also true to life.
What the writers of the show seem to have forgotten but everybody that is a parent will know, is that when there are kids around there is no need to make up humourous situations because kids are by nature funny. This book reflects this admirably but it also reminds the reader that whilst they may be young, at times kids can be very wise.
I can't help feeling that the BBC should have made a series based on this book instead of the one they chose.
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