"A hilarious, self-deprecating memoir that is as much about life as it is about football" Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year and the British Sports Book Awards: Best New Writer.
At the age of 52, Graham Joyce gets the sudden call-up to play for the England soccer team in the World Cup competition. The team can't find a goalkeeper and he's going to have to come out of retirement. No it's not a nightmare. The team is the England Writers XI, a chronically-unskilled collection of scribblers who can't let go of their fantasies about being real footballers. Simple Goalkeeping Made Spectacular is a humorous memoir about the most solitary spot the football pitch, looking back on schoolboy triumphs and adult ignominy. From the chaos of coats-down park soccer mobs to the casual violence of pub teams, from the excitement of schoolboy shield winners to knackered old World Cup squads, it's the goalie who always gets it in the neck. Every goalkeeper - and every goalkeeper's wife or girlfriend - should read this book.

"... distinctive for its panache and irreverence, and its blend of humour with poignant moments of insight. You won't find many better football books this year." When Saturday Comes

"One of the funniest books ever written about the beautiful game." George Hanson

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• SportOther Team SportsFootball (American)

• Publication Date: September 15, 2011
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 176 Pages
• File Size: 10 KB