Given my complete distaste for soccer I think it’s a credit to Hornby that I not only finished this book but thoroughly enjoyed parts of it. Had I been a soccer fan I’m sure I would have completely loved it. Takeaway the soccer though and what’s left is a depressingly real look at fandom and how our lives intertwine with our loves. Well written as expected.

in my lifelong quest to become a british lad it’s probably no surprise that i loved this. really interesting to see what things were like before games were televised and tickets have gotten so inaccessible. also found it interested that it was published just as arsenal started to do really well. so much of it was kinda putting off responsibility of his own misery on the team doing poorly so would be interested in seeing how he felt works when they’re actually doing well

Another book I abandoned in August.. 3.5 stars. Super funny and so easy to digest. It's not quite what I was expecting from a book I've seen described as one of the all time sports memoirs (it's really an all time fan memoir), but the feelings are so human and finishing it as the Blackcaps test season kicked off, and I'm in Wellington to watch the ABs so if we lose it's Sky Stadium's fault and not mine, really made me #reflect on my fan behaviours. It's so funny we get so much joy and sorrow and identity from other people doing their jobs. I think sports fans and stan twitter should party together.