Another Bloody Saturday: A Journey to the Heart and Soul of Football - Softcover

Mat Guy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1910745723 ISBN 13: 9781910745724

Publisher: Luath Press Ltd., 2016

Synopsis

This is a book celebrating all that is great with the game of football, as seen through the eyes of clubs and fans rarely bothered by satellite television cameras and the riches of the elite game, a vibrant world of humour, warmth and friendship worth far more than all the wealth of the Premier League.

Why do people head out on windswept Saturday afternoons and wet Wednesday evenings watch lower and non-league teams play when they could watch Premier League football from the comfort of their living rooms?
Does an international match between two countries that technically don t exist have any meaning?
Why do some people go to so much trouble volunteering to support clubs which run on a shoestring budget and are lucky to get even a glimpse of the limelight?

Over the course of a season, Mat Guy set out to explore the less glamorous side of the beautiful game, travelling the backwaters of football across the length and breadth of the country and beyond. He watched Bangor as they were cheerfully thrashed by Reykjavik s UMF Stjarnan, was absolutely won over by the women s game, and found a new team to love in Accrington Stanley.

From Glasgow to Northern Cyprus, Bhutan to the Faroe Islands, Mat discovered the same hope, sense of community, and love of the game that first led him to a life in the stands at Salisbury FC s Victoria Park, where his own passion for football was formed.

Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Introduction 9

1 Bangor City v UMF Stjarnan 13

2 Swindon Town v Southampton 20

3 HB Tórshavn v Skála 28

4 Wales Women v England Women 47

5 Cowes Sports v Yate Town 54

6 Accrington Stanley v Tranmere Rovers 61

7 Northampton Town v Accrington Stanley 71

8 Aldershot Town v Bristol Rovers 77

9 Manchester City Ladies v Arsenal Ladies 83

10 Partick Thistle v St Johnstone 89

11 Tibet v North Cyprus 96

12 Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge 121

13 England Women v Germany Women 128

14 Portsmouth v Accrington Stanley 134

15 Yeovil Town v Accrington Stanley 141

16 Lymington Town v Brockenhurst 146

17 Downton v Amesbury Town 152

18 Corinthian v Beckenham Town 158

19 Eastleigh v Torquay United 163

20 Plymouth Argyle v Bury 169

21 Sri Lanka v Bhutan 176

22 Accrington Stanley v York City 187

23 Lydd Town v Lewisham Borough 195

24 Accrington Stanley v Carlisle United 201

25 Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington Stanley 208

26 The End of the Road 214

About this title

Review:

The amazing story is a must read for any walk of life not just football fans. You could say we have adopted each other in a short space of time, its a great portrait of Accrington Stanley Football club and hopefully when this publication hits the world our club can gain more support like Mat. --Nick Westwell, Chairman, Official Accrington Stanley Supporters Club

About the Author:

Mat Guy lives in Southampton with his wife and long suffering football widow Deb. He has travelled far and wide in the name of football, and spent most of his childhood sat by his grandfather's side at the long gone Victoria Park, one time home of Salisbury FC.Former season ticket holder at Southampton FC Mat works at a cinema in Ocean Village, Southampton, and has written for The Football Pink and Stand Magazine. Another Bloody Saturday is his first book.

About this edition

• Publisher: Luath Press Ltd.
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1910745723
• ISBN 13: 9781910745724
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 224