The Accidental Footballer
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The Accidental Footballer
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Narrated by:
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Pat Nevin
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By:
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Pat Nevin
About this listen
The Sunday Times best seller
Pat Nevin never wanted to be a professional footballer.
His future was clear, he'd become a teacher like his brothers. There was only one problem with this - Pat was far too good to avoid attention.
Raised in Glasgow's East End, Pat loved the game, playing for hours and obsessively following Celtic. But as he grew up, he also loved Joy Division, wearing his Indie 'gloom boom' coat and going on marches - hardly typical footballer behaviour!
Placed firmly in the '80s and '90s, before the advent of the Premier League, and often with racism and violence present, Pat Nevin writes with honesty, insight and wry humour. We are transported vividly to Chelsea and Everton and colourfully diverted by John Peel, Morrissey and nights out at the Hacienda.
The Accidental Footballer is a different kind of football memoir. Capturing all the joys of professional football as well as its contradictions and conflicts, it's about being defined by your actions, not your job, and it is the perfect reminder of how life can throw you the most extraordinary surprises when you least expect it.
©2021 Pat Nevin (P)2021 Octopus Publishing GroupListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Unusually vibrant and elegant with heroic doses of humour, insight and self-effacement, this is an absolute must-read for the football connoisseur." (Omid Djalili)
"I grew up captivated by Pat Nevin the player. As a man he taught me even more about the beauty of the game. One of football's great mavericks, and Chelsea's greatest players. And he can spin a mean tune too." (Sam Matterface)
"I used to walk miles to see Pat Nevin play football and I'd do the same now to read his thoughts. Always challenging, always entertaining." (Lord Sebastian Coe)
"A heroic outsider - a pleasure to read." (The Guardian)
"A fulsome evocation of football before the Premier League." (The i)
"Honest, raw, revealing and very funny. How to live a life and career to the full. Insightful book about the most successful outsider inside football ever...." (Henry Winter, chief football writer, The Times)
"Pat is a wonderful one-off...and this is the story of why that is." (John Murray, chief sports correspondent, BBC Radio 5 Live)
"The biggest influence of my professional career both on and off the pitch." (Graeme Le Saux)
"A refreshingly honest and thought-provoking autobiography. As deftly delivered as some of Pat's ball skills in his 1980's heyday." (ToffeeWeb)
What listeners say about The Accidental Footballer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Watchmeister
- 20-09-21
Superb from Wee Pat
Great listen to stories from the 80s. Pat is a very principled man and his values shine through with the many stories he recalls. Great footballer, great bloke, great book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- STIX MTIZWA
- 09-10-21
So sincere
Pat Nevin is a wonderful human being. This restores one's faith in footballers. this is such an honest and sincere account of a wonderful time that the author had enjoying his life in football. highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anupadin
- 31-05-21
All Our Yesterday's
As a Chelsea fan of a certain age, I loved watching Pat during his years at the club and was sorry when he moved to Everton. This book not only fills in the history either side of his Chelsea career but tells us why, after all these years, Pat is an ever present voice in the modern game. An excellent listen, particularly in the Wee Man's own voice. A must have for any Chelsea fan #KTBFFH #COYB 💙💙💙
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Аmazon Customer
- 04-03-23
I don’t often read books about footballer’ lives…
But gave this a go because Nevin always came across as dead sound, both as a player and now as a pundit. There are some fantastic anecdotes and a very interesting perspective on one of my heroes, Norman Whiteside. I also like the fact that he does not name - all - names and leaves it to the reader/listener to draw their own conclusions. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- J. Thompson
- 14-02-24
Forgot how great Pat was!!
Well written and narrated with humour and authenticity by the author himself. Some great stories, a lovely book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jk
- 02-06-21
Enjoyable and Interesting!
What a thoroughly good listen , I really enjoyed this book,I had always liked Pat Nevin now I have the whole story to back that up,thanks for sharing the story!
Well narrated,another string to your bow ?!
From a long time Morton supporter!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chris Norman
- 01-06-21
A great perspective from one of sports curiosities
Pat writes with wisdom, wit and, most of all, warmth on his time in football. So refreshing that the player I tried to emulate in my garden as a kid is also someone I'd like to emulate in my approach to life.
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- Concerned Citizen
- 20-06-21
Great listen
Pat was someone id heard of but didn't know anything about, what a great listen. Thanks to hearing him promote his book on Talksport and talking about his life I was sold.
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- stu
- 13-12-21
Great book
Well done PAT. Definitely different from the usual sports star’s autobiographies but all the better for it
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- Andrew
- 28-09-22
Such a delightful voice to listen too
When is part 2? I loved it but felt the book finished early. Bravo though!
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