Inform us a bit about your second guide and the way you got here up with the thought?
Foul and Truthful is a thriller set on this planet of youngsters’ grassroots soccer: an below 12s coach will get right into a feud with one other supervisor, and the rivalry escalates right into a succession of soiled tips – Roy of the Rovers meets Home of Playing cards was the vibe I used to be going for.
I managed a youngsters’ group for seven years, and in addition to seeing loads of volunteers who have been giving up hours and hours of time for the sake of the children, I additionally noticed too many coaches who needed to make all of it about themselves, appearing as if it was the Premier League.
The guide is about when these two views collide, about discovering the road between doing the fitting factor and getting the fitting consequence. Though it’s about youngsters’ soccer, it’s not a youngsters’s guide – it’s written for adults (it’s a bit sweary at occasions).
Was it tougher or simpler to put in writing this guide than the primary one?
In a single sense, a lot tougher; it definitely took longer. I truly wrote this one earlier than Useless Man Singing, however I knew that I hadn’t bought it proper but. Whereas Useless Man Singing was within the technique of being revealed, I used to be remodeling Foul and Truthful.
Figuring out what was improper with the unique model was comparatively easy; figuring out the right way to put it proper took loads longer. I had a couple of false begins and lifeless ends, however as soon as I come across including a second character, Hayley, to share the main focus of the guide with James the soccer coach, every part began to fall into place.
She’s a single mum and a police officer, and the way in which her story progressively intertwines with James’ makes all of the distinction. I’m actually happy with the place I’ve ended up with this one, even when it was a whole lot of work to get there.
The story is about an U12s coach, however how a lot of the storyline is drawn out of your experiences at MAN v FAT Bournemouth?
Not a lot, to be sincere! The unique model of the story was written earlier than I began with MAN v FAT, though the Hayley revisions got here since. The membership has left a few marks on the guide although.
Considered one of our gamers is a police officer, and he was an enormous assist for me in making Hayley’s work experiences ring true. There’s additionally a minor character within the guide who is known as after one other of our gamers. For quite a lot of causes, I simply couldn’t discover the fitting identify for that character, and I all of the sudden realised that it was proper there on the membership web site all alongside.
I requested him if he minded me utilizing it and, fortunately, he agreed. If any of the lads from Bournemouth wish to know which of their friends has made it into print, they’ll simply have to purchase the guide and browse it – I feel they’ll recognise him within the character too, though it wasn’t initially primarily based on him.
Though there’s nothing in Foul and Truthful to do with weight-loss, there’s lots in there in regards to the worth of soccer for wellbeing, notably for kids. There’s additionally loads of soccer motion that may attraction to anybody who loves the sport; anybody with reminiscences of youngsters’ soccer, both as a participant themselves, as a coach, or as a mother or father, will discover a lot within the guide that resonates with their expertise.
I think that the overwhelming majority of MAN v FAT gamers fall into at the least a kind of classes, so I’m hoping that a number of folks in our group will actually benefit from the guide.
What has the preliminary suggestions been to the guide?
It’s very early days but, however to date so good! Overview copies are nonetheless being despatched out, however I managed to get superior copies of the guide to a few folks within the soccer world: Martin Dighton, previously with Dorset FA and now Senior Coach Developer at Teaching UK, and Richard Dobson, who was Gareth Ainsworth’s assistant supervisor at QPR and Wycombe.
They’ve each given glowing endorsements, praising the guide for authentically capturing the world of grassroots soccer, for the general message about placing youngsters first, and for being an important, enjoyable learn.
You’ll be able to see their quotes in full at https://stevecouch.co.uk/books/bwopx5ob3pvdrgme/foul-and-fair/
Useless Man Singing bought some implausible reader critiques as soon as it was out on this planet, so I’m hoping that Foul and Truthful will observe in its footsteps.
You’re coming to the nationwide event – how a lot are you wanting ahead to assembly extra of the group? And the way a lot will the guide value them to purchase?
I’m actually wanting ahead to it. In addition to promoting books, I’m hoping I’ll be capable to watch a few of the soccer and to talk with MAN v FAT gamers from throughout the nation. I’ve been concerned with MAN v FAT for 2 and a half years now and I really like the heat and the sense of help that everybody has for each other.
It’s genuinely among the finest issues I’ve ever been concerned with and I’m very proud to have a small half in one thing that adjustments so many lives for the higher.
The books retail at £9.99 every, and I’ll be doing a particular supply for the event: if somebody buys Foul and Truthful and Useless Man Singing collectively, I can do the pair at £16. However whether or not somebody needs to purchase books or not, I’d love for folks to return and discover my bookstall and have a chat.
Please do search out Steve on the event, we’re positive he’d be glad to talk to you!
