T is for Touchline.

Most grassroots games have the coaches and substitutes on one touchline, with the supporters (from both teams) on the opposite one. I’ve spent a lot of time on each side of that divide, variously as a parent or as a coach, and in both cases the atmosphere can vary widely.

T...

S is for Stoneleigh Swifts.

I wanted James’ team, the Stoneleigh Swifts, to be like a character in Foul and Fair. Like any other significant character, the team had to have its own narrative arc, something that would enable the reader to see how they change over the course of the book. Differe...

R is for Referees. There is a shortage of qualified referees in grassroots football. The situation I experienced as a manager is the one that I’ve included in Foul and Fair – most teams other than the oldest of junior sides have to supply their own refs, with the few available league-app...