The Nowhere Men
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4.0 • 26 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
Winner of The Times British Sports Book Award 2014.
A fascinating insight into the enclosed world of football scouts in the UK
A teenaged boy plays football in a suburban park. His name is Raheem Sterling. The call is made: “Get down here quick. This is something special”.
Another boy is 8, going on 28. His name is Jack Wilshere. The referee, an Arsenal scout, spirits him away from Luton Town.
A young goalkeeper struggles on loan at Cheltenham Town in League Two. His name is Jack Butland. Within months he will be playing for England.
Welcome to football’s hidden tribe. Scouts are everywhere yet nowhere, faceless and nameless, despite making the informed decisions worth millions. Award-winning sportswriter Michael Calvin opens up their hidden world, examining their disconnected lifestyles, petty betrayals and unconsidered professionalism of men who spend long, lonely hours on the road.
Customer Reviews
Outstanding, Illuminating
I have to admit that I came to this book having been asked to add a recruitment role to my coaching one. I have also, as a result of being involved in this beautiful game of ours, encountered some of the goings on referred to in here. However, Michael Calvin's book shines the spotlight firmly into the corners which some senior figures in the game would rather we didn't look.
He concentrates on those intangibles, like sense, feelings, emotions etc which truly lie at the heart of real football people.
Does the book tell you how to spot a player? No, but it does more than hint at what it takes in terms of commitment, desire and selflessness that are required to put yourself in the scout's well worn shoes!
I heartily recommend this book!
Brilliant and well researched book
Absolute brilliant read and unlike a lot of books well researched. Our profession is often thankless and the rewards are mainly personal. The fact it has been researched from Premier League to League 1 with teams in different financial circumstance correctly captures all elements of a football scout