Book info

• Title Nowhere to Run
• Author Jonathan Sayer
• Year 2023
• Genre Non-fiction

On the second oldest football pitch in the world, Jonathan Sayer stands atop a beer crate to address the assembled fans. As his initial optimism begins to slip through his fingers, the new chairman of Ashton United starts to realize the scale of the challenge ahead. With a fan-led mutiny on his hands, a star striker on crutches, and a record number of games without a win, Jonathan is forced to make a series of increasingly desperate decisions – from sinking his life savings into an ever-spiralling wage bill to inviting a local priest to perform a late-night exorcism on the pitch. Chronicling the euphoric highs and bitter disappointments of the less glamourous side of the beautiful game, Nowhere to Run is the hilarious, heart-warming tale of life in the hot seat of a non-league football club.

Thoughts

Obviously, I had to read this, coming from one of the founders of Mischief Theatre, but as I’ve said many times, football isn’t my favourite sport - all recent evidence and excessive blogging to the contrary. This is different though, yes, it’s a bit about football, but what it’s really about is throwing yourself into a project that is all about passion regardless of results. It’s brilliant, honest and open and funny - right from the start, when everyone bought lots of kit and then the grant came through that could only be used on kit. It’s just a really fun, albeit stressful, ride and therefore a highly recommended read.

Rating: 5 / 5