The Accidental Footballer

Pat Nevin's autobiography, "The Accidental Footballer," is a refreshingly honest and thought-provoking account of his life and career in football. Raised in Glasgow's East End, Nevin loved the game but never wanted to be a professional footballer. Despite his talent, he was often overlooked and considered too unconventional for the sport. The book is filled with stories of his time at Chelsea and Everton, as well as his experiences with racism and violence in the 80s and 90s. Nevin writes with honesty, insight, and wry humor, capturing all the joys of professional football as well as its contradictions and conflicts. He is a one-off, and this book tells the story of why that is.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

The Sunday Times Bestseller


A Heroic Outsider - A Pleasure to Read.


The Guardian hailed Pat Nevin as a "fulsome evocation of football before the Premier League." The i praised him as a "such a good storyteller...joyous." The Financial Times described the book as "honest, raw, revealing, and very funny," offering valuable insights on how to live a life and career to the fullest. Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer for The Times, praised Nevin as a "wonderful one-off," and this book delves into the reasons behind that uniqueness. John Murray, Chief Sports Correspondent for BBC Radio 5 Live, commended Nevin's vibrant and elegant writing style, infused with heroic doses of humor, insight, and self-effacement. Omid Djalili, renowned comedian and football enthusiast, hailed the book as an "absolute must-read for the football connoisseur." Graeme Le Saux, former Chelsea player and renowned football pundit, expressed his admiration for Pat Nevin as one of football's great mavericks and Chelsea's greatest players. He also highlighted his musical talents, complimenting Nevin's ability to spin a mean tune. Sam Matterface, a passionate football fan, expressed his admiration for Nevin's writing, stating that he would walk miles to see him play football and would do the same now to read his thoughts. Lord Sebastian Coe, a prominent figure in the world of sports, praised Nevin's refreshingly honest and thought-provoking autobiography, comparing it to some of his ball skills during his 1980s heyday. ToffeeWeb, a popular football website, noted that Pat Nevin never intended to become a professional footballer. Raised in Glasgow's East End, he had a clear vision of becoming a teacher like his brothers. However, there was one problem: Pat was simply too good to avoid attention. Despite his love for the game and his obsession with Celtic, Nevin also developed a passion for alternative music, wearing his iconic Indie gloom-boom coat and attending concerts.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 127 x 196 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913183387