Pointless

by Jeff Connor

The inside, in-depth and possibly indiscreet story of a season with Britain's worst football club - East Stirlingshire. The Shire ended the 2003/04 season in the Scottish Third Division with a total of 8 points (boosted by a win in the last game of the season) and a goal difference of minus 88. They cannot be relegated as there is nowhere lower to go. They are the only team at which Sir Alex Ferguson has failed as a manager. Their average home attendance is around 200 and there are behind-the-scenes moves afoot that threaten their very existence. The inside story of the 2004/05 season is set to be very interesting indeed. Whatever happens, they are poised to acquire cult status with the publication of Pointless. At times funny, sad, heart-warming and embarrassing, as events on and off the pitch unfold, it is never likely to be dull. And with the goal of reaching a points total in double figures, the action on the pitch is set to be pulsating.

Genres: Football, Sports, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ray Smillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only found out about this due to a random post on Facebook and had to get a copy. Have seen my club, the Pars, win, lose and draw home and away against the Shire, including one trip that started at 4am one Saturday morning in the Peak District, about seven miles from Buxton. Walked the seven miles to get the first train to Manchester from Buxton, getting thoroughly soaked. Eventually got to Firs Park, still not dry from the soaking. The Shire won 2-0.

Reading this I could relate to the East Stirlingshire diehards. A club with a small fan base but loved by them all the same. No longer in the senior leagues and highly unlikely they will ever return but they will always exist.

One for fans of their local team, not glory hunters.

[Andrew Fear · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was young, football books were basically dull hagiographies. Now, that heavens, there's a whole new subgenre of books on life in football's bargain basement. This is one of them, but not the best. It's an OK read and it made me want to explore the lower reaches of Scottish football and one day perhaps I will. However, I confess I found it rather souless in execution. The author has some good one liners, but you never get the sense that he really got to know the players, management, or fans - in short it's a view from the outside. There's a moment where he confesses that he started to admire the Shire, but never that he began to support them, and without that extra emotional kick in some ways the whole operation is indeed pointless. I don't regret reading this, but it has none of the emotional power of say Nick Park's A Season with Verona

[Matthew Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books. As a kid, I always wanted The Indians to defeat the cowboys. I thought Mick McManus was great. Maybe it's being a Pompey fan but I always root for the underdog, and they don't come any smaller than The Shire. At that time, there was no relegation from Scottish senior football, so Shire carried on year after year, until eventually came the year when they were SO bad it was predicted they would get nil point- for a whole season!

[Scott Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite witty in places , if now a little dated , as the changing football world has finally caught up with East Stirling , and they are longer in the senior leagues of Scotland .
Worth the read though

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this last year but never posted it on Goodreads. It lets you know most clubs and players fight to survive!

[Martin Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, light read

It’s a shame the Shire are no longer a league club...but l am now, of course, a confirmed lifelong devotee

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not all glamour in football, especially up in East Stirlingshire. One for fans of true football, well told by Jeff, who is good at the off-pitch shenanigans.

[Newfad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but ultimately the interesting minutiae on such a subject runs out.

[Jamie Langan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable!

[Graeme Whitton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a long time supporter of Scottish football and am always especially interested in the less well publicised clubs so I'm a natural reader of books like this. Sadly, it left me feeling disappointed.

It's well enough written but it didn't really capture the essence of the clubs continual struggles and consisted mostly of verbatim reports of the managers foul mouthed rantings. I understand that to gain access to the inner workings of the club the author may well have been restricted in what he could say but I know some of East Stirling's history and there's a much more compelling story still waiting to be told.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious! As as American obsessed with the game, little information is known about the leagues beyond the Championship and Premier League levels. That's why I turn to these type of texts to get the much needed perspective. These first-hand accounts have all been entertaining and Jeff does a great job of remaining objective (and somehow manages to show signs of optimism) as East Stirlingshire FC attempt to play football in Scotlands lowest league.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Basically enjoyed the journey Jeff Connor went on following the worst football team in British football around the lower division of Scottish football for a year. Very interesting.

[Spinwallah · Rating 5 out of 5]

tony t cajoled me into reading this. its about a season in the life of east stirlingshire fc. i had no interest, but he's me mate so i tried it. fantastic, very very funny and as a

[Simon Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny book. Shows how not only big clubs have loyal supporters. They really can say bought the shirt..

[George Gook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book! Loved it, great story of East Stirling! Me and my dad always check their results after reading this!

[Sean Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

got to be the best book ever about a football team I could not put it down hilarious at times

[Allan McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unflinching look at the trials and... more trials of Scottish third division team, East Stirlingshire.

Enjoyed the author's journey from intrigued, slightly mocking journo to Shire-sympathiser to fan. Would have loved to found out more of the nitty-gritty and get to know some of the main players and boardroom staff a bit more. But still thoroughly enjoyable.