Where's Your Caravan?: My Life on Football's B-Roads

by Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine & Anaesthesia Director of ICU Chris Hargreaves

Forget Torres, Rooney, Beckham and the like. This is what football is really about. One man's story of a career in the lower leagues. Chris Hargreaves has been a professional footballer for twenty years. Having started out as a youth team player at Everton he made his debut for Grimsby Town in 1989 and was earmarked as their first million pound sale. It never happened. Instead he went on to play for Scarborough, Hull City, West Brom, Hereford United, Plymouth Argyle, Northampton Town, Brentford, Oxford United and Torquay United. Where's Your Caravan? is the sort of football memoir we don't see enough of these days—an account of life in the lower leagues. It takes us from his wild youth—lots of sex and drugs and drink—through to domesticated family man—school runs and flatpack furniture with plenty of football in between.

Genres: Football, Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2011

Reviews

[Simon Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't an entirely original idea: lower league footballer writes autobiography. 'Left Foot Forward' remains the classic of the genre and I read Ben Smith's 'Journeyman' a few years ago. Anyway, I found 'Where's Your Caravan?' in my local library and decided to give it a go.

The strength of the book is also its weakness. It seems to have been written entirely by Chris Hargreaves. On the one hand, this is admirable. There's no mention of a ghostwriter and the author's voice can consistently be heard. He genuinely seems to have sat at a laptop at the end of his playing career and slowly and methodically worked his way, chapter by chapter, through his career. He's not a bad writer either. On the other hand, a ghostwriter - or at least, a stronger editor - would've cut out some of the duller laddish tales and repetitive language. All in all, a mixed bag, but an enjoyable read for football fans.

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult to like a book whose author comes across as laddish and semi-literate. Garry Nelson he ain't.

[Richard Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but thought Hargreaves came over as an unlikeable guy.

[David E. Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

really interesting read about the not so glamorous side of lower league football

[T Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 2nd favourite Chris to have watched playing for Oxford United

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football in the lower leagues can be fun too!

[Ipswichblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok sort of book but you feel it could have done with a bit more editing. Chris Hargreaves is/was a league footballer who plyed his trade in the lower leagues. He has a few interesting tales to tell but not enough to make it essential reading. He also repeats the same joke many times for example he refers to him having to take painkillers etc all perfectly legal however each time he makes references to the Happy Mondays, Shaun Ryder or Bez. Once is quite funny by the 3rd or 4th time its not so funny

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

humourous and sometimes comic look back at a journey playing football in england's lower divisons of the football league and how alot of players actually do not the top end of the game but openly tells how things happen and mis chances. the only downside is could of split the current away form the historic in some of the chapters

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, honest account of a footballer who nearly made the big time. Interesting to see as well how his view changes from a living the hogh life on credit in his younger days through to a wiser, more money savvy older footballer. He now runs a sports shop and be perfect to have a follow-up book in a couple of years based on his life after football.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read for anyone who is interested in football and has ever followed lower/non-league teams. I'd say it probably doesn't have a lot of general appeal beyond that though. It could have benefitted from a bit more editing, although I suppose leaving it more 'as is' gives it a more honest feel.

[Luke O'Neill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Knew nothing about the bloke before I read his book apart from his long hair. Now all I know is he had long hair but cut it, pissed his career /savings away and has a shocking writing style.

Apparently he is now the manager of Torquay United, doubt it will last long if this 'literary classic' is anything to go by. He comes across as a bit of a prat.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This account of a lower league footballer is entertaining in places but is in need of a good edit as it gets repetitive, especially the jokes.
It is interesting how retirement comes as a massive surprise to footballers. I was getting a bit frustrated of his constant financial difficulties from overspending what was a very good wage.

[Dave Larder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book from a lad who had a football career in the lower divisions. Never bitter, a journeyman footballer, who started at 18 and finsihed at 40.

Well worth the read especially if you're from Grimsby, Torquay or any other "small" clubs that Chris played for.

[Gary Brigden]

Enjoyable read - not overly heavy on match content but some decent comments on team banter - and an insight into the constant upheaval families of lower league players suffer. It's not all glamour as you get in the Premier League. Some amusing little asides just to break things up.

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://thetwounfortunates.com/book-re...

[William Mankelow · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, though it could have been edited much better.

[Michael Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was ok-ish. I'm not really into football. Fans of the beautiful game would probably get more enjoyment out of this book.

[Darren Keighley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book, but there are times when you feel as though he is rambling on a little.
I enjoyed it as a football fan.

[Andy Pickering]

Excellent read for a football fan.