Left Foot in the Grave

by Garry Nelson

Garry Nelson’s diary of the highs and lows of a struggling third division football league club is an authentic and refreshingly vivid expose of English professional football, with an insight into the problems and day-to-day anxieties of players, backroom staff and management alike.

From the temperamental mini-star through to the no-hoper reject, from early season cheer to end of season gloom, from a glorious triumph to a struggle to put eleven players on the field, this portrayal of the life and times of Torquay United FC captures the essence of what football is all about.

The book also takes in the wider issues, such as the funding of soccer, FIFA and the British transfer system. Through it all, the former Torquay United player-coach never fails to illuminate his words with sharp comparisons and ironic contrasts that are part and parcel of the game in this country.

Following on from his first book, the bestselling Left Foot Forward, Garry Nelson has established himself as an excellent writer and a shrewd and thoughtful analyser of football.

Genres: Football, Biography, Sports

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and candid insight into life in football's lower leagues.

[Phillip Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a very interesting read, football isn't so glamourous as it is now and/or in the lower leagues.

I liked Nelson's writing style and humour, it was very honest at times and its a shame there wasn't a follow up season (although the author moved on to a different role).

Nostalgic at times, I remember the season (as a teenager) and some of the people mentioned in the book, the way Nelson wrote about them really did bring them to life.

I remember vaguely reading Left Foot Forward again as a teenager, I might try to dig it out and revisit it.

Those with an interesting in English (lower league) football would find this very interesting in my opinion.

[Stephen McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating insight into the lower leagues of football. It is written in a diary format and captures the relentless pressure of the job. Begging for transfers, dealing with the squad personalities and the minimal budgets all present different challenges all wrapped in the drama of the football itself and the twilight of the authors playing days.. A good read.

[Stephen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars rounded up to 4)

A relatively well told story with a wry sense of humour I appreciated, but nothing Earth shattering.

[Russell George · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the diary of Nelson’s role as player coach/co-manager of Torquay United in 1996-97. Having ended the previous season one place above relegation to non-league football, managing Torquay was arguably the hardest job in English football management at the time.

Like many books about football, however, it’s let down by the writing. Nelson uses so many heavy handed metaphors and conceits that it’s sometimes difficult to understand what he’s getting at. I think he’s doing it to be impressive, but it’s reminiscent of Del Boy using French. Then again, the day-to-day management of a football club is not the most riveting of occupations. Whilst the details of travelling to see countless reserve team games around the country to find an elusive, and cheap, centre forward are interesting in the grand scheme of the haves and have nots of football, it’s doesn’t make compelling reading.

Having said that, I was dragged along by the diarised style, always keen to find out what happened in the next match. But in a season which started brightly only to become a turgid slog for Torquay, the book becomes similarly repetitive.

[Ray Downton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superbly honest intelligent look at management in the basement area of the Football League