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A Game of Two Halves: Famous Football Fans Meet Their Heroes
Ever wondered which goal Frank Lampard is proudest of, who Jürgen Klopp thinks will manage Liverpool in the future, what Rio Ferdinand thinks of Man United in the post-Ferguson years or exactly how many grey cashmere jumpers Pep Guardiola owns? In this collection of frank and funny conversations between soccer players and their biggest fans, these vital questions (and many more) are finally addressed. A Game of Two Halves shows a different side to some of the biggest names in the sport, reminding us of the common ground we all share. Profits from this project will be donated to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support their work with child refugees. Featuring forewords by Raheem Sterling and Gary Lineker and interviews between Jürgen Klopp and John Bishop, Pep Guardiola and Johnny Marr, Lucy Bronze and Clare Balding, Frank Lampard and Omid Djalili, Rio Ferdinand and Rachel Riley, Ian Wright and Wretch 32, Héctor Bellerin and Romesh Ranganathan, Steven Gerrard and David Morrissey, Gary Lineker and Fahd Saleh, Eric Dier and David Lammy, John McGlynn and Val McDermid, and Vivianne Miedema and Amy Raphael
- GenresFootballNonfictionSports
336 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2020
Footballers on the whole aren' very interesting conversationalists. Having often sacrificed their education to football, the two better educated ones here, plus the managers make for the best conversations here, though there's only so many questions you can ask about football before they start to repeat themselves.
But while the content itself is not especially startling, the relationship between the celebrity fan and the football person is where the value of this book lies. Comedians, actors, musicians, even a novelist, each with their own egos, but the interesting thing is where the fans are prepared to suspend their egos for a genuine quizzing of the footballer. So we get comedian Omid Djalili totally surrendering his own status to grill one of his football idols, whereas comedian Romesh Ranganathan makes his chat with Hector Bellerin all about Romesh Ranganathan. Not helped by the fact that Bellerin isn't nearly as intersting as he credits he is jus because he's a football outlier in being vegetarian. Perhaps the best two in the book are between Grime artist Wretch32 and Ian Wright who both grew up in the same sort of communities which provides them with an instant bond and understanding and they just chat and converse naturally and with qual status. The other is between Member Of Parliament for Tottenham David Lammy and Tottenham Hotspur player Eric Dier who grew up in Portugal and is currently studying for a social studies degree with the Open University. They talk politics, of Brexit, community, 2011 riots and race, while Dier talks meaningfully of time missed as a youth from his 4 siblings because he was in a football academy in a city too distant to live at home.
But while the content itself is not especially startling, the relationship between the celebrity fan and the football person is where the value of this book lies. Comedians, actors, musicians, even a novelist, each with their own egos, but the interesting thing is where the fans are prepared to suspend their egos for a genuine quizzing of the footballer. So we get comedian Omid Djalili totally surrendering his own status to grill one of his football idols, whereas comedian Romesh Ranganathan makes his chat with Hector Bellerin all about Romesh Ranganathan. Not helped by the fact that Bellerin isn't nearly as intersting as he credits he is jus because he's a football outlier in being vegetarian. Perhaps the best two in the book are between Grime artist Wretch32 and Ian Wright who both grew up in the same sort of communities which provides them with an instant bond and understanding and they just chat and converse naturally and with qual status. The other is between Member Of Parliament for Tottenham David Lammy and Tottenham Hotspur player Eric Dier who grew up in Portugal and is currently studying for a social studies degree with the Open University. They talk politics, of Brexit, community, 2011 riots and race, while Dier talks meaningfully of time missed as a youth from his 4 siblings because he was in a football academy in a city too distant to live at home.
June 25, 2020
Easy read, some great chapters and some very boring ones
May 29, 2020
I loved this. If there was ever a book to cross-over between the culture of football and current affairs, this is it. Such a privileged to have such an intimate insight into private conversations between well know footballers and others in the public eye, who have a genuine love of their clubs and the craft of football, but are also able to comment on current affairs is highly refreshing and would surprise many that simply think footballers are ‘thick’.
August 17, 2020
** the kind of conservations I want to footballers to have **
I feel that the title of the book is slightly misleading. Written especially raising funds for the UNHRC Refugee Crisis, this book brings in the big names in contemporary footballer to have important conversations about the world around us. Amy Raphael brings in an interesting and diverse ensemble of men and women of the footballing world to talk to individuals from various other fields. Paired together for their shared love and admiration of a club, these conversations are never boring.
They share personal stories, opinions on political events, ideas on the evolution of the game and footballing industry and discuss immigrants and the world in the aftermath of Brexit. While the theme of the book is to promote conversations about Brexit and immigration in Europe, the tone and discussions always feel very organic. Not once I got the sense that they were talking because they were forced to do so.
While I was excited to hear, I thoroughly enjoyed all these little personal anecdotes that were shared between celebrity fans and football personalities.
It was quite delight reading Guardiola's take on the Catalonian independence (I read this before the FFP ruling and his reaction to it so.. ), Klopp reinforced his "cool uncle" image for me and seeing him be as loud and vocal on Brexit as on pitch was fun. His conversation on the problematic past of Germany and its future discourse on immigration was also worthy of notice. Steve G and Frank Lampard discussing the impact of immigration, now as managers, was a mood. Reflecting on their time as players for the national team and compete for titles with their clubs and now shifting focus on mental health and navigating the labyrinth of managerial life was entertaining. Ferdinand and Wright's discussion focusing on racism in the game and the evolving role of social media was important. I was also delighted to pick up further readings form their conversations on these topics. Gary Lineker's convo with Fahd Saleh was of supreme importance, highlighting the real reason why individuals leave their country and how war tears their entire lives apart and what it means for them to find asylum in a new stable state. Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Clare Balding and author Amy Raphael's conversations on Women's football was a bit of a surprise as found a new mindset to approach the game and found a better understanding of the reality from the point of view of women who are pioneers in the game. Eric Dier's conversations with David Lammy was filled with surprising revelations about both personalities. As a Spurs fan, it was entertaining, informative and had me walking away with a newfound respect for the centre back.
Having said all that, the book could have done a bit more. It felt like the owners of talking about race fell on the shoulders of players of colour, only women discussed the victories and challenges of women's football and so on. But I loved the concept and the implementation and would love to read more work that shows these sports celebrities as actually thinking social beings and not reduced to the stereotypes of fast cars and flashy clothes.
I feel that the title of the book is slightly misleading. Written especially raising funds for the UNHRC Refugee Crisis, this book brings in the big names in contemporary footballer to have important conversations about the world around us. Amy Raphael brings in an interesting and diverse ensemble of men and women of the footballing world to talk to individuals from various other fields. Paired together for their shared love and admiration of a club, these conversations are never boring.
They share personal stories, opinions on political events, ideas on the evolution of the game and footballing industry and discuss immigrants and the world in the aftermath of Brexit. While the theme of the book is to promote conversations about Brexit and immigration in Europe, the tone and discussions always feel very organic. Not once I got the sense that they were talking because they were forced to do so.
While I was excited to hear, I thoroughly enjoyed all these little personal anecdotes that were shared between celebrity fans and football personalities.
It was quite delight reading Guardiola's take on the Catalonian independence (I read this before the FFP ruling and his reaction to it so.. ), Klopp reinforced his "cool uncle" image for me and seeing him be as loud and vocal on Brexit as on pitch was fun. His conversation on the problematic past of Germany and its future discourse on immigration was also worthy of notice. Steve G and Frank Lampard discussing the impact of immigration, now as managers, was a mood. Reflecting on their time as players for the national team and compete for titles with their clubs and now shifting focus on mental health and navigating the labyrinth of managerial life was entertaining. Ferdinand and Wright's discussion focusing on racism in the game and the evolving role of social media was important. I was also delighted to pick up further readings form their conversations on these topics. Gary Lineker's convo with Fahd Saleh was of supreme importance, highlighting the real reason why individuals leave their country and how war tears their entire lives apart and what it means for them to find asylum in a new stable state. Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Clare Balding and author Amy Raphael's conversations on Women's football was a bit of a surprise as found a new mindset to approach the game and found a better understanding of the reality from the point of view of women who are pioneers in the game. Eric Dier's conversations with David Lammy was filled with surprising revelations about both personalities. As a Spurs fan, it was entertaining, informative and had me walking away with a newfound respect for the centre back.
Having said all that, the book could have done a bit more. It felt like the owners of talking about race fell on the shoulders of players of colour, only women discussed the victories and challenges of women's football and so on. But I loved the concept and the implementation and would love to read more work that shows these sports celebrities as actually thinking social beings and not reduced to the stereotypes of fast cars and flashy clothes.
August 3, 2022
A fantastic fundraising project for UNHCR and a fantastic book where famous football fans meet their footballing heroes. As a massive football fan myself, I found this so interesting to learn more about the footballing icons within this book but also understand and learn about their opinions and experiences with racism in football.
I loved the foreword by Raheem Sterling who states ‘Laziness breeds stereotypes. Every single one of us brings something to the table and everyone deserves to have their voice heard. I urge you all to just stop. And listen. Ask questions. And get to know those around you. Understand their culture and their background because that level of knowledge is powerful. And with such power we can make real positive change.’
Such an important message which really stayed with me. I loved this book and urge everyone to give it a read, it will really make you see football in a different light. Fantastic.
❤️⚽️
I loved the foreword by Raheem Sterling who states ‘Laziness breeds stereotypes. Every single one of us brings something to the table and everyone deserves to have their voice heard. I urge you all to just stop. And listen. Ask questions. And get to know those around you. Understand their culture and their background because that level of knowledge is powerful. And with such power we can make real positive change.’
Such an important message which really stayed with me. I loved this book and urge everyone to give it a read, it will really make you see football in a different light. Fantastic.
❤️⚽️
March 31, 2020
It is great to hear views from so many perspectives on a number of important topics. There are, of course, some interviews that some will find more relatable and others that they will find less so.
I personally loved reading Wretch 32 discuss music and football with Ian Wright - particular highlight for me as both personalities are fantastic and their energy was really evident. Interesting read.
I personally loved reading Wretch 32 discuss music and football with Ian Wright - particular highlight for me as both personalities are fantastic and their energy was really evident. Interesting read.
April 1, 2022
Nice light informative read
April 16, 2023
Wonderful achievement matching celebrities with footballers to discuss topical issues. Well worth a read and very thought provoking
December 5, 2019
Great bunch of interviews from celebrity sports fans to major sports celebrities.
Klopp, Pep, Gerrard et al.
A good read that lets you know a lot more than your football chat would give you
For a very good cause also
Klopp, Pep, Gerrard et al.
A good read that lets you know a lot more than your football chat would give you
For a very good cause also
Read
October 24, 2019Feeling ‘untethered’ following the 2016 Referendum and touched by stories of children in war-torn Syria, Amy Raphael wanted to maintain the conversation about those who were displaced. Enlisting the support of actor David Morrissey, a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee agency UNHCR, they travelled to Lebanon to meet Syrian families to hear their stories first hand.
Fast-forward several months and Amy had decided that football, being the global phenomenon it is, might be the vehicle to maintain this conversation. How she managed to manifest these multiple pairings is an achievement in itself and there are some great matchups and real rapport in some of the pairings. The conversations are ‘free-style’ with no given agenda and the result is a series of fascinating chapters about football but, also, much more.
Whether a football fan or otherwise, A Game Of Two Halves is a great concept and a fascinating read. It is also very touching; I was moved to tears reading Amy’s introduction. Biggest respect to her and all those who contributed to making AGOTH happen.
Fast-forward several months and Amy had decided that football, being the global phenomenon it is, might be the vehicle to maintain this conversation. How she managed to manifest these multiple pairings is an achievement in itself and there are some great matchups and real rapport in some of the pairings. The conversations are ‘free-style’ with no given agenda and the result is a series of fascinating chapters about football but, also, much more.
Whether a football fan or otherwise, A Game Of Two Halves is a great concept and a fascinating read. It is also very touching; I was moved to tears reading Amy’s introduction. Biggest respect to her and all those who contributed to making AGOTH happen.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews