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How Not to Run a Football Club: Protests, Boycotts, Court Cases and the Story of How Blackpool Fans Fought to Save Their Club
On a sweltering day in May 2010, Blackpool achieved the impossible dream. The Seasiders booked their ticket to the Premier League in a thrilling play-off final win, with all the riches that came with it. Twenty-four hours later, while everybody else was celebrating, the Oystons were meeting to plan how they would take it. Ian Holloway and his side fought bravely for survival, becoming the nation's second team with their swashbuckling style. Behind the scenes, the club was falling apart. Buckets collected rain leaking through the training ground roof. The manager's office could have the heat or lights on, just not at the same time. The Oystons paid themselves nearly £30m. It took five years for Blackpool to suffer three relegations back to the basement of the Football League. When fans hit back, they were sued. Chairman Karl Oyston told a fan he was on a 'never ending revenge mission'. How Not to Run a Football Club is the inside story of how one family nearly ran a football club to its death. And how a community brought it back.
- GenresFootball
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 4, 2024
I'm a Preston North End supporter. I have been since my dad took me to Deepdale in the year 2000. As such, it is ingrained in me to hate Blackpool. To laugh at their misfortune. To see them as our lesser rival, but to still be jealous of their one year in the Premier League.
Fogg's book isn't really a book about football. It's a story of good vs evil. The Oystons are reputed across Lancashire for their behaviours. The book is from the perspective of a Blackpool fan, and Fogg does make efforts to point out the misdeeds of those opposing the Oystons. The details about Belokon and his associations were new to me. Lots of intrigue in this story, and ultimately I found myself empathising with my noisy neighbours at the west end of the M55.
At the time of writing my review, the supposed saviour of Blackpool FC in the Epilogue, Simon Sadler, is in hot water in Hong Kong over insider trading at his hedge fund firm. Blackpool FC is the give that keeps on giving. Another chapter needed, Nathan...
Fogg's book isn't really a book about football. It's a story of good vs evil. The Oystons are reputed across Lancashire for their behaviours. The book is from the perspective of a Blackpool fan, and Fogg does make efforts to point out the misdeeds of those opposing the Oystons. The details about Belokon and his associations were new to me. Lots of intrigue in this story, and ultimately I found myself empathising with my noisy neighbours at the west end of the M55.
At the time of writing my review, the supposed saviour of Blackpool FC in the Epilogue, Simon Sadler, is in hot water in Hong Kong over insider trading at his hedge fund firm. Blackpool FC is the give that keeps on giving. Another chapter needed, Nathan...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2023
I am not a Blackpool fan . This book gives an idea of how badly a football club can be operated . Owen Oysten takes control of the club and the owners son Karl Oyston is put in charge , who incidentally does not like football . Karl adopts a penny pinching approach save for transactions with related parties .This book flags where any reform of football should be focused , with payers not being paid their win bonuses , facilities run down and tens of millions extracted from the club for no or little value .Owen Oyston is permitted to remain in charge of the club even though he was convicted for rape during his ownership .
An eye opening read to the ups and downs of Blackpool FC.
An eye opening read to the ups and downs of Blackpool FC.
March 25, 2022
An astonishing story very well told. You do not need to be a Blackpool fan or even follow football to appreciate this story of corporate greed, cruelty and ineptitude. Fortunately for those of us who do follow Blackpool FC the ending is a happy one, something that could never have been foreseen some years ago,
May 14, 2024
Wow. I can’t say I’m a football fan in the slightest, but I am here for the drama! This is something that has to be read to be believed. The narrative is compelling from start to finish, a really gripping read. You don’t have to be a BFC or football fan to enjoy this
May 8, 2022
Such a rotten tale, told with forensic research and plenty of first-hand accounts. Credit to the fans.
January 15, 2023
Great book and thoroughly enjoyable . Couldn’t put it down. The stories in it are amazing and remind me of the trouble my own club went through .
January 31, 2023
How a town fought back against the owners of their local EFL club.
No one really comes out of it in a positive light.
No one really comes out of it in a positive light.
June 4, 2023
Great book describing the fans battle against the obnoxious Oystons. Brought a tear to my eye when they won their court battle .
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews