''Hope You Die of Cancer": Life in Non-League Football

by Marvin Close

This is the inside story of non-league football, as told by a player with over a decade's experience in the Conference and National Leagues. A tale of financial struggles and big sacrifices, it explores the dust-ups, bust-ups, backhanders and betting scandals of a world far, far away from the pampered Premier League.

Genres: Sports

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2022

Reviews

[Alan Coll-Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being involved in non league myself for the last decade or so I thought it would be interesting to see things from a player's perspective, even if said player was keeping themselves anonymous. But starting with the title, it hits hard and makes you think you're about to read a gripping, bare bones tell-all, when it's actually a rather average account of life in football that doesn't bring you the shock or impact implied by the title.
It's a solid enough read, not quite as explosive as you may expect, but good for people who don't realise there's football below the Premier League etc to get an idea as to what's going on.

[Brian Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A easy and enjoyable read with a good insight into non league from a players point of view. Having been involved in running a team most of this rang very true with some other stuff coming as no surprise, but a well balanced and well researched book.