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The Smell of Football 2: The Next 11 Years
Mick (Baz) Rathbone was born in Birmingham in 1958. Highly academic, he was determined to become a Doctor. He was also an outstanding long distance runner and footballer. Against the advice of his father and headmaster, he left school at 16 years of age to sign apprentice professional forms for his local football club, Birmingham City F.C. Things went very well at first and he was selected to play for the England Youth Team. He also made his senior league debut at Tottenham that same season at only 17 years of age. He had the world at his feet. Great things were predicted for this lad from Sheldon. Unfortunately, things started to go wrong and the strain of playing top flight football, as a teenager, for the club that he had supported, became too much. His career imploded and it reached the point where he didn’t want to play football any more. Luckily, he went on loan to Blackburn Rovers in 1979 and the physical separation from his home town allowed him to have a relatively successful lower league career. There were still many challenges along the way but eventually he became a Chartered Physiotherapist, working his way up from the lower leagues, to becoming head of the medical department at Everton F.C. in 2002, at 44 years of age. He enjoyed a successful 8 years at Everton. When he left in 2010 he wrote a much acclaimed book called The Smell Of Football, which spoke openly about his struggles with self confidence. The book was highly successful and was nominated for several prestigious literary awards. The much anticipated sequel; The Smell Of Football 2 has now been written and is receiving similar accolades. It covers 11 years and 10 different football teams and deals with the issues of getting older in a sport fixated on youth.
250 pages, Hardcover
Published December 31, 2022
About the author
Mick Rathbone
6 books3 followersMick "Baz" Rathbone signed for Birmingham City as a 16 year-old apprentice and there began his career in the world of football.
Born Michael John Rathbone on 6 November 1958, "Baz" has been a player, caretaker manager, and team physio over his career. He is currently physiotherapist for Salford City FC.
His nickname of "Basil" or "Baz" is in reference to actor Basil Rathbone.
Born Michael John Rathbone on 6 November 1958, "Baz" has been a player, caretaker manager, and team physio over his career. He is currently physiotherapist for Salford City FC.
His nickname of "Basil" or "Baz" is in reference to actor Basil Rathbone.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 15, 2022
Baz Rathbone comes across as one of the nicest, funniest and humblest men in football. Now in his early sixties he has had a long career in the game as a player, then a physio and now an author and advocate for players mental health and wellbeing.
I finished reading this book this morning and almost immediately jumped to a recent podcast he did with 'Under the Cosh' which raised a lot of laughs and smiles whilst working this morning.
'The Smell of Football' is probably the best football book I have ever read, which focussed on his career, particularly as a talented youth at Birmingham and his fears and anxieties playing the game and then his long career, being much loved at Blackburn and Preston, getting into management and then physiotherapy and fitness and medical treatment of players. He had a long stint back at Preston with the dream team with David Moyes winning promotion to the Championship and being a whisker from promotion to the Premier League and then he followed Moyes to Everton and had a long career leading the medical team there.
'The Smell of Football 2' is a follow-up to his first book, capturing the ten years or so since his dismissal at Everton. It's quite a light read, and if you're into the subject matter you'll race through it. I suppose if you are not it may read like a series of experiences doing different jobs all vaguely familiar!
Whilst the book is funny and has a familiar cast of clubs, players and other football figures fans will be familiar with, it is also a book about what it means to grow old, and understanding our value and place in the world.
I find it hard for anyone who knows of Rathbone's career to not think how much of a valued, brilliant professional he has been in his career - the list of people who 'pick up the phone' and call in favours which lead to longer term work is huge. And yet, throughout the book Baz is reflecting on his worth in a changing industry. He has challenges in understanding the world of fitness and sports science changing around him and his reluctance to engage or understand the value of the changes. Is he a 'dinosaur' struggling to keep up, or is he experienced and mindful of what 'really' works. He has challenges with his fitness - it looks strange to an outsider, but throughout his fifties it is almost as though he has to be faster and fitter than the players he works with - as though even as he reaches his sixties he has to be fast. His fitness being a validation that he 'belongs' on the training ground with the players he works with. I suspect the clubs hire him because of his expertise, professionalism and dedication, but in his head he has to still be ahead of the pack working with the players.
It's a book about self confidence and worry, and that transition from being a respected professional with a six figure salary to being dismissed by a close friend and starting again, wondering where his place is in the world and the anxieties of needing to provide for his family.
He took some time out to write the first book, and work with players mentoring them and working with others advocating for better mental health awareness in football. He even did a stint after dinner speaking - he was a bag of nerves, but anyone listening would think he was a natural! It's something that many outwardly confident people struggle with - myself included.
We've got some very funny stories, some behind the scenes stories at struggling clubs (sorry Baz, I did laugh at the Watford 7-2 thrashing of Blackpool when it happened...), but also some heartwarming stories of him reconnecting with the joy of football whether it's kids at college or the Montserrat national team or working with young England squads. It's quite funny how every chapter ends with him offering to leave clubs out of respect or loyalty, being asked to stay on, doing it and regretting it then vowing never to do it again (before doing it again). He's told his wife he has hung up his boots plenty of times but he is still waiting for the next call - he must have worked at at least 20 teams, sometimes going back multiple times.
It was quite touching towards the end of the book, where he finally seems to accept his age (he looked old when he was in his twenties!) and his body and his place in the world. He's still wanted in the industry and dare I say much loved by fans and peers. It's a great read, is his real voice (there are some slight 'flow' issues but I think that reflects on the book better because it is authentic) and a great follow-up to his first book. Really glad I got this - signed by Baz too!
A couple of personal points.
1) Baz once responded to a tweet of mine with some insight on a very famous game and goal for Preston fans. I practically called him a legend for what he shared, but he was so unassuming in a response that it was 'business as usual'. It probably was, but that decision he made made a huge difference in the hearts of Preston fans that will live on for generations
2) When I was about 11 I said to my Dad, 'I never notice Mick Rathbone on the pitch', he said back, 'that's because you only ever spot the mistakes defenders make. He never puts a foot wrong.' I never forgot it and it's funny thinking that Baz thinks he was awful and only heard the abuse, but there were fans thinking what a good solid player he was.
You can get the book here and it gets a big thumbs up from me - https://www.thesmelloffootball2.co.uk/
I finished reading this book this morning and almost immediately jumped to a recent podcast he did with 'Under the Cosh' which raised a lot of laughs and smiles whilst working this morning.
'The Smell of Football' is probably the best football book I have ever read, which focussed on his career, particularly as a talented youth at Birmingham and his fears and anxieties playing the game and then his long career, being much loved at Blackburn and Preston, getting into management and then physiotherapy and fitness and medical treatment of players. He had a long stint back at Preston with the dream team with David Moyes winning promotion to the Championship and being a whisker from promotion to the Premier League and then he followed Moyes to Everton and had a long career leading the medical team there.
'The Smell of Football 2' is a follow-up to his first book, capturing the ten years or so since his dismissal at Everton. It's quite a light read, and if you're into the subject matter you'll race through it. I suppose if you are not it may read like a series of experiences doing different jobs all vaguely familiar!
Whilst the book is funny and has a familiar cast of clubs, players and other football figures fans will be familiar with, it is also a book about what it means to grow old, and understanding our value and place in the world.
I find it hard for anyone who knows of Rathbone's career to not think how much of a valued, brilliant professional he has been in his career - the list of people who 'pick up the phone' and call in favours which lead to longer term work is huge. And yet, throughout the book Baz is reflecting on his worth in a changing industry. He has challenges in understanding the world of fitness and sports science changing around him and his reluctance to engage or understand the value of the changes. Is he a 'dinosaur' struggling to keep up, or is he experienced and mindful of what 'really' works. He has challenges with his fitness - it looks strange to an outsider, but throughout his fifties it is almost as though he has to be faster and fitter than the players he works with - as though even as he reaches his sixties he has to be fast. His fitness being a validation that he 'belongs' on the training ground with the players he works with. I suspect the clubs hire him because of his expertise, professionalism and dedication, but in his head he has to still be ahead of the pack working with the players.
It's a book about self confidence and worry, and that transition from being a respected professional with a six figure salary to being dismissed by a close friend and starting again, wondering where his place is in the world and the anxieties of needing to provide for his family.
He took some time out to write the first book, and work with players mentoring them and working with others advocating for better mental health awareness in football. He even did a stint after dinner speaking - he was a bag of nerves, but anyone listening would think he was a natural! It's something that many outwardly confident people struggle with - myself included.
We've got some very funny stories, some behind the scenes stories at struggling clubs (sorry Baz, I did laugh at the Watford 7-2 thrashing of Blackpool when it happened...), but also some heartwarming stories of him reconnecting with the joy of football whether it's kids at college or the Montserrat national team or working with young England squads. It's quite funny how every chapter ends with him offering to leave clubs out of respect or loyalty, being asked to stay on, doing it and regretting it then vowing never to do it again (before doing it again). He's told his wife he has hung up his boots plenty of times but he is still waiting for the next call - he must have worked at at least 20 teams, sometimes going back multiple times.
It was quite touching towards the end of the book, where he finally seems to accept his age (he looked old when he was in his twenties!) and his body and his place in the world. He's still wanted in the industry and dare I say much loved by fans and peers. It's a great read, is his real voice (there are some slight 'flow' issues but I think that reflects on the book better because it is authentic) and a great follow-up to his first book. Really glad I got this - signed by Baz too!
A couple of personal points.
1) Baz once responded to a tweet of mine with some insight on a very famous game and goal for Preston fans. I practically called him a legend for what he shared, but he was so unassuming in a response that it was 'business as usual'. It probably was, but that decision he made made a huge difference in the hearts of Preston fans that will live on for generations
2) When I was about 11 I said to my Dad, 'I never notice Mick Rathbone on the pitch', he said back, 'that's because you only ever spot the mistakes defenders make. He never puts a foot wrong.' I never forgot it and it's funny thinking that Baz thinks he was awful and only heard the abuse, but there were fans thinking what a good solid player he was.
You can get the book here and it gets a big thumbs up from me - https://www.thesmelloffootball2.co.uk/
January 30, 2022
For any fan of football, this is a brilliant read. Mick Rathbone is honest, funny, full of stories, wisdom and wit and self aware. As good, if not better than his first book. A must read for any football fan.
February 21, 2022
A superb sequel, deserves all the plaudits
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews