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What I Talk About When I Talk About Non-League Football: The trials, tribulations and tipsiness of the ten–year life of a football club called Gresley
What I Talk About When I Talk About Non-League Football tells the story of the ten-year life of a football club called Gresley FC.
Gresley FC were formed from the ashes of a proud old club called Gresley Rovers, who at one point were the third biggest club in Derbyshire, and as famous as that suggests. The name Gresley FC officially existed for only ten years before they were able to change it back to Gresley Rovers again.
That decade saw two promotions, one relegation, one play–off final, two memorable runs in the FA Vase, a six–month stretch where they won only one game, and too many visits to Leek.
These ups and downs were mirrored by the promotions and the redundancies, the marriage and the gout, of one man’s wobbly journey from a childlike 30–year–old into a slightly–less–childlike 40–year–old.
The two intertwining tales are told with the help of 15 mugs of Bovril, 14 bottles of Blue WKD, two lost umbrellas, one pair of abandoned pants, and one mention of a former football club called Chesterfield Tube Works.
It is a story of glory and failure, scotch eggs and red cards, as told from the flag–draped pubs of central England, the crumbling terraces of the Northern Premier League and the Midland Football Alliance, and the Strongbow–splattered seats of East Midland Trains.
It is a ten-year snapshot into what I talk about when I talk about non-league football.
Praise for What I Talk About When I Talk About Non-League Football :
“Non-league football is a thing all of its own and no book better captures its power, its communities, its difficult journeys and its uniquely-shaped burgers than this one. Anyone who has ever been captured by the magic of non-league will feel deeply in tune with Stefan Appleby's excellent book.” Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic
“The best book about Gresley I have and probably will ever read.” Lloyd Griffith, Soccer AM
“The beauty of this book is you don't have to be a fan of Gresley to enjoy it. It is the story of non-league devotion, an unbreakable, inexplicable bond between a supporter and their club that will resonate with football fans of all levels, the length and breadth of the country. Written with great warmth and humour, the stories from the terraces will have you smiling along.” Nick Westby, The Yorkshire Post
“What I Talk About When I Talk About Non-League Football is one of the funniest football books I’ve read in years. It perfectly and warmly captures the moments of joy, the elements of futility, the many examples of absurdity but most of all the nourishing community that defines following a non-league club. Read it now.” Nick Miller, The Athletic
Gresley FC were formed from the ashes of a proud old club called Gresley Rovers, who at one point were the third biggest club in Derbyshire, and as famous as that suggests. The name Gresley FC officially existed for only ten years before they were able to change it back to Gresley Rovers again.
That decade saw two promotions, one relegation, one play–off final, two memorable runs in the FA Vase, a six–month stretch where they won only one game, and too many visits to Leek.
These ups and downs were mirrored by the promotions and the redundancies, the marriage and the gout, of one man’s wobbly journey from a childlike 30–year–old into a slightly–less–childlike 40–year–old.
The two intertwining tales are told with the help of 15 mugs of Bovril, 14 bottles of Blue WKD, two lost umbrellas, one pair of abandoned pants, and one mention of a former football club called Chesterfield Tube Works.
It is a story of glory and failure, scotch eggs and red cards, as told from the flag–draped pubs of central England, the crumbling terraces of the Northern Premier League and the Midland Football Alliance, and the Strongbow–splattered seats of East Midland Trains.
It is a ten-year snapshot into what I talk about when I talk about non-league football.
Praise for What I Talk About When I Talk About Non-League Football :
“Non-league football is a thing all of its own and no book better captures its power, its communities, its difficult journeys and its uniquely-shaped burgers than this one. Anyone who has ever been captured by the magic of non-league will feel deeply in tune with Stefan Appleby's excellent book.” Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic
“The best book about Gresley I have and probably will ever read.” Lloyd Griffith, Soccer AM
“The beauty of this book is you don't have to be a fan of Gresley to enjoy it. It is the story of non-league devotion, an unbreakable, inexplicable bond between a supporter and their club that will resonate with football fans of all levels, the length and breadth of the country. Written with great warmth and humour, the stories from the terraces will have you smiling along.” Nick Westby, The Yorkshire Post
“What I Talk About When I Talk About Non-League Football is one of the funniest football books I’ve read in years. It perfectly and warmly captures the moments of joy, the elements of futility, the many examples of absurdity but most of all the nourishing community that defines following a non-league club. Read it now.” Nick Miller, The Athletic
270 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 28, 2022
So yes, I do know the author but at the same time I don't care a jot for football so I think these things balance out maybe? Even as a non-fan this is a great book, a sort of Bill Bryson-esque 10-year travelogue of obscure parts of the UK mixed with anecdotes and glimpses of the author's life and friends. Worth a read for sure - always light and brisk, and the rough chapter-per-season structure means you can read it in pleasant chunks.
January 3, 2023
I don't think I've read a book about lower level soccer that is quite as REAL as this book. It's written by the kind of person who's never watched football in a real stadium and it shows. That kind of dedication to never feeling joy is both fully documented here and is absolutely worthy of praise. A fantastic book. Gresley sounds like a $20 cheese.
April 21, 2026
Having read other books about non-league teams, I had an idea of what to expect. But this is a much more personal take on what being a non-league football supporter is like. Spanning a pre- and post COVID football landscape, it was interesting to get another take on how chaotic a club can be and what if anything it's like to support a semi-rubbish club. Unsurprisingly, there is a lot of drinking in this book, and not just because Stefan team are a little bit rubbish most of the time..that being said, I really enjoyed certain parts of the book. Stefans honesty is what really makes it a decent read. Would I recommend it, yes. But it's not always an enjoyable read....
December 18, 2022
A funny, heartfelt, flippant yet poignant recounting of ten years of supporting Gresley FC and 'growing up'. A love letter to exploring the country with football as a medium whilst recounting the joys and angst of taking on 'adult responsibility'. Beautifully written and thoroughly absorbing, it'll leave you hankering for a fresh pint in a remote midland's town
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews