Inform us a bit about your second e book and the way you got here up with the thought?
Foul and Honest is a thriller set on this planet of children’ grassroots soccer: an beneath 12s coach will get right into a feud with one other supervisor, and the rivalry escalates right into a succession of soiled tips – Roy of the Rovers meets Home of Playing cards was the vibe I used to be going for.
I managed a children’ workforce for seven years, and in addition to seeing loads of volunteers who had been giving up hours and hours of time for the sake of the youngsters, I additionally noticed too many coaches who needed to make all of it about themselves, performing as if it was the Premier League.
The e book is about when these two views collide, about discovering the road between doing the suitable factor and getting the suitable consequence. Though it’s about children’ soccer, it’s not a kids’s e book – it’s written for adults (it’s a bit sweary at occasions).
Was it more durable or simpler to write down this e book than the primary one?
In a single sense, a lot more durable; it definitely took longer. I truly wrote this one earlier than Useless Man Singing, however I knew that I hadn’t received it proper but. Whereas Useless Man Singing was within the strategy of being revealed, I used to be remodeling Foul and Honest.
Figuring out what was mistaken with the unique model was comparatively easy; figuring out put it proper took so much longer. I had a number of false begins and useless ends, however as soon as I come across including a second character, Hayley, to share the main target of the e book with James the soccer coach, every little thing began to fall into place.
She’s a single mum and a police officer, and the way in which her story progressively intertwines with James’ makes all of the distinction. I’m actually happy with the place I’ve ended up with this one, even when it was a whole lot of work to get there.
The story is about an U12s coach, however how a lot of the storyline is drawn out of your experiences at MAN v FAT Bournemouth?
Not a lot, to be trustworthy! The unique model of the story was written earlier than I began with MAN v FAT, though the Hayley revisions got here since. The membership has left a few marks on the e book although.
One in all our gamers is a police officer, and he was an enormous assist for me in making Hayley’s work experiences ring true. There’s additionally a minor character within the e book who is known as after one other of our gamers. For quite a lot of causes, I simply couldn’t discover the suitable identify for that character, and I instantly realised that it was proper there on the membership web site all alongside.
I requested him if he minded me utilizing it and, fortunately, he agreed. If any of the lads from Bournemouth need to know which of their friends has made it into print, they’ll simply have to purchase the e book and browse it – I believe they’ll recognise him within the character too, though it wasn’t initially based mostly on him.
Though there’s nothing in Foul and Honest to do with weight-loss, there’s loads in there in regards to the worth of soccer for wellbeing, notably for youngsters. There’s additionally loads of soccer motion that may attraction to anybody who loves the sport; anybody with reminiscences of children’ soccer, both as a participant themselves, as a coach, or as a mum or dad, will discover a lot within the e book that resonates with their expertise.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of MAN v FAT gamers fall into a minimum of a type of classes, so I’m hoping that a lot of folks in our group will actually benefit from the e book.
What has the preliminary suggestions been to the e book?
It’s very early days but, however up to now so good! Evaluation copies are nonetheless being despatched out, however I managed to get superior copies of the e book to a few folks within the soccer world: Martin Dighton, previously with Dorset FA and now Senior Coach Developer at Teaching UK, and Richard Dobson, who was Gareth Ainsworth’s assistant supervisor at QPR and Wycombe.
They’ve each given glowing endorsements, praising the e book for authentically capturing the world of grassroots soccer, for the general message about placing children first, and for being a fantastic, enjoyable learn.
You possibly can see their quotes in full at https://stevecouch.co.uk/books/bwopx5ob3pvdrgme/foul-and-fair/
Useless Man Singing received some implausible reader critiques as soon as it was out on this planet, so I’m hoping that Foul and Honest will observe in its footsteps.
You’re coming to the nationwide match – how a lot are you trying ahead to assembly extra of the group? And the way a lot will the e book value them to purchase?
I’m actually trying ahead to it. In addition to promoting books, I’m hoping I’ll have the ability to watch a few of the soccer and to talk with MAN v FAT gamers from throughout the nation. I’ve been concerned with MAN v FAT for 2 and a half years now and I really like the heat and the sense of assist that everybody has for each other.
It’s genuinely among the finest issues I’ve ever been concerned with and I’m very proud to have a small half in one thing that modifications so many lives for the higher.
The books retail at £9.99 every, and I’ll be doing a particular supply for the match: if somebody buys Foul and Honest and Useless Man Singing collectively, I can do the pair at £16. However whether or not somebody desires to purchase books or not, I’d love for folks to come back and discover my bookstall and have a chat.
Please do search out Steve on the match, we’re positive he’d be glad to talk to you!