The Accidental Footballer : Nevin, Pat by Pat Nevin

The Accidental Footballer : Nevin, Pat Reviews

• 
  Woodglade

  Pat Nevin has produced an entertaining and knowledgeable read that truly reflects its author. He describes growing up and his time in football at Chelsea, Everton and Tranmere Rovers, as well as games for Scotland. The book is full of detail about the characters he played with and against, as well as reflections on racial tensions in football and the secretive rise of paedophiles in the game. He also talks about some of the skills he learned and used, many of which have to be viewed on YouTube to be be fully appreciated.
• 
  Euron

  Pat Nevin was always seen as being 'different'.Bags of skill, well read, art gallery visiting and indeed curating. An outsider, a weirdo, an individual who was unique and effortlessly cool.I saw him score in his pomp with Everton and also when he was 37 years old for Motherwell V Hibs at Easter road.His memoir is superb!Yesthere are lots and lots of references to indie music, Cocteau Twins, Joy Division and others I've never heard ofI'd reached page 250 and was at that point reasonably assured that a story set in the 80s was, for once, NOT, going to mention Morrissey. But thenon page 258 the half man half quiff appearsbut that vignette is hugely entertaining as our Pat pops Morrissey's affected persona in a singularly Toffee way.( It is brilliant!)I'm not a music man and didn't realise until the end that all the chapter titles are song titles from groups like 'The The' and 'Wah!' surprisingly the latter are apparently not natives of Bala.In a self deprecating manner Nevin writes a celebration of the individual and although he writes warmly about Colin Harvey, his revelations about the late Howard Kendall's relationship with alcohol are difficult to take, though not alas, unsurprising.Genuinely a superb read. Thoughtful, touching, laugh out loud and intelligently written.Get it read.😎👍⚽️
• 
  briscork

  This was an excellent read. Not only is Nevin's story of his rise to football stardom gripping, but his ability to bring the reader along to working class Glasgow in the 70s and the popular (or indie) culture of the 80s and 90s is fascinating. Nevin's natural intelligence and lack of ego shines through in the style of writing. The book seemed to finish in a hurry with some loose ends, so maybe there is to come? My wife never heard of Pat Nevin but picked up the book from the kitchen table one day and I didn't see it again until she finished it! A high recommendation from us both!
• 
  Chas.

  Most football biogs tread a fairly routine path, but like the author, this one dares to be a bit different. Pat was one of my first footballing idols, and the fact that he liked the Smiths and appeared on John Peel's radio show made him all the appealing.His intelligence and decency shine through in every page, and there's plenty of anecdotes about his playing days, too. My only tiny complaint is that we could have heard about specific games, or delved a bit deeply into what went on in the dressing rooms at Chelsea and Everton. Still, a good read for any footy fan.
• 
  Nigel Bate

  As a City fan I have always avoided reading bios by players who had no association with City. However, I’ve always found Pat Nevin an interesting character so thought I’d give this one a go. Well I wasn’t disappointed and there’s some very interesting chat on his music tastes and life in general. What other footballer’s book would mention legendary Manchester band A Certain Ratio in it 3 times?