Jonny Brick’s novella about a fan who gets to take over his team captured our imaginations here at The Stand because of its wit and invention. Moz Winter is the lucky (and totally unprepared) man taking the reins of Albion, a team in the league below the league below the Football League home to a passionate but small fanbase.
Chairman Chumly sees Moz Winter’s social media post about how he would run things differently. Chumly responds by putting Moz in charge over a surreal Christmas and New Year period. What follows is Moz’s personal experience of an electrician turned football boss dealing with his haphazard team, a cynical fanbase and local press. The reader is treated to all the angles on his progress: from team podcasts and the local paper, to player reactions and conversations with his mum over Gary Barlow biscuits.
For the reader, the story gets to the heart of the hopelessness and the dreams of football fans, clutching at the essence of what being a fan of the beautiful game is, especially at the non-elite level. Full details are below, including purchase options. We hope you enjoy it!
“Moz Winter has been an Albion fan since 1998. After a Boxing Day defeat, he posts a video to his social media account letting chairman Chumly know he can be of service.
A week later, Moz’s mum Wendy can boast of having a football manager for a son. He and assistant Mick Stephens are in charge of a team of hopeless centre-backs, hapless forwards and veteran midfielders.
Can Moz get Albion back to winning ways? Can he deal with media scrutiny and Chumly’s interventions? And does access to the dressing room change how much of an Albie he is?”
As well as an author, Jonny is the host of cult football podcast The Football Library, and a Watford fan. His previous books are ‘A Modern Guide To Modern Football‘, and ‘From Kids To Champions: A History of the FA Youth Cup‘.
Jonny can be contacted by email here and is happy to take part in promotional press related to the book on request.
Practical information:
Publisher: The Stand Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-471002618
Editing by James Hendicott, cover design by James Hendicott and David Dooley
Released: December 2022.
Retail:
Lulu – £6.99/ €8.99/ $8.99 (other currencies available) + postage.
