Inform us a bit about your second guide and the way you got here up with the concept?Foul and Honest is a thriller set on the 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 youngsters’ group for seven years, and in addition to seeing loads of volunteers who have 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, appearing as if it was the Premier League.
The guide is about when these two views collide, about discovering the road between doing the best factor and getting the best consequence. Though it’s about youngsters’ soccer, it’s not a kids’s guide – it’s written for adults (it’s a bit sweary at instances).
Was it tougher or simpler to write down this guide than the primary one?In a single sense, a lot tougher; it definitely took longer. I really wrote this one earlier than Lifeless Man Singing, however I knew that I hadn’t received it proper but. Whereas Lifeless Man Singing was within the strategy of being revealed, I used to be remodeling Foul and Honest.
Figuring out what was incorrect with the unique model was comparatively simple; understanding the right way to put it proper took lots longer. I had a couple of false begins and lifeless ends, however as soon as I stumble on including a second character, Hayley, to share the main focus of the guide with James the soccer coach, all the things 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 loads 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 sincere! 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 guide although.
One among 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 guide who is known as after one other of our gamers. For quite a lot of causes, I simply couldn’t discover the best title for that character, and I all of the sudden 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 wish to know which of their friends has made it into print, they’ll simply have to purchase the guide and skim 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 lots in there in regards to the worth of soccer for wellbeing, significantly for kids. There’s additionally loads of soccer motion that can attraction to anybody who loves the sport; anybody with reminiscences of children’ soccer, both as a participant themselves, as a coach, or as a father or mother, will discover a lot within the guide that resonates with their expertise.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of MAN v FAT gamers fall into at the least a kind of classes, so I’m hoping that a lot of individuals in our group will actually benefit from the guide.
What has the preliminary suggestions been to the guide?It’s very early days but, however to date so good! Assessment copies are nonetheless being despatched out, however I managed to get superior copies of the guide to a few individuals 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 guide for authentically capturing the world of grassroots soccer, for the general message about placing youngsters first, and for being an excellent, enjoyable learn.
You may see their quotes in full at https://stevecouch.co.uk/books/bwopx5ob3pvdrgme/foul-and-fair/
Lifeless Man Singing received some unbelievable reader critiques as soon as it was out on the planet, so I’m hoping that Foul and Honest will observe in its footsteps.
You’re coming to the nationwide event – how a lot are you wanting ahead to assembly extra of the group? And the way a lot will the guide value them to purchase?I’m actually wanting ahead to it. In addition to promoting books, I’m hoping I’ll be capable to watch among the soccer and to speak 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 event: if somebody buys Foul and Honest and Lifeless Man Singing collectively, I can do the pair at £16. However whether or not somebody needs to purchase books or not, I’d love for individuals to come back and discover my bookstall and have a chat.
Please do hunt down Steve on the event, we’re certain he’d be glad to speak to you!
