Inform us a bit about your second e book and the way you got here up with the thought?
Foul and Truthful is a thriller set on the earth 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’ 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 children, I additionally noticed too many coaches who needed to make all of it about themselves, appearing as if it was the Premier League.
The e book is about when these two views collide, about discovering the road between doing the precise factor and getting the precise outcome. Though it’s about youngsters’ soccer, it’s not a kids’s e book – it’s written for adults (it’s a bit sweary at occasions).
Was it tougher or simpler to jot down this e book than the primary one?
In a single sense, a lot tougher; it actually took longer. I really wrote this one earlier than Useless Man Singing, however I knew that I hadn’t bought it proper but. Whereas Useless Man Singing was within the technique of being printed, I used to be remodeling Foul and Truthful.
Figuring out what was unsuitable with the unique model was comparatively simple; understanding the right way to put it proper took lots 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 focus of the e book with James the soccer coach, all the pieces began to fall into place.
She’s a single mum and a police officer, and the way in which her story regularly 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 number 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 every of 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 called after one other of our gamers. For quite a lot of causes, I simply couldn’t discover the precise 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 wish 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 Truthful to do with weight-loss, there’s a lot in there concerning the worth of soccer for wellbeing, notably for kids. There’s additionally loads of soccer motion that may enchantment to anybody who loves the sport; anybody with reminiscences of children’ soccer, both as a participant themselves, as a coach, or as a guardian, will discover a lot within the e book that resonates with their expertise.
I think that the overwhelming majority of MAN v FAT gamers fall into a minimum of a kind of classes, so I’m hoping that a number of individuals 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! Overview copies are nonetheless being despatched out, however I managed to get superior copies of the e book 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 e book for authentically capturing the world of grassroots soccer, for the general message about placing youngsters first, and for being an awesome, enjoyable learn.
You’ll be able to see their quotes in full at https://stevecouch.co.uk/books/bwopx5ob3pvdrgme/foul-and-fair/
Useless Man Singing bought some improbable reader opinions as soon as it was out on the earth, so I’m hoping that Foul and Truthful will comply with in its footsteps.
You’re coming to the nationwide match – how a lot are you wanting ahead to assembly extra of the group? And the way a lot will the e book value them to purchase?
I’m actually wanting ahead to it. In addition to promoting books, I’m hoping I’ll have the ability to watch among 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 like the heat and the sense of help that everybody has for each other.
It’s genuinely top-of-the-line issues I’ve ever been concerned with and I’m very proud to have a small half in one thing that adjustments so many lives for the higher.
The books retail at £9.99 every, and I’ll be doing a particular provide for the match: if somebody buys Foul and Truthful 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 individuals to return and discover my bookstall and have a chat.
Please do hunt down Steve on the match, we’re positive he’d be glad to talk to you!
