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Amazon.co.uk Review
The first page of this excellent debut novel shows a map of Birkenhead featuring the Tranmere Rovers football ground, the train line to Wrexham and an arrow pointing to Chester. Not exactly the definition of chic? Well in 1979, it wasn't far off. Awaydays is about "The Pack", a gang of Tranmere Rovers Hooligans who terrorise those northern towns unfortunate enough to have a third division football team. But Awaydays is also about the implications of Margaret Thatcher's first government, the music of Joy Division and the Only Ones, youth unemployment, the explosion of heroin use, the rise of the casual street movement and what young people do when the world gets tough. The protagonist is caught between two worlds. Called Carty by the lads in the Pack and Paul by his family, he has nine O- Levels and acknowledges a tendency to "lay the accent on a bit thick when I'm with the pack, but I modulate it for all sorts of situations. I can go very posh indeed". When his worlds inevitably collide Carty is forced to making a life-changing decision. Should he stay or should he go? Take an Awayday and find out.
Review
'A dark and disturbing tale. Not for the prudish or faint of heart but entertaining for anyone else' --www.bookbag.co.uk
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Nostalgia played a huge part in my enjoyment of this book - I grew up less than half a mile from Tranmere's ground, and whilst the main character was 19 in 1979, I was 16.
They say everyone's first novel is at least partly autobiographical, which possibly puts the bold Mr. Sampson in the Cowsheds (Prenton Park's home end at the time)at the same time as me.
Memories aside, the story is highly enjoyable, and offers a cutting and accurate insight into late seventies, lower division football hooliganism.
Sampson has an excellent ear for colloquial speech, and is able to put it on paper fluently (skills later developed to the max in 'Outlaws' and 'Clubland'. I laughed out loud at Paul Carty's outburst after his quickie in Vale Park ('Arr, hey! State of me kecks!').
Unashamedly macho, great fun.
They say everyone's first novel is at least partly autobiographical, which possibly puts the bold Mr. Sampson in the Cowsheds (Prenton Park's home end at the time)at the same time as me.
Memories aside, the story is highly enjoyable, and offers a cutting and accurate insight into late seventies, lower division football hooliganism.
Sampson has an excellent ear for colloquial speech, and is able to put it on paper fluently (skills later developed to the max in 'Outlaws' and 'Clubland'. I laughed out loud at Paul Carty's outburst after his quickie in Vale Park ('Arr, hey! State of me kecks!').
Unashamedly macho, great fun.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The review title is shamelessly lifted from the front cover of this superbly well observed piece, one sadly never replicated by Sampson in his latter works.
Birkenhead in 1979 was just as he describes, the post-punk lethargy and the beginnings of the Heroin influx which led to the Wirrals' Capital Town being re-named euphemistically "Smack City". The internicine wars between the WEBB (Woodchurch Estate Boot Boys") the Noctorum and Ford estate equivalents all set aside when Tranmere played away.
Sampson pulls off a rare trick in this,his first,novel, that of being able to evoke a real sense of the young Paul Cartys need to belong to "The pack" whilst simulaneously wanting to be his own man.Cartys journey is a metaphor for many young mens transition from boy to man only his route is a tad more extreme.
Sampson has also translated his Love for the period very well and the references to the Liverpool underground scene via probe Records and Erics take this reader almost literally back in time.
The Violence he describes is almost Gonzo, but I'll forgive him this because the context is correct, you see Sampson takes you to a point where these smartly dressed and stylish lads..well, you want them to win against their unfashionably dressed opponents with, well, style.
For fans of 80's youth culture this is a must have, for students of modern post industrial history this is a must have and for those who just love a fast moving gory youth piece, this is a must have.
Birkenhead in 1979 was just as he describes, the post-punk lethargy and the beginnings of the Heroin influx which led to the Wirrals' Capital Town being re-named euphemistically "Smack City". The internicine wars between the WEBB (Woodchurch Estate Boot Boys") the Noctorum and Ford estate equivalents all set aside when Tranmere played away.
Sampson pulls off a rare trick in this,his first,novel, that of being able to evoke a real sense of the young Paul Cartys need to belong to "The pack" whilst simulaneously wanting to be his own man.Cartys journey is a metaphor for many young mens transition from boy to man only his route is a tad more extreme.
Sampson has also translated his Love for the period very well and the references to the Liverpool underground scene via probe Records and Erics take this reader almost literally back in time.
The Violence he describes is almost Gonzo, but I'll forgive him this because the context is correct, you see Sampson takes you to a point where these smartly dressed and stylish lads..well, you want them to win against their unfashionably dressed opponents with, well, style.
For fans of 80's youth culture this is a must have, for students of modern post industrial history this is a must have and for those who just love a fast moving gory youth piece, this is a must have.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Yes there'a a million and one books writen by clumsy band-wagon jumpers glorifying 70s hooliganism they probably weren't involved in, but this is not one. Speaking from personal experience, the subtleties of Wirral boroughs and casual couture are absolutely spot on, betraying the author's encyclopaedic knowledge. With a fluent tone throughout, this is a short but fascinating book by a great young author.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Football hooliganism - the way of life for some
I purchased this book after recently seeing the movie broadcast on television. The movie tells of a young lad's desire to become a member of a football hooligan pack and befriends... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Bryan
much better than the film
Bought this book along time before the film came out.the attention to the changing fashion round merseyside and also the music is excellent,not just a hooligan book but somewhat of... Read more
Published 17 months ago by lee moran
This is it!
Well, I read this book once. When I was finished I went straight to the barber. "Wedge haircut, please!" "What's a wedge?" she asked. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Piet van den Bos
Strong and exciting debut novel
I bought this book years ago having taking an interest in football culture along with music and fashion having read the book 3 times I never tire of it. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2010 by Ross1927
Not what you think! This is independent cinema at its best!
If you are expecting Awaydays to be nothing more than a footie violence film along the lines of Green Streets and Football Factory you're very wrong! Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by R. Barter
Great Read
If you like good modern British writers the you can't go far wrong with a Kevin Sampson book. A very easy book to read (like his others) with everyday English language. Read more
Published on 1 July 2008 by L. Taylor
locally brilliant
kevin sampson... well done
this was a great read for me because of all the local refrences which i could relate to. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2005 by "kil002"
a bit of bother in birkenhead
An excellent book, Kevin Sampson throws together lots of strands which all work together well, the central core revolves around narator and his forays into hardcore football... Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2002 by simon gurney
Sharper than a Stanley Knife
This book works on many levels - a document of the time, a rites of passage tale, a style guide for retro terrace casuals, a statement on the senselessness of violence... Read more
Published on 27 May 2002 by MG Metcalfe R. Sperry
Sampson's Best
Easily Kevin Sampson's best book. Has its flaws and could be said to glorify the violent side of football, but for once he gets his characters right and the pace of the book... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2002 by Colin E Coli
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