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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The literary equivalant of a 30 yard screamer.,
By russell clarke "stipesdoppleganger" (halifax, west yorks) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)
This review is from: The Far Corner: A Mazy Dribble Through North East Football (Paperback)
“The Far Corner” is a warm homage to North East football, the title allaying to the regions geographical location as well as the more obvious football reference. Harry Pearson while in the throes of moving back to the area spent a season trawling round this football mad region watching games from all levels. Jeez, as if moving house isn’t stressful enough. He goes from the dizzy heights of the Premiership with Newcastle through to the more dubious delights of Blyth Spartans vs. Tow Law Town in the Federation Brewery Northern League Division One. In a way, this is as much a travel and to some extent an historical book as well as a football one. Mostly though it’s just bloody funny. So much so you could find yourself ,like I did ,laughing out loud on public transport, unless you go everywhere by car in which case in the interests of road safety I’d recommend you stick to reading it at home.Most of the high comedy comes from Pearson’s empirical observations of his fellow fans but he also has a wry eye and sharp turn of phrase for the most mundane of subjects. Hence;” It was so cold the sun was wearing a balaclava”. But there is also an undertow of melancholic nostalgia as he gives brief potted histories and biographies of teams and players. This book has been compared to “Fever Pitch” which is a bit inaccurate as that is a more forensic examination of the hardcore fans psyche and while “The Far Corner” lacks “Fever Pitch”, s poetic style it is the much funnier work. Thus we get a wincingly amusing account of Pearson’s encounter with the Sunderland Skinheed or the classic face off between two old timers on the terraces which culminates in a virtuoso performance so hilarious I almost popped a kneecap laughing. As a strict armchair football fan, something that will earn me the eternal scorn from most of the people featured in this book, I can say it’s the only thing that makes me yearn to see a live game. Of course this soon passes as I remember I’m not that fond of frostbite and would really rather not have some twenty stone bruisers yelling vitriol in my ear throughout the game. I wish the girlfriend wouldn’t insist in coming too…As Pearson would say..”only joking”. “The Far Corner” along with Simon Hughes “A Lot of Hard Yakka” is the most enjoyable sports book I’ve read and is a joy every time you re-visit. Read it and weep…….with laughter…Ohh and if anyone fancies commissioning a similar book about cricket in West Yorkshire , I’m up for the job!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laughing So Much You Will Dribble,
By
This review is from: The Far Corner: A Mazy Dribble Through North East Football (Paperback)
Currently the majority of football books are written by overpaid and underperforming players. There books are hollow are often leave with a sense of anger, and often disgust, that you have contributed to the income of another egotitstical maniac who's experience of football is nothing like the one you know.
This book however shows all that is good about football, the experiences of the fans and the long journeys that people make to follow their team. It has moments so funny that I did laugh out loud on the bus and their will be at least one part of the book that someone will relate to. This is one of the best books about football I have ever read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Searingly funny,
By
This review is from: The Far Corner: A Mazy Dribble Through North East Football (Paperback)
A very ,very funny account of football in the North East. As a Newcastle fan & intermittent Gateshead FC supporter (who has also been known to pop over to watch Blyth Spartans & Whitley Bay FC), I could readilly identify with huge swathes of this book.
This is not just a book for the North East fan - any football fan will love it. Non league supporters will ,no doubt, have a chuckle or two as they read large sections of this book. I am certain that they will readily identify with some of the characters Harry runs into in the North East non league scene. If you haven't been to a non league game, this book could well persuade you to go, if anything,just to see if you can spot some of the kinds of characters Pearson describes through his keen observation, or as a result of being drawn into conversation with them (he really does nail some of the more "unusual" characters & experiences you sometimes encounter at non league games). This is what football is all about - enjoying the game, enduring the pain of mediocrity,having a laugh,a pint & savouring the atmosphere & the people . Pearson does all of this in this marvellous book, it's just brilliant & I think (for what it's worth !) that it's a must for football fans everywhere.
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