If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . . then you're probably not a football fan. Years of underachievement. An heroic sense of injustice. A seemingly infinite capacity for self-destruction. John Crace and Spurs were made for each other. But then the team started to play like possible champions. For most fans, these are the glory moments they dream about. For Crace they just opened a new dimension of anxiety: the fear of success. Crace has supported Spurs for 40 years. His wife thinks he suffers from a psychiatric disorder, but fandom is not only one of the ways he negotiates his relationships, it also helps him make some sense of his life. Vertigo is the story of why fandom that starts out in boyish hope always ends in dark comedy.
Vertigo
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Review
A funny and moving memoir which truly describes the horror of being a football fan--David Baddiel
On the ball, in the action, playing attractive stuff ... follow John Crace inside the mad, funny, obsessed world of every football fan.-- Hunter Davies, author of The Glory Game.
Brilliantly describes the drama and despair of the true football fan. The Spurs fan in particular. --Phil Cornwell, The Spurs Show
On the ball, in the action, playing attractive stuff ... follow John Crace inside the mad, funny, obsessed world of every football fan.-- Hunter Davies, author of The Glory Game.
Brilliantly describes the drama and despair of the true football fan. The Spurs fan in particular. --Phil Cornwell, The Spurs Show
Book Description
From the creator of the Digested Read an hilarious take on the life of the obsessive football fan of a team that almost always disappoints.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Hotspur
Format:Kindle Edition
John Crace is a Spurs fan, and so am I, so I bought and read this book as soon as it came out. I expected and got a well-written, funny and evocative account of what it is to support a football team which never quite achieves what its (famously pessimistic) fans hope for so much. It is the classic Spurs account of our best season for decades, with many highs and some lows too
But slightly to my surprise the story told also opens up John's personal history, his problem with depression and anxiety and his feelings for his family in a genuinely affecting way. I found myself identifying with the author and "feeling his pain" at times. I respect very much hs willingness to be open and honest with his readers, to explore his own personality and to tell his story warts and all. I felt emotionally exhausted when, after our team had lost to Real Madrid, the narrative ended. I would buy a sequel without hesitation!
This is an excellent and well-written football book but MUCH more too
But slightly to my surprise the story told also opens up John's personal history, his problem with depression and anxiety and his feelings for his family in a genuinely affecting way. I found myself identifying with the author and "feeling his pain" at times. I respect very much hs willingness to be open and honest with his readers, to explore his own personality and to tell his story warts and all. I felt emotionally exhausted when, after our team had lost to Real Madrid, the narrative ended. I would buy a sequel without hesitation!
This is an excellent and well-written football book but MUCH more too
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a football fan (season ticket holder at another London club) and looked forward to reading this. I've always enjoyed Crace's writing and having read Vertigo, I am still looking forward to more.
The title and blurb are very accurate but, as the first review says, there is a lot more than just that. Although this is a book about a committed Spurs fan's view of the 2010/11 season, including the Champions League run which threw out some startling results, it's not simply a book for Spurs fans, any more than Fever Pitch was only for Arsenal supporters. The writer's affiliation in both books is just the lens through which the experience of the fan is described. The whole season is used as a frame on which the waxing and waning feelings of excitement, hope, fear and frustration - recognisable by any fan of any team of any sport - are played out in a highly personal, personable and wry style. Crace exposes a great deal of his personal life in the context of slightly obsessive fandom and readers used to his style of blunt honesty, wit and cleverness as a journalist will recognise the voice of the book. There are very evocative passages about what it means to be a tribe member that crosses football jealousies and rivalries, and equally engaging frankness about families, fatherhood and Crace's difficulty in looking on the bright side.
The title and blurb are very accurate but, as the first review says, there is a lot more than just that. Although this is a book about a committed Spurs fan's view of the 2010/11 season, including the Champions League run which threw out some startling results, it's not simply a book for Spurs fans, any more than Fever Pitch was only for Arsenal supporters. The writer's affiliation in both books is just the lens through which the experience of the fan is described. The whole season is used as a frame on which the waxing and waning feelings of excitement, hope, fear and frustration - recognisable by any fan of any team of any sport - are played out in a highly personal, personable and wry style. Crace exposes a great deal of his personal life in the context of slightly obsessive fandom and readers used to his style of blunt honesty, wit and cleverness as a journalist will recognise the voice of the book. There are very evocative passages about what it means to be a tribe member that crosses football jealousies and rivalries, and equally engaging frankness about families, fatherhood and Crace's difficulty in looking on the bright side.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Bedford Spur
Format:Paperback
Although the book is touted as one for football fans, I think its detailed leaning towards Spurs' 2010/11 season makes it one for the Lillywhites. As a fellow Spur, I could so relate to each page, description of events, superstitions and nervous moments of last season's campaign. I thought I was a bit of an oddball with my match day superstitions, so it's good to read that I'm not alone. Thoroughly enjoyable and easy to read book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
40 GOING ON 55
Even non football fans would find this funny and relevant.but.. If you are male; between the age of 45 and 55 and spent any time supporting a club, having kids and generally... Read more
Published 2 months ago by MARK WALLIS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why I became a Spurs fan
They say that Premier League may not be so interesting at the moment. But books like these witness that English football culture as a whole has tremendous deep roots, something we... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tommi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very funny - even for women!
I bought this book for my Spurs-loving boyfriend last Christmas and he was gone - huddled into a corner snorting with laughter. I was compelled to read it myself after that. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mia James
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insight into a football fan
John Crace uses this book to tell the story of Spurs' 2010-11 season, the one in which they reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with matches against Real Madrid, AC... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Sport Nut
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh the agony of being a football fan...
Let's face it, most serious football fans are a bit nuts. And John here stretches that to a fine point. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Gillers
5.0 out of 5 stars
memories
This book brought back so many memories for me from last season, the ups and downs, twists and turns. For me this truly depicts the roller-coaster that is supporting Spurs
Published 14 months ago by jandap
5.0 out of 5 stars
COYS
Great book. I re-lived the whole season. It's exactly how most Spurs fans I talk to feel about our team.
Published 14 months ago by Johnhic
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 'must' read for any Spurs fan!
I was recommended to read this book whilst on holiday, by an Arsenal fan!
I couldn't put the book down and as I had been on all the Champions' League away trips last season,... Read more
I couldn't put the book down and as I had been on all the Champions' League away trips last season,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Peter Rabin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a bad book even if your not a Spurs fan
Enjoyed reading through this book, complete with the authors highs and lows. His description of Spurs failing when they play a team whose name begins with a 'W' earned me quite a... Read more
Published 15 months ago by A. Kettlewell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for real Spurs fans
My friend is typical north London lad, he loves the book which was bis Christmas gift. That says it all. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Kayo
Listmania!
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