Inform us a bit about your second ebook and the way you got here up with the concept?
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 children’ staff 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 youngsters, I additionally noticed too many coaches who wished to make all of it about themselves, performing as if it was the Premier League.
The ebook 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 children’ soccer, it’s not a kids’s ebook – it’s written for adults (it’s a bit sweary at occasions).
Was it tougher or simpler to jot down this ebook 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 obtained it proper but. Whereas Useless Man Singing was within the technique of being revealed, I used to be remodeling Foul and Truthful.
Figuring out what was unsuitable with the unique model was comparatively simple; figuring out learn how to put it proper took so much longer. I had just a few false begins and lifeless ends, however as soon as I come across including a second character, Hayley, to share the main target of the ebook with James the soccer coach, every part began to fall into place.
She’s a single mum and a police officer, and the best way her story steadily 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 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 ebook 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 ebook who is called after one other of our gamers. For a wide range of causes, I simply couldn’t discover the best identify 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 need to know which of their friends has made it into print, they’ll simply have to purchase the ebook and skim it – I feel they’ll recognise him within the character too, though it wasn’t initially primarily based on him.
Though there’s nothing in Foul and Truthful to do with weight-loss, there’s a lot in there in regards to the worth of soccer for wellbeing, significantly for youngsters. There’s additionally loads of soccer motion that may enchantment to anybody who loves the sport; anybody with recollections of children’ soccer, both as a participant themselves, as a coach, or as a father or mother, will discover a lot within the ebook that resonates with their expertise.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of MAN v FAT gamers fall into at the very least a kind of classes, so I’m hoping that plenty of folks in our neighborhood will actually benefit from the ebook.
What has the preliminary suggestions been to the ebook?
It’s very early days but, however to this point so good! Overview copies are nonetheless being despatched out, however I managed to get superior copies of the ebook to a few folks 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 ebook for authentically capturing the world of grassroots soccer, for the general message about placing children first, and for being an ideal, enjoyable learn.
You may see their quotes in full at https://stevecouch.co.uk/books/bwopx5ob3pvdrgme/foul-and-fair/
Useless Man Singing obtained some incredible reader critiques 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 trying ahead to assembly extra of the neighborhood? And the way a lot will the ebook value them to purchase?
I’m actually trying ahead to it. In addition to promoting books, I’m hoping I’ll be capable of watch a number of 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 among the best 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 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 folks to return and discover my bookstall and have a chat.
Please do search out Steve on the match, we’re certain he’d be glad to talk to you!
