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Inc first class postage and packing
THE AUTHOR
David McVay is a former professional footballer who played with Notts County
from 1973-79. He joined the staff of the Nottingham Evening Post in 1983,
covering his former club, then in the first division. He spent eight years
reporting sport for The Times and now writes for the Daily Telegraph.
He has written several books, including a definitive autobiography of Tommy
Lawton, The Complete Centre Forward, which he co-wrote with Andy Smith, about
the legendary former England centre forward whose career and life was ravaged
by controversy. He also wrote Steak...Diana Ross, which was published in 2003,
a seminal football tale told through the diaries of a 1970s journeyman player
(McVay himself) that became a cult classic. It was selected by FourFourTwo
magazine as one of the 50 Best Football Books of All Time. More recently, he
has penned Forest Cult Heroes.
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If the company of Frank Lampard, Robbie Savage and Ashley Cole is your dream
ticket to the night out of your life, then perhaps best to avoid this book.
Heart of Football does not strive to ingratiate itself with the precious young
things of celebrity culture, nor does it attempt to sip cocktails in the Sugar
Lounge while gushing adoringly at Wayne Rooney's pina colada. Let loose to write
the weekly Heart of Football column for the Daily Telegraph in 2007-08, David
McVay generally was more than grateful to gain entry to any lounge that serves
cold drinks and hot food, from Darlington to Dagenham through Carlisle, Wrexham
and Mansfield. Essential on wet, windy and wild nights at The Shay, Spotland or
any of the game's endearing and enduring heartlands.
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UP: McGugan's goal secures Forest's promotion
OUT: Magpies knocked out of FA Cup by part-timers
MOVING: Last Post performed at Field Mill in honour of soldiers killed in Afghanistan
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This is a world away from the celebrity culture of the Premiership with its WAGs,
the multi-million pound wages and the glamorous lifestyles that go with it --
Paul Taylor, Nottingham Evening Post
McVay is constantly aware of football’s place in the wider scheme of things and
he has an eye for social context....a book for people who know where to find
the true heart of the national sport – Jeremy Lewis, editor, Nottinghamshire Today
He [McVay] ponders over whether Mrs Shevchenko would forfeit the glamour of
Harrods and Armani for the Pound Shop in Nottingham as Tommy Lawton's wife once
did when the legendary striker moved from Chelsea to Notts County, a transfer
which hastened the end of Lawton's marriage. Any fan searching for football's
heart will glean their reward by reading McVay's lively and often funny observations
which serve to prove the man's in love with the game's 'nether regions' -
Picture the Notts County dressing-room circa 1975. The players are reading about
their Second Division exploits under Jimmy Sirrel's stewardship. There are 10
Suns, six Mirrors and, in a corner, Dave McVay with his head stuck in Private
Eye or Sounds. As a writer, with Back Pass and with the Daily Telegraph, McVay
is still refusing to follow the herd. ...bursting with colour, irreverence, wit
and affection for the clubs, players and fans.... you will encounter Father
Ted and Disco Delia, kd lang and Morecambe and Wise, not to mention Ince and
Wise - Phil Shaw, Back Pass
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Despite watching a 0-0 "guileless epic" involving Luton, McVay manages to shed
some light on the club's financial irregularities in the words of their most
famous fan, Eric Morecambe. "'We were paying all the right notes,' he almost
said tugging on Andre Previn's lapels, “but not necessarily in the right order,
sunshine.” –
thanks to the editor, Darlington website
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