The Greatest of Great Escapes: Rotherham United's Finest Hour

There's something uniquely British about finding poetry in football's lower leagues. While the Premier League serves up its weekly feast of millionaire matchups, it's in the Championship where you'll often find the sport's soul still beating strong. Holly Hunt's debut book proves this beautifully.
"The Greatest of Great Escapes: Rotherham United's Finest Hour" chronicles what should have been a forgettable season in England's second tier. Instead, it delivers a narrative so compelling that even readers who wouldn't know their Rotherham from their Rotterdam will find themselves invested in every page.
Hunt's deep understanding of her subject matter is evident from the beginning. As a journalist and a lifelong supporter of Rotherham United, she adeptly balances professional observation with personal passion. Her account of the 2015/16 season, when Rotherham pulled off an escape act that would make Houdini blush, reads like a thriller written by someone who lived every moment.
The book excels in engaging you with a team you might not have previously considered. Hunt's portrayal of Neil Warnock, the 67-year-old manager coaxed out of retirement for one last dance, is particularly masterful. She paints him not as some tactical genius but as a pragmatic Yorkshire-born fighter who understood that sometimes survival requires more grit than grace.
Hunt's keen eye for detail beyond the pitch distinguishes this book from standard sporting narratives. She encapsulates the spirit of a town where football not only serves as entertainment but also weaves itself into the fabric of the community. Through her lens, Rotherham United's struggle becomes a metaphor for every small town's fight to maintain its identity in modern Britain.
The technical aspects of football are handled with a light touch. Hunt explains tactical shifts and key decisions without drowning readers in jargon, making the book accessible to anyone who appreciates a good underdog story. Even though we already know the outcome, her description of the crucial victory against Middlesbrough is filled with tension.
If there's a criticism to be made, it's that Hunt occasionally lets her supporter's heart override her journalist's head, particularly in some of the more emotional moments. But in a way, this only adds to the book's charm. This isn't intended to be a detached, analytical examination; rather, it's a tribute to the transformative power of football. 
The final chapters, which detail Rotherham's match to secure survival at Wolves, are worth the admission price alone. Hunt effectively conveys the intense tension felt by a fanbase as they watch their team desperately clinging to championship status, evoking a sense of agony in every moment.
"The Greatest of Great Escapes" coincides with the growing dominance of state-owned clubs and Super League schemes in football. It reminds us that the sport's most compelling stories often unfold far from the spotlight, in places where victory isn't measured in millions but in moments of pure, unscripted joy.
Hunt's book is essential reading for anyone who believes in sporting romance or simply appreciates a compelling story of triumph against adversity. It proves that while football's money may be in Manchester or Madrid, its heart still beats in places like Rotherham, where every season brings new hope, and sometimes, just sometimes, that hope is rewarded.
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Published: February 24, 2025
Price: £16.99
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1801509441
ISBN-13: 978-1801509442
Dimensions: 222 x 144 (mm)