There's something wonderfully mad about following a lower division football club. While the Premier League fans watch their matches in heated seats with prawn sandwiches, the true heroes of English football are the ones standing in the rain at Rochdale on a Tuesday night. Dave Espley's "Saturday Night and Thursday Morning" captures this beautiful insanity perfectly.
The book chronicles Stockport County's 1996-97 season, which turned out to be one of the most memorable in the club's history. Espley's initial plan was straightforward: to capture the typical struggles and hardships of a fan of lower division football. What he got instead was an epic 67-game marathon that tested both his sanity and his ability to come up with creative excuses for missing family events.
What makes this book special isn't just the football – though there's plenty of that. Espley's keen eye for the absurd details that shape the fabric of lower-league football culture is what sets this book apart. From the seemingly possessed fellow fan who won't stop talking during an 18-hour round trip to Plymouth to the unique challenges of finding a decent pre-match pie in various corners of England, every page drips with the kind of authenticity you can only get from someone who's truly lived it.
The author's self-deprecating humour shines throughout, particularly when describing the weather conditions that seem to follow Stockport County wherever they go. If there's a way for rain to fall horizontally while simultaneously coming up from the ground, Espley has probably experienced it at an away game.
But beneath the humour lies a deeper truth about football fandom. This isn't just about watching 22 men kick a ball around – it's about community, tradition, and the kind of devotion that makes perfect sense to those who live it while appearing completely bonkers to everyone else. When Espley describes marathon coach journeys to far-flung corners of the country, you can feel both the exhaustion and the inexplicable joy that keeps him coming back for more.
The book's greatest achievement is how it captures a pivotal season in Stockport County's history without losing sight of the small, human moments that make football special. Whether it's conversations with fellow supporters, the unique characters encountered at away grounds, or the ritual of the pre-match pint, Espley paints a vivid picture of what it truly means to be a football fan.
"Saturday Night and Thursday Morning" is more than just a football book – it's a love letter to the beautiful chaos of lower league football. This book is dedicated to those who have stood on a terrace in the pouring rain, experienced the intense agony of a last-minute loss, or had to justify their Saturday travel to Torquay to their non-football-loving friends.
In a time when football appears more corporate and remote, Espley's book serves as a reminder that the essence of the game remains vibrant in the lower divisions. It's funny, touching, and authentic – much like the football culture it describes.
For fans of any club, especially those who follow teams outside the glamorous confines of the Premier League, this book will feel like coming home. Just don't read it expecting tips on how to avoid the chatty stranger on the supporters' coach – apparently, there's no escape from that particular lower league tradition.
COST TO YOU
Book: £0.99p
Mail Lite envelope: £0.32p
Listing and Postal: Label £0.60p
Handling CCcomm: £0.79p
Royal Mail 2nd Class: £2.30p TOTAL TO PAY AT CHECKOUT £4.99p
ROYAL MAIL 2ND CLASS
Publisher: JCA Publishing
Published: 1997
Price: £0.99
Paperback: 300 pages
Lavishly illustrated
Postal Weight: 500g
British Pound Sterling
Turkish
