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As most of you know, I published the last blob of book 8 on Monday so I'm on a mid-season break. (I'm actually not, I'm still writing but without deadline pressure it's like a holiday.) Here's what that means:T3: Next chapter on Monday. (My wife read the first draft and said 'it's good but m...

8.15 - Epilogue

15.Saturday the 28th of September was a day with a lot of league games, including an early kick off. Salford were at home to Chesterfield.I raced back from the bathroom and took my spot next to Sandra. "Did I miss anything?" I said."Chesterfield had a goal ruled out," she said. "Offside.""Sa...

8.14 - Be Gone, Yeah?

14.Gardening glossary: hardening off. The process of moving plants from ideal growing conditions into a slightly harsher environment in order to prepare them for life in the cruel outside world.***Wednesday, September 18It would be a warm day but it was still a cool morning. A slow morning. I watched a solitary cloud d...

8.13 - Winner Is Coming

13.Monday, September 9There was a fair amount of excitement in the large meeting room at BoshCard, mostly centred around the fact I'd plugged my laptop into the AV equipment. Max Best would speak without the use of flipcharts! What could prompt him to step into the future like this?In addition to the usual staff, I...

8.12 - Influence

12.Untitled DocumentaryEpisode 2: InfluenceMedium close-up: AngelText: Angel, Striker, Number TenFrom context, the viewer knows this was recorded long before the season started."I want to be an influencer."Angel looks down the camera lens with a mix of cockiness and insecurity. The producer mumbles off-mic and ...

8.11 - The Max Best Players

11.We went through the various formalities of entering a prison - I let the Brig talk to people and sign things - and we were escorted through various doors. Some that were opened remotely, some with an ID badge carried by a prison guard, and some that were simply fire doors that could be pushed open.The final door led...

8.10 - Pick Your Battles

10.Saturday, August 24

8.9 - The Last Word

9. "Okay, thanks fo

8.8 - Castaway

[Tier one guys! Amazing news! From now on,

8.7 - Maidenhead United

7.Saturday, August 3Match 1 of 46: Maidenhead United versus ChesterThe referee blew his whistle and the season was underway!Maidenhead kicked off and immediately knocked the ball long. Glenn Ryder leaped and headed the ball away. There was a tussle in midfield and Sam and Youngster between them nudged the ball out to E...

8.6 - Project Youth

6.Friday July 5I took a cup of te

8.5 - On the Record

5.The Curseby Be

A Big Ol' Swing (Chapter News)

When I was young, my cousins came to town and we went to the local fields to play some football. We had a lovely old time until the youngest cousin awarded himself a penalty kick.Now this little guy - let's call him Pascal - was about eight inches high. The ball loomed over him. But while he was little, he had lear...

8.4 - Chariots of Hire

4.Football glossary: Welcome to Wrexham.

8.3 - Leave No Man Behind

3.Tuesday, May 14Exit Trials D

8.2 - West Side Story

2.Saturday, May 11"Who's w

[Bonus 7.77 - Chester's Finest]

[I'm still working on the next chapter - will be out tomorrow at the latest.]In the meantime please enjoy this video message Max Best received from Danny Actual Murphy.Born: ChesterPlayed 150 games for Crewe (and some for Liverpool, ugh)Played 9 times for EnglandDoes Danny one-thumbsI remember THIS vividly!"He ...

8.1 - Goalscorers

Player Manager 8Recap:Max Best has led Chester FC to the National League North title; his team will now be promoted to the absurdly tough National League. The women’s team won their league and will also move to the fifth tier. Max has vowed to win the FA Youth Cup, has an opportunity to shine on German television, an...

[Patreon-only Bonus] Book 7 Epilogue Epilogue

Whaaaaaat!That's right, y'all. You get free stuff!Would you like a BONUS CHAPTER?I went a tiny bit BONKERS and made one. It's very multimedia and Patreon isn't the right place for it (not even close), so you'll have to pop over to my website. And I never thought I'd say this but it actually look...

7.16 - Epilogue

16.Match 46 of 46: Chester versu

Post-Book Break

Hi all!On Monday 12th there won't be a chapter. That's because in a bit I'll be posting the last chapter of book 7! I'll take a couple of days to recharge and to think what the 'theme' for the next season will be. I think I know but it doesn't hurt to check. Also I need to make all-new sprea...

7.15 - Cup Fever

15.Countdown to the Cup! Episode

7.14 - The Final Countdown

14.TENten ten tenTuesday, April 2Sandra was leading training in preparation for Saturday's match against Gloucester and I was taking part, partly to keep fit, partly to gauge the mood. There was a strange vibe in the camp; the league was won and the remaining three matches weren't important in a collective sens...

7.13 - Eight Views of Emma

13.Evening Glow

7.12 - Schrödinger's Max

12.Science glossary - Schrödinger's cat.

7.11 - Going Down

11.UK glossary. To go down. Phrasal verb

A Miniature Annoucement

Quick version: There WILL be a chapter tomorrow but there MIGHT not be one on Monday/Tuesday. (80% chance there won't.)Longer version: Long-term supporters (yeah whoo) will know that every now and then I need to check the book proofs from the publishers. They always try to take my jokes out and I try to put them ba...

7.10 - Expected Worms

10.Max Best glossary: Expected worms. A statistical measure of the likelihood that a given constellation of characters will include a worm.***Instead of giving one of my inspirational movie-based half time team talks, I was looking around the Grimsby dressing room wondering who the mole was, and since any detective sto...