Football writer and England fan, Alfie Baker, lands his dream job at his paper, reporting on England’s tilt at the 2022 World Cup. But as the team progress, not without a glitch or two, through their qualifying group and into the final tournament in Qatar, Alfie begins to spot something odd about the crop of young players in the squad. They are good, but good in a way that is mildly disturbing. He starts to dig deeper.
Meanwhile his personal life is more straightforward but challenging in its own way. He is separated from his ex-partner and sees his son, Tom, only on a weekly basis. Football is key to their interaction, Alfie taking Tom to play for his under-8 team or to watch AFC Wimbledon. These are places to learn life’s lessons about winning and losing, and about sportsmanship and gamesmanship.
Alfie’s fatherly advice on these issues comes back to haunt him when, against expectations, England make the final of the World Cup in December 2022. At the same time, Alfie’s research finally bears fruit, and he is confronted with a dilemma: break the story of a journalistic lifetime and scupper England’s chances of glory; or spike the exclusive, be complicit, and savour a likely England triumph. What would he tell Tom to do?
Written with evident love for, understanding of, and frustration with the modern game, it is packed with knowledgeable jibes for the football fan. In addition, it has plenty to say about the responsibilities of fatherhood in the modern world, mostly funny with a dash of bittersweet.
Though the central
premiss is spotted early, there is dramatic tension to the end and a splendid
twist to finish. Great fun!
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