I have waited some time for this book to be published, I first heard about it back in 2009 after watched the author (Tom Dickinson) talking about his experience on BBC breakfast.
He was hoping to find a publisher however, it took him a while before independent football book publishers Blackline Press came to the rescue and published his book. The book is set in 2008/2009 season which leaves the book a bit dated, but it's still a good football read.
It was a simply idea, you read an article in the paper about a guy taking 27 years to visit all 92 football ground with is team Portsmouth and you then have a eureka moment. I could do that in one season not 27 years visit all 92 grounds in the Premier League and the Football league and eat a pie at each of the grounds.
The book is not just about pies, but an overlook of each of the 92 grounds he visited. There is his interaction with fans around him; how he found his friends useful for the odd place to stay and company for the hours on the road. Being a neutral he could soak up the atmosphere at the grounds while zig zag from one side of the country to the other. There are moments of laughter, but also the darker side of football, and then there are the stadiums, from the sublime of your Arsenal's to the down right mediocre stadium of Exeter City.
It also meant his visit to Cardiff City was to the old Ninian Park not the new Cardiff City Stadium. However, having the best ground doesn't mean they had the best pies, the most expensive yes. I felt sorry for his girlfriend who had to suffer the indignity of her boyfriend choosing a Valentine's Day trip to Swansea City over her and that the end he did not think much the pie.
It took £3,000 to complete his quest in his Peugeot 206 clocking up enough miles to drive form London to Sydney and back. I hope here at least recoups his out goings on the sale of his book, he should.
King of the pies was not at some no swanky Premier League club but Morecambe with a locally produced pie from bakery 'Potts Pies. It was an enjoyable read but the only disappointment I found in the book was not enough about the pies! I wanted to know which pie he tried, who were the makers? Was it some big faceless company or a locally baker.
http://www.blacklinepress.com
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