Review Detail

I loved this story. Dave is just one among thousands of soccer hopefuls. His story will equally resonate with thousands of readers. And the search for the football stars of the future is a ruthless one. Young players are taken in, chewed up and, more often than not, spat back out again. So Dave's story will resonate with thousands of parents, too. Davitt tells it warts and all - the dashing of dreams by injury and by ruthless culling, the brattish behaviour on the pitch, the behind the scenes financial wrangling. It's an honest story.

But it's also a romantic one. You can really feel the levels of Dave's desire. And his love of the beautiful game. And his loyalty to his club.The match sequences in the book are really well done and Davitt communicates the joy of playing soccer superlatively. Despite his occasionally brattish behaviour, you're really rooting for Dave the whole way though the story. I particularly loved it that the height of Dave's ambition is to play for Wolston Rovers. He'd choose Rovers over an established Premier League club any day. Rovers, with their single FA Cup title, over Manchester United or City, or Chelsea, or Liverpool, or Arsenal. That's the love of soccer right there, isn't it?

All boys who love football will love One Shot at Glory. And their parents will love it. And girls who love football will love it, too. I think Davitt should write a story about a girl player. I know I'd read it.