In September 2017, amateur British football coach Justin Walley became the “National Team” Manager of Matabeleland, an obscure international soccer team in western Zimbabwe.
Overcoming adversity, bureaucracy, and a lack of funds, he took them to the CONIFA World Football Cup in London in 2018. Now, his book, “One Football, No Nets” – detailing the whole remarkable story – has been published.
Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom (16 January 2018). Bennion Kearny, a publisher of non-fiction titles, is delighted to announce the publication of “One Football, No Nets” by Justin Walley.
In 2017, Walley was running Riga United Football Club in Latvia. Indeed, he was the was the Club Secretary, Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, Ladies Head Coach, and a Youth Academy Coach.
Twelve months later, though, he was leading out the Matabeleland national side at the CONIFA World Football Cup in London, and his team – in their distinctive Ndebele strip – turned out to be one of the star sides of the tournament. They won matches but, most importantly, they won the hearts and minds of spectators and fellow competitors.
Walley’s journey was one of highs and lows. It would take him through the toppling of President Robert Mugabe, a collapsing financial system, and travelling to away games in rural Africa with 17 players in one pickup truck.
And, as events unfolded, Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar became Walley’s goalkeeping coach after a meeting at an M6 motorway service station.
“One Football, No Nets” is the story of an ordinary coach on an extraordinary adventure; a beautifully written book that overflows with humour, insight, and warmth. There is no other book quite like it.
ISBN-13: 978-1-910515-64-8 | 350 pages | Print and eBook formats
