'The More We Win, The Better It Will Be'

A Year with Eastleigh Football Club

by Paul McNamara

This behind-the-scenes glimpse of a non-league football club offers the unusual opportunity of viewing an entire football season at one club from multiple viewpoints. Eastleigh Football Club is an ambitious semi-professional club that in 2013/2014 competed in the Football Conference South. Ten years earlier, they were a much smaller club, playing in their local regional league. Progress from that lowly status saw the team spend the 2013/2014 campaign challenging for the Conference South league title and promotion into the Conference Premier Division. The book follows the fortunes of the men who played during that season. It charts the highs and lows experienced by the directors, the manager, staff and supporters, and provides a candid view of the club’s day-to-day life. This first-hand account tells the compelling story of life on and off the pitch at the club and the unfolding events of the season. Featuring a team striving to achieve promotion into the Conference Premier and reach Wembley in the FA Trophy, this book will be enjoyed by football fans at any level. ‘The?More?We Win, The Better It Will Be’ also details author Paul’s transition from being a lifelong Everton supporter into developing an obsession with his local non-league club, and his own personal experiences after becoming closely involved with the team.

Author news

Books can be ordered from this page. Also available through good bookshops and their websites.

See BBC Radio Solent link (left) for my interview about my book on the Katie Martin show

@McNamara_sport for regular book updates.

http://mcnamara-sport.tumblr.com/

Press Coverage

Late Tackle

Maidenhead Advertiser

Daily Echo

Book Reviews

I finally got around to buying Paul's book at the Lincoln City F.A. Cup game & now, 10 days later I've finished it! To paraphrase Paul's own words, it is of superior quality than I had realised.

Basically, a diary account of the 2013/2014 season, our esteemed word-smith writes with great passion about our club, having been granted in depth access to Richard Hill, his team, all the players and other back-room staff. He uses great skill in converting his interviews with Richard and the players into a concise and very readable narrative.

Answers to questions like, Dan Spence's nickname, Richard Hill's favourite nursery rhyme, Stuart Fleetwood's wages & Craig McAllister's inside leg measurement are absent, but you are likely to learn a lot about the club that you didn't know before. I found the book most interesting, entertaining, indeed "gripping", a "page turner" & "unputdownable". Oh, and there is a happy ending.

You may be wondering why it has that title? Well you'll just have to buy it and find out. It's available in the club shop so why not ask for it for Xmas? Or better still, treat yourself to a copy. You won't regret it.

by Martin Jeffery

About the Author

Paul McNamara

Paul is a Sports Journalist and his writing career has included working for Mail Online and covering AFC Bournemouth for the Bournemouth Echo. He still attends Eastleigh matches whenever he can and occasionally co-commentates on them for Radio Solent. He has previously produced many Eastleigh FC features and articles for the Southampton Echo as well as for the club website and match day programme. He is currently working at Everton FC.