New, updated edition of Gloryhunting

The new edition of Gloryhunting is now available at the bookstore at Authorhouse with previous typos now corrected. Apologies to those who purchased the old (slightly inferior) version. Think of your copy as a limited edition collectors item!

FourFourTwo magazine - Gloryhunting Review

"At 729 pages this pilgrimage through Scottish football written through the eyes of three fictional friends is a slow starter, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded with some absurdly comical stories and bags of genuine footballing fact - making for a book thats hard not to like."

4 out of 5

(Copyright FourFourTwo,  Issue 199 Jan 2011)

Programme Monthly - Gloryhunting Review

'There isn't enough (good) football fiction around, but an exception to this, particularly if you have an interest in Scottish football is Gloryhunting by Alan Porteous. This is the story of Arthurston Rovers, newly promoted to the Scottish Premier League, and followed by Craig, Jonesy and Dave. It describes their life and obsession with football over their club's first season in the top flight of Scottish football and its fair to say that over the book's 730 pages, fact and fiction are mingled and mangled. This is the book of all our teenage daydreams, of our modest little, under-achieving club making it into the big-time. It describes our own football following and spectating habits, experiences and perceptions and mixes them with fantasy football. There are some hard truths expressed about real club, grounds and the state of modern football but the underpinning emotion is humour and good nature and a celebration of football supporting. It is a long but very entertaining read. ISBN 978-1-4490-68028'

(copyright Programme Monthly)

If women ran football what would be different?

Best football movie ever?

I still think Fever Pitch wins the prize. Colin Firth's obsession is enviable and the bit when he teaches his school team to play the offside trap perfectly (which they do) but the referee gives the goal anyway is magic. The only thing to match it is the cup tie in the mud in 'There's only one Jimmy Grimble' (to the tune of 'Two Tribes' if i remember correctly.)

Welcome to Arthurston!

If you're into Scottish Football this book has everything! Mad club histories featuring all the major SPL teams, eccentric characters, laughs, memories, insights.... poetry even, and of course there's the legendary Arthurston Rovers to follow in their first season in the top flight of the Scottish game. Learn from the glossary of Scottish football terms, reaquaint yourself with the players who have the funniest names, read from the foreign players handy phrasebook, what exactly ARE  the best ten football movies ever made? Oh, and be appalled at the senseless death of an innocent hamster! 

"An entertaining read" - Programme Monthly
"Produces the right result!" The Airdrie & Coatbridge advertiser