The Games People Play: Gary Thacker talks his new football fiction masterpiece

Our very own Gary Thacker has made his first foray into fiction and uses the beautiful game as the backdrop for his debut novel. Jon Moreton would have made it to the top-flight as a player: he had the mentality and ability, but his body let him down. An old friend, Charlie Broome, comes to the rescue and gives him a break. Managing struggling Spanish amateur side CD Retama, feathers are ruffled: he is mistrusted by the players and stand-in coach, Sophia Garrigues. Can he adapt to life in Spain and turn things around? There are plenty of twists and turns through the season in this outstanding tale of football, love and betrayal.