Michael Calvin sure knows his way around a football book. His previous work, Family: Life, Death and Football: A Year on the Frontline with a Proper Club, was an absolute brilliant glimpse into the comings and goings of Millwall FC.
The Nowhere Men: The Unknown Story of Football’s True Talent Spotters is equally brilliant and incredible. It tackles the story behind the legions of football scouts that scour the earth for the latest talent. It is a thankless job, one without acclaim or notoriety. Scouts go without million dollar contracts and headlines in the newspapers, yet they are increasingly important in a billion dollar industry that we call international football.
The book takes a look into the lives of these scouts as they find players just about anywhere, from parks to non-league clubs to top youth sides and academies. It explains how young stars like Raheem Stirling and Jack Wilshere were found by these men.
One message is loud and clear from this great book. Being a scout is not easy. You have a job that is not family-friendly, you travel thousands of miles, and you are fighting for every player. Your job is also never done as there is always another prospect to find, another diamond in the rough to unearth.
The book is full of great stories and really shows you yet another perspective into the beautiful game, one that hasn’t been told until now.
