Unfit and Improper Persons: An Idiot's Guide to Owning a Football Club FROM THE PRICE OF FOOTBALL PODCAST

by Kevin Day, Kieran Maguire, Guy Kilty

Overview

'A very funny book that tackles some serious football issues.'

Gary Lineker

Ever dreamed of setting up your own football club?

Join the team behind The Price of Football podcast as they start a (fictional) football club and discover what's really going on behind the scenes of the beautiful game.

Buying a football club will set you back a few quid, but you've also got to pass the Premier League and EFL's 'fit and proper persons test'. That all seems like a bit of a faff to the team behind the award-winning podcast The Price of Football, so acclaimed comedy writer Kevin Day, football finance expert Kieran Maguire and producer Guy Kilty start an imaginary club instead.

In Unfit and Improper Persons they take West Park Rovers on a hilarious journey from the lowest level of the FA pyramid right up to the English Football League, the Premier League and, if fortune favours the fictional, into the heart of Europe.

At least that's the plan, but inevitably they face a few challenges along the way. Where to find a shirt sponsor? What should the mascot be – is a dog called Rover too obvious? Can they pay the women's team the same as the men's team? (Spoiler alert: hardly anyone else does.) And how can they get Messi to the Kleanwell Stadium next season, like they promised the fans?

Unfit and Improper Persons is informed, funny and, thanks to exclusive interviews with those who've been there, done that, it lays bare the labyrinthine world of football finance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399407557
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.08(w) x 7.79(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kevin Day is an acclaimed stand-up comedian and one of the country's leading comedy writers. He regularly appears on Talksport and BBC Radio 5 Live. @kevinhunterday

Kieran Maguire is the go-to expert on football finance matters. He regularly appearing on television and radio and teaches the Football Industries MBA at the University of Liverpool Management School. @KieranMaguire

Guy Kilty, known to listeners of The Price of Football as Producer Guy, runs the specialist podcast production company Dap Dip. @GuyKilty

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Founding a new football club

2. Rules

3. A woman's game

4. Youth policy

5. Building blocks

6. Further afield

7. A proud member of the 92

8. One of the biggest leagues in the world

9. The Premier League

10. Europe

11. A global team

12. Post-match analysis

References

Acknowledgements

Index

Editorial Reviews

A very funny book that tackles some serious football issues.” —Gary Lineker

“Brilliant. Blows the lid off football. Hilarious, detailed and insightful.” —Alan Davies

“Witty and wise. ” —Clare Balding

“I loved this book ... Great authors, terrible football club owners.” —Josh Widdicombe

“This helpful, entertaining and funny book is written by a Palace fan and a Brighton fan so I just want to know who won the fight!” —Jo Brand

“Kevin Day asks the right questions and Kieran Maguire is impressive with his research... The machinations of football finance are laid bare, and somehow this sheds light on to the actual games themselves.” —Miranda Sawyer, the Guardian

“A great read … and level of detail … wherever your club is in the pyramid there'll be something of interest for you.” —Tony Livesey, BBC Radio 5 Live

“The writers fuse humour and fiction with rigorous analysis ... An entertaining and often intriguing book. ” —FourFourTwo

From the Publisher