Greatest of All Time

'A brave and beautiful book set at the very centre of the high-stakes - and often unforgiving - world of top-level football. The fluidity of Allison's writing really draws you in; I experienced the full gamut of emotions as I sped through this unflinching novel that gets to the heart of what it means to be a young man grappling with the pressures of growing up. Delicate, devastating, brilliant - I loved it.' Ashley Hickson-Lovelace

'Call Me by Your Name meets Goal! An exploration of obsession, identity and belonging which sheds light on the hidden stories that must unfold within the world of our beautiful game.' Bruce Omar Yates

'Hypnotically compelling, tender, bleak, beautiful and perturbing, often all at the same time. Alex Allison has such a strong voice, and is such a remarkable talent. I hope to be reading his work for many years to come' Naomi Ishiguro, author of COMMON GROUND

'Compelling . . . a gentle reminder of what we allow ourselves to suffer in the name of love when we're young and don't know any better.' Justin Myers

Samson Kabarebe is on the verge of stardom. At just nineteen, he's poised to take the football world by storm. Joining a struggling Premier League team, he steps into the spotlight, taking over the position-and squad number-of a rising homegrown talent who is wrestling with his own dreams and desires.

What begins as resentment between the two young athletes quickly evolves into an intense, undeniable bond. Samson's fiery drive, electrifying skills and irresistible charm spark a transformation, not just in the fortunes of the team, but in the lives around him. As their connection deepens, the story hurtles into a high-stakes world of competition, passion and raw want. Both men are forced to confront the pressures of masculinity, the ever-present threat of scandal, and the fragile balance of living in a body that could betray you at any moment.

With humour, heart and a touch of rebellion, this tender novel explores queer love and the trials of growing up in the hyper-masculine world of sport.

Hypnotically compelling, tender, bleak, beautiful and perturbing, often all at the same time. Alex Allison has such a strong voice and is such a remarkable talent. I hope to be reading his work for many years to come. -- Naomi Ishiguro, author of COMMON GROUND
A charming and tender look at love and the beautiful game. Eliza Clark
A raw and propulsive book about love, football, and the pleasures and frustrations of the body. Lara Williams
A brave and beautiful book . . . Delicate, devastating, brilliant - I loved it. Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Call Me by Your Name meets Goal! An exploration of obsession, identity and belonging which sheds light on the hidden stories that must unfold within the world of our beautiful game. Bruce Omar Yates
Compelling . . . a gentle reminder of what we allow ourselves to suffer in the name of love when we're young and don't know any better. -- Justin Myers

Alex Allison (b. 1991) lives and works in London. Alex is a graduate of the Centre for New Writing MA at University of Manchester. His debut novel, The Art of the Body, was published in 2019. It won a Somerset Maugham Award and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize. Alex is a fan and co-owner of AFC Wimbledon.

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