Moving memoir lifts lid on battle to reach the Premier League

19 Apr Moving memoir lifts lid on battle to reach the Premier League

Six friends’ struggle to become Premier League footballers is the theme of a moving new memoir written by former England under 20 international Dominic Ball.

A book every parent should read before allowing their child to join a top-flight football academy, From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams is the real-life mud, sweat and tears journey of six young players and their topsy turvy quest to be the new stars of the Beautiful Game.

Plucked from junior clubs as primary school age children by England’s biggest football academies, the book reveals the inside out experiences of six talented and determined youngsters who strain every sinew to reach the world’s most competitive league.

An EFL Championship level footballer currently with Queens Park Rangers, Ball shines a light on the trials and tribulations experienced by many young players including the strain of playing under pressure, lonely loan moves and cruel, untimely injuries.

Ball, who signed his first professional contract at Tottenham Hotspur and has played for Rotherham United, Cambridge United, Rangers, Peterborough United and Aberdeen, said that the book had been five years in the making and poses serious questions about football youth development in England.

“From our early days playing local grassroots football to where we all are today, the book highlights our journeys to become professional footballers, portrayed exclusively through our eyes,” said the 26-year-old.

“It follows the pursuit by a group of friends to play in the Premier League and includes all the highs and the lows, the lucky breaks and the heartaches.”

“Most importantly, the book is being published to raise money for Sarcoma UK, a charity that funds research into the rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma, which sadly took the life of Spencer McCall, one of my best mates and one of the lads featured in this book.”

From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams was edited by CGM managing partner Chris Green with cover design by CGM creative partner Brendan McMahon of Classic Lines Design.

The book is available to buy via Amazon.

Dominic was interviewed about the book on the White and Jordan programme on TalkSPORT, by the Daily Record, on BBC Radio London and the QPR official website.

A feature about the book also appeared in the Aberdeen Press & Journal and on the paper’s website.

Football writer Callum McFadden’s interview with Dominic was featured on the World Football Index website.

Broadcaster Caroline Barker interviewed Dominic for BBC World Service’s Sportshour programme and James O’Brien spoke to Dominic on his popular LBC morning show.

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