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The following review is provided by Beth Wild.
Mark Worrall
Troubador Publishing
ISBN #1-904744-27-3
Being here in the US, many of us can barely dream about just getting the
Bridge. But for me, a few years ago, and after a few stories from friends, I
wanted to follow Chelsea in Europe. I had heard many stories about what it
was like to go away in Europe, and just wanted to go. After the first summer
tour, someone recommended a book to me about just that, Over Land and Sea,
an account of the “adventures” of a group of supporters that followed the
team during the 2003/4 Champions League games. It was one of the first
Chelsea Books I read, and it was utterly enjoyable.
Worrall writes in a style like you are sitting in a pub hearing the stories
first hand, straight from the heart of Chelsea supporters, in all their
candor, passion and bravado. It is a book about the heart of Chelsea, the
supporters, from a supporter. It has a bit about the games, but the fun and
enjoyment of the book is hearing the stories of the trips from the
supporters, not the minute by minute accounts of the games. The good, the
bad, and certainly the stuff you wouldn’t want your mother to know.
While I was reading it, I could imagine friends of mine, doing the same
things, getting there, getting drunk, finding a few local entertainments,
and well following the team as well. Considering this was the dawning of the
Roman era at Chelsea, it foretells the joys and heartbreak that has always
been Chelsea, but added to it the uncertainty of all that has come our way
in the past couple of years. There is the speculation, hope and belief that
was fired by Roman’s buying the club and our new found success of entering
the Champions League and yet the steadfastness, loyalty and camaraderie that
has come to typify what it means to support the Blues. You find yourself
remembering the excitement and fear of this new era, and also being so heart
sick that you weren’t there as well.
I don’t feel there are enough books written from the view of the supporters,
and maybe this is why I love this book more than most. It is the real
Chelsea, the real supporters and a glimpse into why standing with your mates
supporting the team is so very special. For me it was the final realization
that I had to go to a European away game, and though the venues and the
characters and the specifics of the stories might not be the same, the
flavor, the fun, the passion and the memories are the same.
I would recommend this book for its humor, its perspective and easy reading
style, it is a great book for the new supporter to get a real feel for what
it really means when we sing, WE
