It's extremely difficult to describe interestingly what happens on the pitch. Thousands of journalists write millions of words every week trying to do it, so your chances of avoiding cliche are very slim. And you're trying to write fiction, not a match report.

If I were to try to describe the way in which I write, the only word I would use without qualification is 'slowly.'

Everyone who sits on a sofa watching 'Match of the Day' is a top soccer expert, as you know. So if you start to worry about such people reading your story and saying, 'That'd never happen' you're going to freeze up. You're writing fiction, and your characters can do whatever you need them to do.

I tend to boycott all teenage reading while I'm trying to write my own stuff.

I'm not a great reader of historical fiction; it's not my favourite genre.

The airline's already slim chances of avoiding bankruptcy are dwindling rapidly.