One Foot in The Grove is a heartfelt, funny, and insightful memoir that captures the highs and lows of Halesowen Town FC’s 2024/25 Pitching In Southern League Premier Central season.
Told in a match-by-match format, the book follows the club’s gripping chase for promotion, bringing to life the true spirit of English grassroots football.
But this is more than just a football book.
Woven into the club’s rollercoaster season are honest, often hilarious reflections on middle-age, and the challenge of balancing a football obsession with everyday life. From standing on the terraces at the Grove to moments of quiet personal revelation, this is a story about community, ageing, and an enduring love for the beautiful game.
“I was inspired to write the book after reading Dave Roberts’ brilliant book Home and Away: Round Britain in Search of Non-League Football, which is about Bromley's first season in The National League in 2015/16,” author, Dom Horton, told us. “I decided to write a similar, but slightly different, book about Halesowen Town FC’s 2024/25 season.
“The writing process was enjoyable, but challenging balancing it with full time work. The game-by-game account of the season means I was faced with a constant series of deadlines, making sure I had written up the entry for the last game before the next one began. It took me the whole season to write the book, with a few weeks for final editing afterwards.”
So, how far back does Horton’s association with the Yeltz stretch?
“I first visited The Grove, home of Halesowen Town FC, in 1976 as a five year-old boy with my grandad. I have been a fan ever since, but I played in non-League football myself for over 20 years, so, going to HTFC games was limited during that time.
“Although I've supported the club for a long time, I've only been a season ticket holder the last two years. I decided to buy a season ticket mainly to ensure priority tickets for all ticket-away games. This proved a wise move last season because for our big local derby away at Stourbridge we were allocated less than 500 tickets due to safety concerns with their away stand, so I secured my ticket while many fans sadly missed out.
“I am very much looking forward to the season ahead. Last campaign, we just missed out on promotion, losing to AFC Telford United in the play-off semi-final. Since then, the squad has been strengthened with players with experience higher up the pyramid, so, although it will again be a competitive division, I'm hopeful for a good season.”
The book is available via Amazon, £8.99 for the paperback version, £4.99 for the Kindle version or free with Kindle Unlimited. It is hoped that it will also be on sale in the Halesowen Town Club Shop soon. PURCHASE ONE FOOT IN THE GROVE
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