From the publisher:
A powerful and deeply personal exploration of what it means to support a football club – told through one fan’s lifelong relationship with Coventry City.
For many supporters, football is more than a game. It is identity, belonging and memory. But why do those bonds form so strongly – and why do they sometimes break?
In Attached to Coventry City, James Adams examines those questions through his own story: a teenager’s all-consuming devotion to an unfashionable Third Division side, a sudden departure at the height of success, and a return decades later that reshaped his connection to the club forever.
Set against the backdrop of Coventry City’s history – from the days of Billy Frith through years of struggle and revival to a long-awaited return to the Premier League – this is both a memoir and an exploration of the psychology of fandom, featuring:
- A candid account of one supporter’s emotional journey, from obsession and detachment to renewed commitment
- Insight into the psychological nature of football loyalty and the concept of attachment
- First-hand reflections on key moments in the club’s history, including Wembley victories, promotions and cup disappointments
- A broader exploration of identity, belonging and what football clubs come to represent in our lives
Written for Coventry City supporters, this is a deeply personal account of what it means to follow the Sky Blues through a lifetime of change and, ultimately, their return to the top flight.
The author:
James Adams is a lifelong Coventry City supporter and author whose work explores the intersection of sport, identity and psychology. His first book, Passionate! A Whole-life Memoir, was published in 2021. He has spent 35 years teaching in secondary education in West Yorkshire, including two decades as head of social sciences, and continues to work in a local sixth form. His interests include creative psychology, United States politics and popular music.
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