Felix White’s Whatever will be, will be: A Matter of Life and Football is nothing short of a triumph—both as a love letter to English football and as a masterclass in immersive, evocative writing. White’s signature wit and warmth are present on every page, drawing the reader in as if you’re riding shotgun on his eccentric FA Cup pilgrimage. His gift for description is razor-sharp yet deeply empathetic; passages like his portrayal of a rain-lashed night in Leamington—“the pitch a sodden patchwork quilt, every footstep a new hymn to chaos”—showcase an author who not only sees the world in rich detail but knows how to make you feel it, too. Few writers can turn a freezing terrace or a crowded burger van into something so lyrical, and White does it time and again, always with a generosity of spirit that sets his work apart.
What truly elevates this book is White’s knack for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. He moves effortlessly from the muddy fields of Maidenhead United to the dazzling lights of Manchester City, but he never loses sight of the human stories beneath the spectacle. His interviews with fans, players, and staff aren’t just side notes—they’re the heart of the narrative, rendered with such honesty and humor that you can almost hear the chants and catch the whiff of meat pies. White’s unique voice shines in every conversation, blending empathy and curiosity, and his reflections on the game’s “elusive magic” and deep-rooted inequalities are delivered with an originality and clarity that’s rare in sports writing. His ability to connect the personal and the universal is nothing short of remarkable.
Above all, Whatever will be, will be is a testament to Felix White’s extraordinary talent and his enduring contribution to the literature of sport. The book pulses with energy, from the first whistle to the last, and White’s playful, poetic prose never wavers. He captures not just the chaos and beauty of the FA Cup, but the way football weaves itself into the fabric of English life—its pride, its heartbreaks, its obsessions. White deserves enormous credit for crafting a work that is as entertaining as it is insightful, as moving as it is original. This is a book that will stay with you long after the final page, and cements Felix White as one of the most distinctive and compelling voices writing about football today.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48Publisher: Great Book Selection – Visit Octopus Publishing
Published: October 23, 2025Price: £22.00Hardback: 304 pagesISBN-13: 978-1788405591Dimensions: 234 x 153 (mm)
