Cora Staunton has been the outstanding player of her generation. She’s a richly talented sportsperson who has been a role model to so many Irish women.

Cora Staunton is one of the greatest Irish sportswomen of all-time. … She has left a unique mark on ladies football

The greatest ladies footballer of all time, this is without doubt

Staunton has been the dominant player of her generation … her greatest legacy is that, even after two decades, she’s still fighting for her sport, she’s still determined to be the best and she’d still probably leave a lot of male players in her wake were she given the opportunity

Michael Calvin has done the game a massive service with this broad ranging, hard-hitting and exceptionally well researched book and he has also written it in a beautiful, lucid prose style.

The most vivid, revealing insight into contemporary British football that you are ever likely to read.

Very few books about football are truly essential, but this is now one of them.

State Of Play is Mike Calvin’s finest work to date.

Essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in football

Heartbreaking and funny, State Of Play is essential reading on many burning issues in the modern game.

For those of you missing your football fix, anything by Michael Calvin is worth a read – the hugely respected sports journalist writes eloquently about the modern game in page turner State of Play

Praise for No Hunger In Paradise: Another landmark work from Mike Calvin, who has taken us beyond the surface of football to show its true workings. Ground-breaking reportage with a heart and a conscience. A service to the game

Praise for Living on the Volcano: An eye-raising insight into the realities of life in the dugout

Praise for The Nowhere Men: A magnificent book, full of extraordinary characters and beautifully told