Whatever will be, will be : A Matter of Life and Football

A book so beautiful that it finally made me understand what football means. An exceptional writer.’- Bella Mackie’So much more than a book about football. A book about aging, community and memory.

Rich in detail and great jokes. I wish I had written it.’ – Josh Widdicombe’For anyone who loves the FA cup like me, this is your 50 shades.’- Chris Stark ‘A book by a Fulham fan would have to be very good for me to recommend it. Brilliant…I couldn’t put it down.

Annoyingly.’ – Seann Walsh ‘Mesmerising and unputdownable, like Fever Pitch meets The Sportswriter. I commend it in the highest terms.’ – Amol Rajan’It might be the most perfect football book ever.’- Charlie Cooper’I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who loves beautiful writing.’- Ivo Graham ‘A beautiful book of rare emotional honesty and depth.’- Ali Millar’A book that’s guaranteed to remind you why you love football.’- MUNDIAL From the Sunday Times bestselling author of It’s Always Summer Somewhere comes a moving and often hilarious journey through the 2024/25 FA Cup – from the first muddy preliminary round in Penrith to a glorious sunny day at Wembley. On the brink of turning 40, Felix White sets out to watch a match from every round of the Cup, meeting fans, players and dreamers at every level of the English game.

As he travels the country, football becomes a way to explore memory, identity, grief and joy. While he reflects on his own lifelong obsessions, his story becomes a unique expression of how the game communicates something vital, both literal and internal, between a child and an adult. Told with lyrical wit and heartfelt honesty, Whatever Will Be, Will Be is more than just a story about football – it’s about growing up, holding on and the strange ways sport connects us all.