Arsenal Celebrity Supporter Series: Nick Hornby

Although I suspect that many of you reading this are not only familiar with Nick Hornby’s Goonerdom, but will also be familiar with his first book Fever Pitch. In fact, since 1992 I’d say Fever Pitch has been the literary touchstone for Arsenal supporters. And unlike other entrants in the Arsenal Celebrity Supporter Series, Hornby chiefly became famous because of his status as an Arsenal fan.

Hornby, born in Redhill, Surrey in 1957, has of course written several other notables works, including High Fidelity and About a Boy, each of which was made into a movie.

Fever Pitch (1992) is an account of the author’s life and relationships viewed through the prism of football. Arsenal football that is. The book covers several decades’ worth of Arsenal matches, with particular emphasis on games that meant the most to Hornby.

And if you’re missing Highbury these days, Fever Pitch is full of memories of the old ground.

Fever Pitch itself has been made into two films. One, released in 1997, starred Colin Firth in a fictionalized retelling of the book, penned by Hornby himself. The second, improbably, was an American version where the protagonist follows the Boston Red Sox baseball team. This 2005 version featured Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore.

If for some reason you’ve yet to run into Fever Pitch, head immediately to your local library or buy a copy today. You damn Philistine.

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Category: Arsenal Celebrity Supporters Series