Long Way Together chronicles Robert Townsend’s 40-year journey with his beloved Brighton & Hove Albion – as a ball boy, staff member, newspaper columnist and fan. His funny, poignant debut explores the universal joy and anguish of following a team that has been sometimes successful, often unsuccessful and occasionally calamitous. Interesting insights, amusing anecdotes and a dash of mid-life grumpiness illuminate his relationship with a club that has gone from the brink of extinction to mixing with football’s elite. Brighton supporters will get a nostalgic rush from Robert’s recollections, while fans of other clubs will recognise the shared experiences of football life: the silly superstitions, the away-game service station stops and the unrivalled joy of injury-time winners. Part memoir, part social commentary, Long Way Together is a powerful reminder that supporting a club is never just about football – it’s about who you become along the way.
