{"product_id":"the-nowhere-men-the-unknown-story-of-footballs-true-talent-spotters-9780099580263","title":"The Nowhere Men: The Unknown Story of Football's True Talent Spotters","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA fascinating insight into the enclosed world of soccer scouts\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA teenaged boy plays soccer in a suburban park. His name is Raheem Sterling. The call is made: \"Get down here quick. This is something special.\" Another boy is eight, going on 28. His name is Jack Wilshere. The referee, an Arsenal scout, spirits him away from Luton Town. A young goalkeeper struggles on loan at Cheltenham Town in League Two. His name is Jack Butland. Within months he will be playing for England. Welcome to soccer's hidden tribe. Scouts are everywhere yet nowhere, faceless and nameless, despite making the informed decisions worth millions. Award-winning sportswriter Michael Calvin opens up their hidden world, examining their disconnected lifestyles, petty betrayals, and unconsidered professionalism of men who spend long, lonely hours on the road.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Calvin\u003c\/b\u003e is a sportswriter who has worked in more than 80 countries and covered seven summer Olympics and six World Cup finals. He is chief sports writer with the \u003ci\u003eIndependent on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e, and has held similar positions at the \u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eTimes\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Arrow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51764107641106,"sku":"9780099580263","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9c077455-f29f-4dd8-994c-b502682f3b24.jpg?v=1764755917","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-nowhere-men-the-unknown-story-of-footballs-true-talent-spotters-9780099580263","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}