Baxter's Boys

Book excerpt: The odds were never in their favour, but that didn't stop them. Davey Byrne spends his days working as a part-time courier and full-time petty criminal in Dublin, Ireland. In between flittering from one scam to the next Davey lines out for the dysfunctional Sporting Les Behans, a team of misfits which also includes a hitman, an armed robber and a very amiable drug dealer amongst others. While striving to keep one step ahead of the law Davey is also trying to win the hearts and minds of the working class locals who live in the tower blocks that surround the pitch. Davey's best friend, Fran Reilly, also has his fair share of problems, keeping custody of his only daughter being high on his list. Despite the numerous issues which each of the players are going through, their dedicated Scouse manager, Pa Baxter, has somehow guided them to the latter stages of the cup. But with trouble always on the horizon, can the team keep it together long enough to collect silverware? Baxter's Boys is a rowdy stomp through the world of Sunday League pub football. Quirky with comic relief, this novel explores the underside of society in a way seldom accomplished.