Soccer Lover’s Best Ever Soccer Book Guide
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This series reviews and rate books that teach, describe and document the beautiful game. Look for a wide variety of books and helpful insight from players who have been there and done it on the pitch.
SoccerToday’s Soccer Lovers’ Book Reviews – Emma’s Soccer Adventures by Richard Milner
Diane Scavuzzo: Why is an Associate Professor of Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute writing a book on soccer?
Richard Milner: Well, I’m a scientist by day, carrying out scientific research to try and create new medical therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke, but at the weekends, I become a soccer coach. I coached Rec soccer for three years, coached the Sharks All Star team (GU12) in 2014, and this year, took my CalSouth Competitive “E” license and coached my daughters team, Borussia Del Mar GU13 in the Presidio League.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did your passion for soccer ignite?
Richard Milner: I grew up in England and moved to California when I was in my mid-thirties. For most boys in England, soccer is the number one passion, and I was no different. We play it in the garden, we play it on the playing fields, we play it on the streets, in fact pretty much anywhere we can. I started playing soccer when I was seven years old- kicking a ball around with my dad in the garden, but my soccer took off at school, and I played for my school teams until I left school. I still remember watching the 1970 FA Cup Final on TV with my family- Leeds United tied 2-2 with Chelsea. I became hooked on the spot. Leeds United eventually lost the replay, but I became an ardent Leeds United fan for life. Even now, I visit the Leeds United F.C website at least once a day. It’s in my blood.
Diane Scavuzzo: You have a daughter; Does she play soccer?
Richard Milner: Yes, my daughter Renza loves to play soccer- it’s her number one passion too. She’s now 12 years old (6th grade) and has played for five years. Her favorite position is center-midfield. She started playing in first grade in the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks Recreational Soccer league and was selected for the All Star team for the last four years of playing with Sharks. Last year, she switched to playing for a new competitive club called Borussia Del Mar established by an ex-professional player, Tommy Maurer. We’ve had a good season in our first year of competitive soccer.
Diane Scavuzzo: What inspired you to write this delightful soccer story about Emma Clark?
Richard Milner: I was inspired by all the excitement, energy and magic I saw on the soccer field, and I wanted to capture that and turn it into a book that would inspire kids to get involved and discover their talent. What I really enjoy as a coach is when a young player catches on. Some kids start a bit reluctant and may have pre-conceived ideas that they won’t be very good, but then at some point, something magical happens. They might make a key tackle or score a goal, and from that moment on, they’re charging about and trying much harder, and you can see a switch has been flicked on. It can be very dramatic.
On top of that, I think it’s good to remember that soccer is a team sport, so it’s not just about the wonder-kids. Of course, we love to have talented kids on our teams; they’re easy to coach and catch on fast. But there’s also a lot of satisfaction from coaching kids who aren’t necessarily “naturals”. They have to work harder, and need more coaching, but when they do improve and rise to a higher level, that’s a wonderful thing to see. That’s one of the things I like best about being a coach.
Perhaps more importantly, kids learn all kinds of skills and lessons on the training ground and on the soccer field, that they can use in other walks of life. Discipline, team-work, hard work, confidence, the feeling of camaraderie.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you feel about the emphasis on winning in today’s youth soccer?
Richard Milner: That’s a great question. In fact, there’s a strong message in my novel that relates to this very point. My take is that it’s fine to be competitive, in fact it’s the drive that spurs us on to greater things, and I’m all for that. But I think that sometimes some of the ADULTS/PARENTS live vicariously through their kids and take it way too seriously. It’s never good to see a full grown man (or woman) red-faced and shouting aggressively at the kids or the ref from the touchline. It’s not setting a good example. Likewise, seeing kids reduced to tears or sitting miserably by the side of the field is not what soccer should be about. I believe soccer should be a vehicle to allow kids to develop and grow, not something that will make them miserable and put them off sport for life. So, I think we have to be careful how we push our kids.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are the life lessons taught in soccer?
Richard Milner: As I said earlier, I think that kids can learn all kinds of skills and lessons on the training ground and soccer field that they can use in other walks of life. Discipline, team-work, hard work, confidence, the feeling of camaraderie. How through hard work and discipline, they can steadily improve to master skills, and feel proud of their achievements. In that respect, soccer is priceless. Also on the soccer field, kids can experience what it takes to come back after setback, for instance after they’ve gone a goal down. One of my favorite quotes is: “True success can only be measured in the face of adversity.” Another is: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” These are good lessons for kids to learn on the soccer field and for life.
Diane Scavuzzo: What level soccer does Emma’s team play?
Richard Milner: In the first book, Emma plays recreational soccer (U12 level). That’s the stage where many young players get the bug. In Emma’s case, she comes to soccer reluctantly, but after playing a few times and doing a few good things on the training ground, she turns a corner, and from that moment onwards, she’s on fire and comes to live for the Saturday soccer games.
Diane Scavuzzo: Will Emma’s soccer saga continue in a new book?
Richard Milner: Yes, I have already written the first draft of the follow up book, in which Emma gets selected for All Stars and goes on to experience the highs and lows of tournaments. I’m also working on a third book, in which Emma travels to England for a Christmas holiday to visit her English cousins, and ends up going to watch an English Premier League game between Manchester United and Leeds. On top of that, she gets recruited as a last minute replacement for a local girls’ team in England and ends up playing in the County Championship Final against the Leeds United Development Squad. It’s pure fantasy stuff, but it encourages the kids to dream, and that’s a wonderful thing.
Milner’s book is available either on Kindle (price $2.99) or Paperback (price $9.99)
