We welcome the hosts of Price of Football podcast
An in-person launch for Price of Football podcast fantastic new book, taking us through the labyrinthine world of football finance
Join Stanchion Books for the London launch of Unfit and Improper Persons : An Idiot's Guide to Owning a Football Club by Kevin Day, Kieran Magure and Guy Kilty.
The book:
'A very funny book that tackles some serious football issues.' Gary Lineker
'Witty and wise.' Clare Balding
'Brilliant. Blows the lid off football. Hilarious, detailed and insightful.' Alan Davies
Ever dreamed of setting up your own football club? Join the team behind The Price of Football podcast as they start a (fictional) football club and discover what's really going on behind the scenes of the beautiful game.
Buying a football club will set you back a few quid, but you've also got to pass the Premier League and EFL's 'fit and proper persons test'. That all seems like a bit of a faff to the team behind the award-winning podcast The Price of Football, so acclaimed comedy writer Kevin Day, football finance expert Kieran Maguire and producer Guy Kilty start an imaginary club instead. In Unfit and Improper Persons they take West Park Rovers on a hilarious journey from the lowest level of the FA pyramid right up to the English Football League, the Premier League and, if fortune favours the fictional, into the heart of Europe.
At least that's the plan, but inevitably they face a few challenges along the way. Where to find a shirt sponsor? What should the mascot be - is a dog called Rover too obvious? Can they pay the women's team the same as the men's team? (Spoiler alert: hardly anyone else does.) And how can they get Messi to the Kleanwell Stadium next season, like they promised the fans?
Roofing over the toilets, paying the electric on the floodlights, salary caps, parachute payments and avoiding bankruptcy, never mind relegation - owning a football club isn't all about stuffing prawn sarnies and quaffing champagne in the directors' box. Unfit and Improper Persons is informed, funny and, thanks to exclusive interviews with those who've been there, done that, it lays bare the labyrinthine world of football finance.
The participants:
Kevin Day is an acclaimed stand-up comedian and one of the country's leading comedy writers. He writes for Have I Got News for You and A League of Their Own and has worked with stars ranging from Dave Allen to Alfie Boe (he'll go through the whole alphabet if you like). He regularly appears on Talksport and BBC5 Live and is currently working on a musical based on the legendary Pawsons Arms pub (honestly). He tweets at @kevinhunterday
Kieran Maguire is the go-to expert on football finance matters. When not regularly appearing on television and radio commentating on matters related to club finance, he teaches the Football Industries MBA at the University of Liverpool Management School. Forbes describes Maguire as a 'soccer finance expert' and his expertise has earned him nicknames such as the 'Columbo of football finance'. He tweets at @KieranMaguire
Guy Kilty, known to listeners of The Price of Football as Producer Guy, has enjoyed a journeyman footballer-style professional career, which has seen him produce and present radio and TV shows at the BBC like Breakfast on BBC One and Wake Up To Money on BBC Radio 5 Live. Now he runs the specialist podcast production company Dap Dip. He tweets at @GuyKilty
The Price of Football team have 85,000 Twitter followers and a host of contacts in the world of professional football. Their media appearances include The Athletic, The Anfield Wrap, Radio 5 Live, TalkSport, BBC World Service, The Times, The Telegraph, the Guardian, BBC Sport, Four Four Two, Goal, and Liverpool Echo.
The host:
Stanchion Books is a bookshop specialising in independently-minded football books, magazines, fanzines, photobooks, kids books and more.
Orders are shipped worldwide and you can get 10% off your first order when you join the mailing list.
Tickets and signed copies:
There are a small number of free tickets available to those who are not able to afford it. If you are not able to afford a full-priced ticket, please feel free to book a free place, no questions asked.
There is also a ticket option to include a copy of the book. This can be collected at the event and you will be able to get your copy signed at the event.
If you are not able to make the event but would like a signed copy, you can preorder on our website (just choose the signed copy option). Please note that signed copies will not be sent until after the event, ie. after Thursday 16 November. Please see our website for shipping information and estimated delivery times.
Timings:
Doors are open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
There will be a signing after the event, where you can purchase your copy of the book and get it signed by the author.
Fan Forum Dates for the 23/24 Season
We are pleased to announce the dates of the next two forums and will publish further dates across season 2024-25 shortly.
In an aim to improve communication between the club and supporters we are pleased to announce dates for our 23/24 Fan Forums.
Managers Hakan Hayrettin, Ryan Dempsey and Chairman Ben Clasper have agreed to make themselves available to answer your questions and discuss plans for the club and the teams.
The next two forums will take place in the main bar at the stadium with a 7.30pm start on the following dates:
Wednesday 6th December
Wednesday 10th April
If you are unable to attend but wish to have your questions addressed at the meeting, please email them to
Annual General Meeting (AGM) - 31st October 2023
The AGM of Dulwich Hamlet Football Club Limited will take place on Tuesday 31st October.
This meeting is open to all the club's shareholders who will shortly receive formal invitation via email.
If you do not receive by 17th October 2023 please email Liam Hickey, Company Secretary at
Any resolutions proposed by shareholders should be sent to the same email address on or before 24th October.
Kimm Connett 1958-2023
Club mourns the loss of playing legend and Chairman of the Dulwich Hamlet Former Players Association
We were devastated to learn yesterday of the sudden death of Kimm Connett. This is a loss that will be felt not only throughout our football club, with whom his family are most closely associated, but all other clubs, businesses and communities with which he was connected as there was no one more giving, more supportive and more proactive than Kimm.
Kimm was pink and blue to his core following in the footsteps of his father Pat Connett, both of them not only excelling for the Hamlet on the football pitch but also continuing their support, work and volunteering beyond their playing days. I am sure there will be countless more comments and articles that will recount his playing career in far greater detail than I can from those there to witness it first hand, not least covering the famous Isthmian League Championship in 1978 under manager Alan Smith.
Whilst I was a little young to have watched Kimm in action on the pitch I can speak volumes of his contribution in recent years as during my five years as Chairman he became a friend and confidante as he helped the club reconnect with former players, was a constant source of support and introduced me to other clubs he thought we could learn from as we rebuilt our club after staring into the abyss in 2018. Whenever there was something I needed help with there would inevitably be a response within days either offering to provide that help personally or giving me the name of a contact from his seemingly endless football and business network who may be of service. Every single offer was genuine, unconditional and followed up on. For a club that had recently passed into the ownership of supporters with little experience in football, other than standing on the terraces, Kimm’s perspective, knowledge and advice was something I was became increasingly reliant on and unusually confident in investing in as, like his dad before him, I knew he would be in it for the long haul through good or bad. His love and support for our club was deep-seated and unconditional.
One of my first complaints when I took over the club was the lack of any connection with past players as I could see from following the Hamlet to away games that other clubs had an abundance of support and expertise from their old boys and so I was introduced to Kimm only to find that he was the hub of a superb network from his playing days and it has been an honour to spend time with all of them. My biggest regret is the only headache Kimm ever gave me was his group was so popular there were far too many to accommodate in a boardroom on a match day and we spoke often about the expanded facilities we would have in the new stadium to give them all the welcome they deserved, it is heart-breaking that he won’t be there to host it.
I feel fortunate that I was able to spend the recent Tooting & Mitcham friendly with Kimm and Alan walking them through the new squad and the pre-season progress, they were both a huge support through the bad times of the season past and so I was excited to hopefully share the good times ahead. All we spoke about after was what else he could do for the club and the final text I received from him on the weekend was yet another offer of support to step in and fill a gap after telling him we had an impending departure. That was Kimm, every problem, every ask, every gap, first in line, first to offer, first class.
The gap he leaves will hurt, then grow as we have lost one of the few people we could all turn to and he would always have been there for the Hamlet.
Dear Kimm. Thank you. I will miss you dearly. The club was honoured to have you. Our love and thoughts are with your family and I hope we can be of some support in return.
Ben
