Whatever will be, will be: A Matter of Life and Football

'A book so beautiful that it finally made me understand what football means. An exceptional writer.'
- Bella Mackie

'So much more than a book about football. A book about aging, community and memory. Rich in detail and great jokes. I wish I had written it.'
- Josh Widdicombe

'For anyone who loves the FA cup like me, this is your 50 shades.'
- Chris Stark

'A book by a Fulham fan would have to be very good for me to recommend it. Brilliant...I couldn't put it down. Annoyingly.'
- Seann Walsh

'Mesmerising and unputdownable, like Fever Pitch meets The Sportswriter. I commend it in the highest terms.'
- Amol Rajan

'It might be the most perfect football book ever.'
- Charlie Cooper

'I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who loves beautiful writing.'
- Ivo Graham

'A beautiful book of rare emotional honesty and depth.'
- Ali Millar

'A book that's guaranteed to remind you why you love football.'
- MUNDIAL

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of It's Always Summer Somewhere comes a moving and often hilarious journey through the 2024/25 FA Cup - from the first muddy preliminary round in Penrith to a glorious sunny day at Wembley.

On the brink of turning 40, Felix White sets out to watch a match from every round of the Cup, meeting fans, players and dreamers at every level of the English game. As he travels the country, football becomes a way to explore memory, identity, grief and joy. While he reflects on his own lifelong obsessions, his story becomes a unique expression of how the game communicates something vital, both literal and internal, between a child and an adult.

Told with lyrical wit and heartfelt honesty, Whatever Will Be, Will Be is more than just a story about football - it's about growing up, holding on and the strange ways sport connects us all.