Relegated – One American’s Pints-and-Pies Journey from the Top to the Bottom of English Football

Relegated: One American’s Pints-and-Pies Journey from the Top to the Bottom of English Football by Todd Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I loved this book. A perfect companion to accompany the last two matches of the 2026 World Cup. I will gladly add Todd Smith to my list of authors that I will look for in the quest to build up my To Be Read (TBR) list.

During the tournament this year, I read two books to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the game of football. The first was Roger Bennett’s We are the World (Cup), which was a great read during the group stage of the tournament.

To me, one of the most amazing things about English football is the promotion/relegation component. This book does a great job of giving the reader a glimpse into all levels of English football, from the Premier League, the Championship League, League 1, League 2, and the non-League football clubs. The one constant that all the leagues have in common is the promotion/relegation component. This is so unlike anything we have in the U.S. Bad teams lose every year, and nothing happens.

I highly recommend this book to football fans, and aspiring writers alike. Todd gives a great glimpse into the life of the struggling writer.



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