A lifelong Sky Blues fan has put pen to paper on his debut novel – with memories of his beloved club creating the backdrop for his inspiring tale.

Paddy Davitt has penned the story of an ambitious young striker who dreams of playing for his hometown side, before injury threatens to wreck the teenager’s fledgling career.

Former Cardinal Newman School pupil Paddy Davitt, now a chief football writer based in Norfolk, drew heavily on his memories of supporting Coventry City at Highfield Road and, of course, the legendary 1987 FA Cup victory as the basis for his first e-book, One Shot at Glory.

All the proceeds from the first in a series of novels will go to the Trussell Trust, the national charity helping to set up and run much-needed foodbanks.

Paddy said: “You can see how important foodbanks have become in recent years – nearly a million people in this country used a foodbank over the last year and it really brings it home to you how many struggle with something most of us take for granted.

“I just felt if there was anything I could do to raise awareness and some funds for such an important cause, then it was worth trying to get this project off the ground.”

Coventry City fan Paddy Davitt has penned his first novel – One Shot At Glory – which is available on Amazon.

Paddy moved to Norfolk in 2003 to cover the fortunes of Norwich City, but his passion for football writing was sparked by reading fictional football tales in his youth in Coventry.

“When I wasn’t playing football for my school or Sunday League teams, I loved to go to my local library in Jubilee Crescent and read anything I could get my hands on to do with football,” said Paddy.

“It’ll be fairly obvious from the front cover and the opening few pages how much the book is based on my experiences following the Sky Blues in the 1980s and 1990s and those great times in the top league and, of course, the memories of that brilliant day in 1987.

“I’m sure plenty of Coventry fans, young and old, would enjoy a trip down memory lane.”

Reproduced Coventry Evening Telegraph

December 31 2014