It was well past dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel near Hyde Park.
Guests from the Football Writers’ Association dinner were starting to make their way to the taxi rank, some wobbling a little after a long evening.
That’s when Wally Downes, former footballer and Reading coach, appeared.
“Outside. Now,” he said, with a grin that suggested both mischief and menace. I paused, sizing him up.
Wally was sharp and clever, but also a founding member of Wimbledon’s infamous Crazy Gang.
Needless to say, I had no desire to engage in anything resembling a fight. The odds weren’t exactly in my favor.
The Spark Behind the Threat
Curious and slightly anxious, I asked why he was after me.
His answer was simple: a passage in Neil Warnock’s autobiography Made in Sheffield, which I had ghostwritten, had upset his mother.
The offending section described Wally in a state of undress in the Reading manager’s office after a tense game.
I remembered the paragraphs clearly. Warnock’s account painted Wally as sitting in the manager’s chair in just a t-shirt, quite literally holding court in his own way.
Looking back, it was understandable that a mother might not appreciate that kind of literary tribute.
A Tactical Retreat
Rather than head straight outside to a showdown, Wally decided we should relocate.
With my former sports editor as an impromptu second, we ducked through hallways and toilets, searching for somewhere less crowded.
Eventually, we ended up at the foot of a staircase behind a fire exit.
Wally swung. I dodged. He missed. And just like that, I was out of harm’s way.
Since then, my respect for Wally’s insight into football has only grown—but that night remains the only time I wished I’d charged danger money for ghostwriting.
Ghostwriting in the Eye of Controversy
I thought of that chaotic evening when Mary Earps’ autobiography All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me hit the shelves.
The book sparked debate, particularly over passages discussing her England replacement, Hannah Hampton, and Earps’ reasons for stepping away from international football.
Some critics suggested the ghostwriter had let her down. I couldn’t disagree more.
A responsible ghostwriter’s job is to faithfully convey the subject’s words while balancing care, context, and honesty.
If Earps wants to be “unapologetically” herself, the readers have a right to hear her perspective—even if it isn’t entirely comfortable.
Walking the Line
Ghostwriting requires nuance. You aim to capture your subject’s voice without distortion, all while navigating potentially sensitive issues.
There’s often a delicate line between transparency and privacy.
A ghostwriter may advise on potential reactions, but the final decision rests with the author and their team.
Criticism of managers or teammates after a historic triumph might not be PR gold—but if Earps insisted it stay, that was her call.
It’s her story, her name on the cover, and ultimately her life in print.
Misconceptions About Ghostwriting
Some see the ghostwriter as an accomplice or even a manipulator.
In my experience, that’s far from the truth. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with Neil Warnock, John Terry, Stan Collymore, Theo Walcott, Ian Poulter, Graeme Le Saux, and many others.
Their views and stories are their own.
My job is to translate those thoughts into a coherent, readable narrative—not to impose my own judgment or moral code.
The Privilege and Responsibility
Each collaboration has been a privilege—a window into the minds and motivations of elite athletes.
Whether pre-existing friendships or bonds formed during interviews, the responsibility is always to respect and convey their voice authentically.
Ghostwriting is neither censorship nor moral arbitration; it is storytelling on someone else’s behalf.
Lessons Learned
I’ve had moments where I wished I had intervened more strongly, like with Stan Collymore’s brutally honest autobiography.
Looking back, some details should have been handled differently, especially concerning the privacy of others.
But even then, it was his book, his choice, and my role was to ensure his story was heard.
A Balancing Act
Ultimately, ghostwriting is about balance.
Respect for the subject, accuracy, sensitivity, and authenticity all intersect.
The writer’s role is to illuminate, not to overshadow. Every word in the book is theirs, and every decision about what appears in print is theirs.
And while some chapters in this career have included late-night confrontations and dodged punches, the real challenge—and privilege—is always helping someone else tell their story, unapologetically and in full.