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Shots in the Dark: A Diary of Saturday Dreams and Strange Times
'I loved every page, and ended up admiring David Kynaston, our greatest social historian, even more than I already did' Nick Hornby
Brimming with wisdom and humour, David Kynaston's diaries written over one football season offer up his most personal take on social history to date.
David Kynaston was seven and a half years old when he attended his first Aldershot match in the early months of 1959. So began a deep attachment to the game and a lifelong loyalty to an obscure, small-town football club. Though as he sits down to write his diaries almost sixty years on, he reflects that life might have been simpler if his father had never taken him to that first match at the Rec.
Shots in the Dark is the diary David Kynaston kept in the football season of 2016/17, detailing the ups and downs of the 'Shots' in the year that saw a divisive referendum in the UK and the impending ascension of Donald Trump. Here Kynaston presents a social history of modern Britain with a difference - all through the prism of the beautiful game.
A testament to the ways in which fandom gives solidity and security to our lives, particularly in these bewildering and rapidly changing times, Shots in the Dark gets to the heart of what it means to be a devoted follower of a sports team. This is a diary of the macro and the micro, as questions of loyalty, of identity, of liberalism and of nationalism all rub uncomfortably up against each other during nine charged months.
Brimming with wisdom and humour, David Kynaston's diaries written over one football season offer up his most personal take on social history to date.
David Kynaston was seven and a half years old when he attended his first Aldershot match in the early months of 1959. So began a deep attachment to the game and a lifelong loyalty to an obscure, small-town football club. Though as he sits down to write his diaries almost sixty years on, he reflects that life might have been simpler if his father had never taken him to that first match at the Rec.
Shots in the Dark is the diary David Kynaston kept in the football season of 2016/17, detailing the ups and downs of the 'Shots' in the year that saw a divisive referendum in the UK and the impending ascension of Donald Trump. Here Kynaston presents a social history of modern Britain with a difference - all through the prism of the beautiful game.
A testament to the ways in which fandom gives solidity and security to our lives, particularly in these bewildering and rapidly changing times, Shots in the Dark gets to the heart of what it means to be a devoted follower of a sports team. This is a diary of the macro and the micro, as questions of loyalty, of identity, of liberalism and of nationalism all rub uncomfortably up against each other during nine charged months.
272 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2021
About the author
David Kynaston
44 books85 followersDavid Kynaston was born in Aldershot in 1951. He has been a professional historian since 1973 and has written eighteen books, including The City of London (1994-2001), a widely acclaimed four-volume history, and W.G.'s Birthday Party, an account of the Gentleman vs. the Players at Lord's in July 1898. He is the author of Austerity Britain, 1945-51, the first title in a series of books covering the history of post-war Britain (1945-1979) under the collective title "Tales of a New Jerusalem".
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 23, 2021
This was a somewhat interesting read in stretches. I think my own views contrast pretty vividly from the author. He seems to be pining over some kind of weird Liberal ideal of Britian which I'm not sure ever really existed, and written from a position of real privilege which I don't think is truly acknowledged.
January 13, 2025
If I could give this book a minus score I would. Just pure waffle. Drivel. Starts out talking about football, ends up talking about anything but. Literally hurt my head trying to read it. Truly awful and doesn't make any sense.
August 31, 2020
Tribalism and decency. Are they compatible? Discuss.
So it turns out that two of my great loves - non league football and contemporary social history - can be combined into publishable books, at least if you are already a well known historian. This book could have been written for me.
I reckon I have seen Aldershot “the Shots” five times, though one of those (a 5-0 home victory for Barnet) was expunged from the records because it occurred shortly before Aldershot went bust mid season. Or is that what David Kynaston calls a shadow memory?
Either way I was certainly - like the author - present at Aldershot’s “home” FA Cup tie v West Ham in about 1991. They chose to play it at Upton Park and drew 0-0 only to lose the replay 6-1. I didn’t go to that one.
The author and I have other things in common: first class history degrees; a fascination with all things lower league (not just what occurs on the pitch but who the fans are); a chip on our shoulder about selective education. But I’m more successful at getting letters published in The Times!
This book contains the sort of recorded football trivia that, like the author, I retain to help recall the passage of time. Like him I’m also starting to feel old (it’s striking how many times he is recording as significant other people’s obituaries). I’m also now similarly looking at the birthdays in the newspaper each day to see if there’s anyone there I have met and could call by their Christian name. How fickle!
Otherwise this is an enjoyable record of “the Shots” in the Conference during a year when I was following Ebbsfleet Utd’s promotion from the league below, plus a whole load of reflective concern about Trump’s election and the future of democracy. In fact when Theresa May calls a General Election, the author refers to our pursuit of her constituency team Maidenhead as a parallel with opposition parties trying to catch her in the polls. They did. We didn’t!
Unlikely that this book is everyone’s cup of Bovril but it’s definitely mine. Thank you Mr Kynaston for capturing some of the magic and meaning of proper football. As an Ebbsfleet fan it is a shame the following season is contained in a brief footnote rather than Shots in the Dark Volume 2!
So it turns out that two of my great loves - non league football and contemporary social history - can be combined into publishable books, at least if you are already a well known historian. This book could have been written for me.
I reckon I have seen Aldershot “the Shots” five times, though one of those (a 5-0 home victory for Barnet) was expunged from the records because it occurred shortly before Aldershot went bust mid season. Or is that what David Kynaston calls a shadow memory?
Either way I was certainly - like the author - present at Aldershot’s “home” FA Cup tie v West Ham in about 1991. They chose to play it at Upton Park and drew 0-0 only to lose the replay 6-1. I didn’t go to that one.
The author and I have other things in common: first class history degrees; a fascination with all things lower league (not just what occurs on the pitch but who the fans are); a chip on our shoulder about selective education. But I’m more successful at getting letters published in The Times!
This book contains the sort of recorded football trivia that, like the author, I retain to help recall the passage of time. Like him I’m also starting to feel old (it’s striking how many times he is recording as significant other people’s obituaries). I’m also now similarly looking at the birthdays in the newspaper each day to see if there’s anyone there I have met and could call by their Christian name. How fickle!
Otherwise this is an enjoyable record of “the Shots” in the Conference during a year when I was following Ebbsfleet Utd’s promotion from the league below, plus a whole load of reflective concern about Trump’s election and the future of democracy. In fact when Theresa May calls a General Election, the author refers to our pursuit of her constituency team Maidenhead as a parallel with opposition parties trying to catch her in the polls. They did. We didn’t!
Unlikely that this book is everyone’s cup of Bovril but it’s definitely mine. Thank you Mr Kynaston for capturing some of the magic and meaning of proper football. As an Ebbsfleet fan it is a shame the following season is contained in a brief footnote rather than Shots in the Dark Volume 2!
August 10, 2021
Loved this and a perfect holiday read. Essentially the diary of a 50-years passionate support of Aldershot, as they unexpectedly over one season play themselves into play-offs contention. Such football diaries have been done before, but this is how I expect my latter years football supporting will pan out. Interwoven with despair at the referendum and Trump’s tenure. Perfect material for me.
February 25, 2022
Essentially in diary form about DKs lifelong passion for Aldershot FC and their progress in season 2016/17 but also interesting , analytical and well written musings on football, cricket, music, social and political history . Significant year politically with Trump voted in as POTUS and the Brexit referendum vote .
March 13, 2024
Of all seasons to write about, 2016-2017 has to be the one where political events (Brexit, Trump) overshadow the football. Kynaston's love of Aldershot Town shines through, and their travails and triumphs aren't totally overshadowed by his comments on the perilous condition of Britain and the US. His views are particularly pertinent today, when the same troubles are very much in evidence.
November 4, 2021
If you’re thinking this is a football book you’d be wrong, however the cover may suggest. This is 5% Aldershot, and 95% Brexit, Trump and history. If you want to relive the horror of 2016 then this is the book for you. The only reason this is getting two stars is because the small amount of football content was interesting.
March 20, 2022
A commendable pursuit to keep a diary of a season and simultaneously weave in the politics and life moments. Some section were very engaging while others wandered, but that is to be expected in a diary. I would recommend for any football fan.
September 3, 2020
Wonderful book, I hope he’s right!
April 29, 2021
I do miss Highbury
August 14, 2021
Middle class liberal waffle, more hand-wringing politics than football. Really not sure who the intended audience for this book is - certainly not me !
September 13, 2025
This is not a simple fan diary of a football season. It's a book about belonging. it's about how it feels to get older in a world of change where individual anchor points - politics, religion, family, class, society - constantly morph and become distorted. It's a good book but a bit too lofty and academic in parts - in laughable contrast to the author's purported left-leaning views. Kynaston, to me, is a fish struggling out of water: an old school leftie who has no real understanding of working people and then flops around in confusion as they dare to do very right-leaning things like voting for Brexit. Enjoyable in parts but not essential.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews