Tackle (Rutshire Chronicles 11) Jilly Cooper

Rupert Campbell-Black, all-conquering racehorse owner-trainer and handsomest man in England, is in the darkest of places.

His adored wife, Taggie, is about to undergo chemotherapy. His beloved leading stallion has been assassinated.

Now his daughter Bianca is badgering him to buy into a failing local football club so he can sign up her superstar striker boyfriend, Feral Jackson.

Rupert dislikes football and his first impressions of Searston Rovers are distinctly unfavourable. But as their new and indelibly competitive chairman, he won’t stand for anything less than an Everest climb to the top of the Premier League.

With the help of the club’s ravishing and adorable secretary, and sassy Press Officer, he becomes increasingly fond of his riotous mix of players.

But Rupert’s explosive arrival at Searston causes outrage, and the fights are as furious off the field as on. With glamorous WAGs looking to stir up trouble, and the rival local football team’s duplicitous and corrupt chairman, things aren’t going to be easy.