A former Brighton journalist's book asks why football matters so much to fans

Damien Pearse, a former Brighton journalist who became a psychologist, has written a book about why football fans care so much. Till I Die – Why Football Means Everything (Even When It Shouldn’t) came out in hardback from Oneworld¹ last month, first reported by Brighton and Hove News³.

Pearse, 56, is a chartered psychologist and has worked as a journalist at the Guardian, Sky News and the Press Association. He supports Wolves. His publisher describes a calm man who, on match days, becomes “anxious, panicked, sometimes belligerent”. For the book he met superfans, scientists, players and trolls.

Albion get some of the warmest pages, according to Brighton and Hove News. Pearse writes about the club’s escape from the brink of extinction and Fans United, the support that came from across the game when bankruptcy and homelessness loomed. He also follows former player Guy Butters leading a reminiscence session for people with dementia, with help from Chris Cattlin, who went on to manage Brighton. The Goldstone and training in Hove Park both come up.

The book is on the longlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2026. Dan Tester, author of Brighton & Hove Albion On This Day, called it “Absolutely brilliant.” The hardback costs £18.99.