World of Football, Tony Adams, Alex Ferguson, Howard Wilkinson, the chairman of the League managers Association and Kenny Dalglish are all featured in 86-year-old Jilly Cooper’s latest 18th novel Tackle! Known for her occasional oral tribute, sex is a bit thin, although a character called Emma Stanton-Harcourt whose refusal to shave her public hair betrays her upper-crust status to anyone who sees her without underwear, does have a few steamy nights with Ryan Edwards, the manager of the club that has just signed her son, Harry to its academy.
Rupert Campbell-Black, all-conquering racehorse owner-trainer is in the darkest of places. His adored wife, Taggie is about to undergo chemotherapy, and his beloved stallion has been assassinated as the plot thickens.
Now his daughter Bianca is badgering him to buy into a failing football club, Searston Rovers, so he can sing up her superstar striker boyfriend, Feral Jackson, and he and Bianca can return home from Perth to look after Taggie.
Rupert dislike football and is not impressed with Searston club, 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 fo club’s adorable secretary Tember West, and his Sassy Press Officer Dora Belvedon, he becomes increasingly fond of his riotous mix of players, despite bawling them out whenever they face defeat.
Glamorous WAGS flood in to stir up trouble and lust after Rupert.., neither does the rival local football team, their duplicitous chairman and their corrupt dealings make things easier – letting out the joyful and mischievous scandals, sabotage and seductions with good mix of drama, sex and excellent social comedy.

Tackle! By Jilly Cooper published by Bantam £22