Mark Mason is a supporter of Coventry City Football Club. Despite this fact he retains a strong interest in the game. His own skills on the football field can perhaps be most charitably described as 'non-existent'. Equally at home in defence or attack (i.e. not at all), his one and only shot on goal, in a school match at the age of 12, was a mere matter of inches wide. Of the corner flag.
In football, as in so many areas of life, those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach, become England manager. But for those whose capabilities fall below even this basic level, there is nothing left except to write about the game. Accordingly Mason has penned football articles for a variety of newspapers and magazines, as well as producing documentaries on the subject for the BBC. In the course of these endeavours he has hoped that interviewing players would cause some of their magic to rub off on him. Anyone who sees the look of terror in his eyes whenever he has to kick the ball back to a group of six-year-olds in the park will know that it hasn't.