Mucky Boots: The Kevin McCabe Story

We’re delighted to announce that “Mucky Boots,” the unfiltered and compelling memoir of our Founder and Chairman, Kevin McCabe, is due to hit the book shelves on 2 September 2024.

This book delves into Kevin’s two decades at the helm of Sheffield United, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his journey from a local boy to a global property magnate.

Kevin’s story begins just yards from Bramall Lane, the historic home of Sheffield United FC and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Leaving school at 16 to work on a building site, a few encouraging words set Kevin on a path to building a multimillion-pound property empire with a global footprint.

Driven by a fierce desire to outshine local rivals Sheffield Wednesday and return Sheffield United to Premier League glory, McCabe’s takeover of the club was marked by bold decisions and fierce determination. His tenure saw him challenging the football establishment on both national and international stages and navigating the fallout from the wrongful imprisonment of the club’s star striker.

In the midst of a contentious dispute with co-owner Prince Abdullah, McCabe’s fortunes took an unexpected turn with the appointment of Chris Wilder as manager in 2016. This decision propelled the Blades back to the Premier League, but also led to an ironic twist where both McCabe and Wilder eventually faced their exits from the club they cherished.

A No-Holds-Barred Account

“Mucky Boots” offers a raw and revealing look into McCabe’s 25 years of leadership at Sheffield United. Highlights of the book include:

• His journey from humble beginnings to building a business empire in the UK, Europe and beyond
• How he set about transforming Sheffield United on and off the field and why ‘beating Wednesday’ mattered so much
• His dealings with Chris Wilder, Neil Warnock and eight other managers hired and fired during his 25 years as Sheffield United’s owner and leader
• How he took on the full weight of the English football establishment in fighting for justice during the Carlos Tevez affair
• The dilemmas and repercussions faced in dealing with the Ched Evans rape case
• The real costs of owning a football club, which extend well beyond an owner’s bank balance
• How the wheels came off in McCabe’s relationship with Prince Abdullah and the key issues leading to him mysteriously losing his court case against his former co-owner

Kevin collaborated with Peter Beeby to bring this story to life. Peter, a social entrepreneur and writer, is also the chair of an international health-tech company and an advisor to SMEs and charitable organizations. With a background as a UK Government Adviser and former chairman of Sheffield FC, Beeby brings a wealth of experience to this riveting narrative.

Discover the untold story of Kevin McCabe’s tenure at Sheffield United in “Mucky Boots,” a testament to his unwavering dedication and the dramatic highs and lows of football club ownership.

Out 2nd September 2024 but available to pre-order now from Amazon, Hive, WHSmith, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.