A FORMER manager of Ilkley's Grove Bookshop returns to his old workplace later this month, this time as an author speaking about his own latest book, Riverball – a Rugby Fairy Tale.

Simon Ravens left the bookshop in Ilkley back in 2006, to concentrate on writing a history book, which was published to critical acclaim last year.

The ‘fairy tale’ in questin is the story of Wharfedale RUFC.

Mr Ravens, though, is keen to point out that Riverball is more a human story, and the story of a community, than a straightforward sports book.

He said: "When I first saw Wharfedale play, I was dumbfounded about how a small Dales village could produce a team which for decades has ranked amongst the top forty clubs in the English game. By the time I’d seen the club beat Coventry and a few of the great London clubs, I knew that it was too good a story not to share."

He added: "I think the Dales farmers who make up the core of the club take it for granted that their team achieves what it does, but the big National One clubs who visit often leave scratching their head about Wharfedale. They all want to know how the phenomenon had come about. So did I – that’s really why I started to write the book. I followed the team around the country all of last season. For various reasons it turned out to be the most exciting season for years, with a genuine fairy tale of an ending.”

He will be talking about Riverball at the Grove Bookshop on November 26 at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £5, which includes a glass of wine and snacks.