Veteran writer Dennis Coath has released his latest book, telling the story of the Dunster-based author’s 45-year career as a sports journalist. 

Mr Coath has previously co-authored books with the cricketer Ian Botham and England’s most capped football player, Peter Shilton.  

The book, titled Rats, Pies and Pigeon Poo, recounts the many amazing experiences of Mr Coath’s storied career. The title references three of those experiences, one involving “paddling” through pigeon poo.   

Mr Coath chronicles his interviews with sports giants including Muhammad Ali, Jonah Lomu, and Tyson Fury amongst others. In his adventures he travelled the world, reporting from Vietnam, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, France and Italy – in just one year.  

But there were plenty of tough times along the way. Mr Coath details how he was held up at gunpoint in Spain by Basque militias, and how he had to talk his way out of it, in English. On another occasion Mr Coath was forced to take evasive action after he came under a hail of beer cans lobbed by French rugby fans.  

Speaking to Mr Coath about his book he told me a whirlwind of fascinating stories. “One of the best stories ever” begins with a late phone call to the ITV offices.

Mr Coath thought twice about picking it up given the hour, but was glad that he did in the end. A man had called up about his drag bike, claiming it was the fastest in the world. Even better the caller was a miner – the year was 1984 – and he was using his super bike to zoom past the NUM’s pickets. 

Rats, Pies and Pigeon Poo has been described “a handbook for aspiring journalists.” I asked Mr Coath for his top tip. He said “The most important thing is to build up a contact file. You should take the phone number of everyone you meet”

 He joked: “If you see Lewis Hamilton in Poundland, get his number.”

 He told of the value of having “moles” in the right places. One of his favourites, he recalls, was a “tea lady” at a football club who happily divulged all the club gossip. 

On another occasion Mr Coath obtained a number of exclusive stories on a premiere league football club. The club held an enquiry into how the stories were leaking – not knowing their own chairman was the culprit. 

Talking about how he bagged an interview with rugby star Jonah Lomu, Mr Coath describes the lengths the New Zealand press authorities went to insulate the player from the media. “They wouldn’t let anyone near him.” He explained. 

Eyeing the interview, the persistent reporter had set up a room with sofas close to Lomu’s training ground, and at an opportune moment, all but “pushed” the 6 foot 4 star into it.  

Published by Olympia Publishers, Rats, Pies and Pigeon Poo is available at Waterstones, Amazon and all good book shops for £8.99