After seven years as a London firefighter the author qualified to teach after studying for a BS Hons at Liverpool University as a mature student. Later Philip Stevens studied for a PhD at UCL/IOE which he was awarded in 1992. He enjoyed a long and successful career in education at senior level in both schools, and later, adult learning. In retirement in 2010 Stevens published his first book, Sporting Heroes (Apex) which sold in hardback and was reprinted in paperback. In 2014 he followed this by writing an acclaimed biography of the legendary West Ham manager, John Lyall (Apex), which again sold out in hardback and paperback. In 2015 Stevens wrote an academic book, Rita and Gerald: adult learning in Britain today, published by UCL/IOE, which received excellent reviews and made an impact on the sector. In 2017 the author then published Budge Rogers: a rugby life (Pitch), was the authorised biography of a true legend of the sport. The book was successful, raising more than £3,500 for the RFU Injured Players Fund. The author is a long-term West Ham fan, a music lover and enjoys playing golf badly and walking his black Labrador.