If the consumer excess of Black Friday leaves you cold try Civilised Saturday in Bedfordshire this weekend with a Hitchin-based football author.

Hitchin resident Layth Yousif has been invited to take part in a Waterstones book signing in Bedford as part of the store’s antidote to the consumer excess of the American-imported phenomenon.

The Comet journalist and author will be signing copies of both his best-selling books as part of the book chain’s Civilised Saturday concept devised by the Booksellers’ Association as a response to the mayhem of Black Friday.

Bedford Waterstones manager Kay Duffy said: “Civilised Saturday works well for bookshops, which should be a haven of calm during the craziness of the run-up to Christmas.

“We want to encourage people to visit their local high street, and we will have our own selection of books at half price.”

Long-term Arsenal season ticket holder Layth, who now reports on the club’s Premier League matches from the press box, will be signing copies of his books Arsene Wenger: 50 Defining Matches and The Miracle of Copenhagen from 11am to 1pm.

Author Layth, who also has a Masters in Business, said: “I understand businesses wanting to maximise sales, but the consumer excess of Black Friday leaves me cold.

“I’ve always loved browsing in bookshops and would encourage lovers of literature to visit the calm of Waterstones for their Civilised Saturday event.

“I think it’s a great idea.

“And I still have to pinch myself that I get to talk and write about The Arsenal and call it work.”

You can follow Layth on Twitter @laythy29 or visit his Facebook page facebook.com/laythy29/From 2pm to 4pm, barrister Simon Michael will be signing copies of his crime novels, The Brief and An Honest Man.