Home of The Beautiful Game
Football Writing
Football Books
The Football Grounds of Great
Britain
by Andrew Thomas
This is the second book I've written and it
tells the story of the 1996/7 season. It was published on June
26th 1997, and cost 6 pounds and 99 pence.It's got all the games,
results and all the stories from the obvious to the unlikely such
as Gillingham's celery ban, Paul Merson's "unbelievable
belief" quote and the Brighton season that nearly ended in
extinction. Lots of stats at the back too, a page for each club
as well as an overall review of the season.
It hasn't sold nearly as well as my other one - so I've got loads
left!
It is stocked by Sportspages (Manchester and London) and available in bookshops in the Manchester area.
Email me for more details if you are interested: (Andrew Thomas).
HOME & AWAY:A Diary of Liverpool's 1994/5 Season
by Andrew Thomas
"This book is a must for all Liverpool fans" FOURFOURTWO
"For the Liverpool fan, this is an excellent record" TOTAL FOOTBALL
"Agreat read and also a souvenir of a great season" THROUGH THE WIND & RAIN
My first book, over 200 pages telling a great story of the season, ground descriptions, how to get tickets for Liverpool games, stats on all the games/players, transfers: real and rumoured, basically everything that happened. I've onlyl got about 100 left, so if anyone wants one cheap drop me a line (Andrew Thomas: ([email protected]).
THE FOOTBALL GROUNDS OF GREAT BRITAIN
by Simon Inglis
One of my favourite books of all time, which is why it is here. The essential reference on football grounds. There's a sceond edition now too. Absolutely superb, all the grounds, pictures, descriptions, histories, one of the greatest books of all times, especially if you're a saddo like me into footy grounds. He's also done one called Football Grounds of Europe which is excellent too, though not much chance of ticking off all the grounds in that book.
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Football Magazines
FourFourTwo incorporating Goal
Monthly. Price: Pounds 2.25 132 pages sometimes with supplement.1st issue: September 1994
In my opinion the best of the footy mags out there right now, certainly the classiest, the best written and pretty amusing. It was the first of the new breed of footy mags and still the market leader (Ithink). There's a big-name exclusive interview (e.g. Gazza, Cantona, Dalglish, Keegan) each month and a selection of other articles on all footy subjects, players, fans, stadiums, young players whatever. Has a good review section at the back and lists all the games for the next month. Regular columnists are a bit dodgy, of whom Chris Waddle is one.
Overall, Istill wouldn't buy it every month, though it'd be nice if someone bought you a subscription but if it has something of interest to you or your team then I'd recommend it.
Now merged with FourFourTwo
Monthly: Price Pounds 2.40 128 pages 1st issue :October 1995
Was from the same stable as Loaded! That really should be all you need to know. Actually it's not bad, very amusing at times, and does interview the big names, though more laddish ones, and does tend to ask laddish questions, e.g. shagging birds, money, gambling, drinking, football. Frank Skinner is a regular columnist.
Basically, if you like Loaded then you'll like Goal.
Bi-Monthly (was weekly): Price Pounds 2.50 132 Pages 1st issue: August 1996
From the BBC! Was weekly, and then from one extreme to the other it went bi-monthly. Still includes a serious saddo statto section. Draws maily on journos from the BBC (e.g. Alan Green) and Jimmy Hill has a column so what else do you need to make you buy a copy?
Total Football
Monthly: Price Pounds 2.25 100 pages. 1st issue: September 1995
Was supposed to be the fans' magazine. They compile some articles based on fans' opinions and it works quite well from that point of view. Again has big name interviews but not as in depth as you might find in FourFourTwo.Most of the articles are short.
Didn't really like it at first, but bought again recently and it's got a lot more in it than when it first started, quite funny, not as laddish as goal and not as classy as 442, so take your choice.Seems to always have some freebie with it (books, cassettes, calendars etc.) which can be a bonus.
When Saturday Comes
Monthly: Price 1.50 Pounds 48 pages. 1st issue: Many years ago!
The grand-daddy of football magazines? WSC has developed from a fanzine type beginning, and it's these roots that give it it's strength. The humour and attitude is more like a fanzine, and usually WSC is less serious than the glossy mags, though occasionally it does have a bit of an arrogant air about it. Not in glossy colour, and not many pages but does have colour bits and is usually a good read. Quite cool to be seen with.
| WSC has it's own web site to: | The half-decent website |
Fanzines (these are the only two I read)
Liverpool 3 or 4 issues a year 2 Pounds 52 pages
The original Liverpool fanzine, sets the record straight about goings on at Liverpool FC.
Manchester City 6 or 7 issues a year 1 pound
Formerly known as Electric Blue. An excellent read. Sample the life of Man City fans twenty years after they won anything.
