‘And She Laughed No More’ by Stephen Foster

The follow-up to ‘She Stood There Laughing’ sees Stephen Foster continue his love hate relationship with Tony Pulis, although now we are in the Premiership he has more, albeit grudging respect for Mr Pulis. Maybe more for Stoke fans due to the ‘in’ jokes about various Oatcake message board members (the Stoke City MB and very good it is too) but the general fan of footie books will relate to fans frustrations, joy and despair as the season progresses. It is our first season in the Premiership (we were of course regulars in the old First Division but not since the mid-80’s).

Rory Delap and his longthrow get mentioned plus a very amusing rant one of the most useless players ever to wear a Stoke City shirt, Vincent Pericard, We have had some utter shite players down the years but this lad really is useless. He is to football what the Benny Hill Show was to women’s rights…

Well worth a read and a must for all Stokies but obviouisly not Vale fans as we all know they can’t read or write

Read interviews with Stephen Foster 2009 and 2008

Five Quick Q’s with author BRIAN MANLY

Brian Manly is the author of the rather wonderful book on Sweet’s vocalist Brian Connolly called ‘The Man Who Sang Blockbluster’. You can read more about it and get a copy at www.somehitwonders.co.uk

1. What inspired you to write a book on Brian Connolly? How did you go about researching for the book?

I was inspired to write the book by one simple fact, it had not been done already. It was the same for my first book. I was fed up with reading the same old story so I wrote the one I would like to read myself. Similarly, no biography of Brian and Sweet had come out and I thought that time was running out , 40 years  is a very long time and there are few left to tell the tale. I myself am nearly fifty and so I thought, better late than never.

2. What was the first Sweet song you heard? Which era of the band do you enjoy most?

The first Sweet song I heard was Co Co when I was nine years old, the first I bought was Little Willy in 1972. My favourite period is without doubt the Glam Rock period. I think that would be Little Willy to Fox On The Run. I love all  silly songs from that period, Bolan,Bowie, Slade , MUD , Suzi Quatro, Wonderful ! 

I think the LP Sweet Fanny Adams is a special moment from the 70s.

3. Do you think they would maybe still be going strong today if they had had more chance to tour the ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’ album?

I think that Sweet neglected thier British fans, unlike Slade and Glitter who toured long after the hits had gone Sweet virtually never played in the UK after 1974. As a result Slade et al kept a relationship with thier fans in the fallow years. Thus when another creative burst came they still had a following. I think Sweet’s day was comming to an end with the passing of the 70s no matter what but  to survive on the big stage requires an intact band  with a good lead singer. Without the kudos of recent hits its all about  showmanship.

4. Reading your book ‘The Man Who Sang Blockbuster’ its apparent the band had a big impact on your life with their music. What really stood out about the band for you that made you such a big fan of the band?

I am a Sweet fan because of Brian Connolly, I say I, but Im refering to a ten year old who was blown away by an image and prescence that was totally perfect for that moment. I loved the way Sweet messed about too, my Dad used to go nuts when Steve blew kisses at the telly!  I loved MUD and Suzi Quatro  just as much on the surface but  I discovered that if you scratched the Sweet’s surface there was a fascinating otherside, the b side.  I loved thier b sides.  I think they were just about the best melodic rock  group there has been.

5. Any good films…TV…music…books you’d recommend…

If I have a film to suggest it would be one from two years ago called Short Bus. It was directed by the guy who made Hedwig And The Angry Inch. It is about a woman who cant have an orgasm and is very sexy, very funny and very moving. Short Bus.

Anything else to add…

Anything else to add ? Hmmmmm well how about a suggestion that we all go on you tube and watch Noosha Fox sing Only You Can. The best enigma that the 70s left us with? Noosha Fox, I cannot decide if she was crap or if she was utterly brilliant…….so i watch her again and again. Only you have the right to be you !

Signed copy of Little Howard’s Unpleasant Lullaby

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300334985096&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

 Kindly donated by Big Howard (aka Howard Read) a very funny picture storybook ideal for scaring kids to sleep As seen on CBBC’s ‘Little Howard’s Big Question’.

Also online are charity auctions of new & sealed copies of the new Herman Frank (Accept) and Paul Shortino (ex-Rough Cutt/Quite Riot) CD’s kindly donated by Mike Exley and AFM Records.

Signed NICHOLAS PARSONS DVD

DVD of the classic 70’s quiz show ‘Sale Of The Century’ signed by its host Nicholas Parsons. All monies raised from this one go to the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT).
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300296357301
 
Also up on EBay now are a signed copy of the excellent football book ‘Tie Me To The Mast’ by David Johnson; more signed Robert Llewellyn (Red Dwarf) goodies and signed Clive Nolan (Arena/Pendragon/Caamora) CD’s.
 
Plus there are two Rocky Horror Show items, both signed by the 1983/84 Frank ‘N’ Furter Jeffrey Longmore. Coming soon will be another signed item from another Frank ‘N’ Furter Jonathan Riley. I am slowly tracking down the Theatre Royal Hanley RHS cast but any contacts would be most welcome.
 
Look out soon as well for a signed copy of Stoke City legend Dennis Smith’s memoir; signed first editions of the new hardback by Paul Doherty and a very special signed photo of Martin Walkyier (Sabbat/Skyclad) with notes on the back by the photographer Noel Buckley who took the photograph.

Hull game preview and Brian Clough book review

Stoke look to be without both Ryan Shawcross and Paul Kitson for Saturday’s game against Hull. This should mean a start for Leon Cort replacing Shawcross as Sonko doesn’t seem to be able to last a full game at present. The returning Ricardo Fuller should start in place of Kitson.

The transfer rumour mill is in full swing with Stoke being linked with another Senegalese player, defender Lamine Diatta. How many defenders do we need? Hopefully we will add a pacy left sided midfielder and another striker in the January transfer window. Aston Villa’s Marlon Harewood is again linked with us but as long as Villa remain in Europe, coupled with Jon Carew’s frequent injuries I personally can’t see him leaving to join another club.

Former Stoke manager Gudjon Thordarsson has expressed interest in the vacant manager’s job at Crewe. Burton Albion’s manager Nigel Clough seems to be the current favourite for the job though.

Finally, just finished Adrian Hamilton’s book on Brian Clough, ‘Providing You Don’t Kiss Me’. He was the local journalist who spent many years covering Notts Forest and of course came into regular contact with Brian Clough.

Some interesting insights for Stoke fans particularly how Clough managed to sign Peter Shilton from us. Apparently Clough went to see Shilton played for Stoke at Mansfield Town and asked him did he really want to play at such grounds when he could play for Forest in Division One (now the Premier League). Needless to say Shilton signed for Forest…thanks a lot Mansfield! Overall a book to be enjoyed by any football fan and as a long standing admirer of Clough’s management style it reinforces the fact that he was indeed a one off. Clough’s biggest regret was that he never managed England but then you can see why as the FA would have dreaded having Clough giving any sort of pre or post match interview!

Just finished Ian Rankin’s new novel ‘Doors Open’ (Orion) his first non-Rebus books for many a year. Is it any good? Well it is an art heist that goes wrong set in Edinburgh and it is thoroughly entertaining, good characterization, fast paced plot and a tad more violence than you’d normally associate a Rankin novel with. A good start to his post-Rebus career and looking forward to his next book already.

Alice Cooper’s memoir ‘Golf Monster’ (Aurum) is a good read mixing his rock ‘n’ roll career with his love of golf and his own golfing tips! After his battle with alcoholism in the 70’s it was a passion for golf that saved him. Lots of great anecdotes as his mingled with the stars including Groucho Marx, Mae West (who at aged 76 tried to seduce Alice!) and golfing superstars like Arnold Palmer.

Author interview…JAMES KNOWLES

James Knowles is the author of ‘Back Where We Belong’ which looks at Stoke’s promotion into the Premiership last season complete with plenty of photographs detailing our historic return to top flight football. It is another ‘must have’ for any self-respecting Stoke fan.

 

How did you come to support Stoke City?

 

It was all my Dad’s ‘fault’. I was born in Lancashire but, thankfully, rather than being taken to Old Trafford, I was taken to the glorious Victoria Ground. My lifelong supporting Dad kept his fingers crossed that I would follow in his footsteps and having seen us beat the mighty Mansfield Town 4-0, I was hooked!

 

What have been the highlights and lowlights during your time supporting Stoke?

 

The highlight came on 4 May 2008 when we gloriously gained promotion. The joy and pride as I stood on the hallowed turf that day is a moment I shall cherish for the rest of my life. As a Stoke fan, there are always low moments. The 7-0 defeat at home to Birmingham was awful and the second half of the season under the one dimensional Brian Little was appalling.

 

How did you go about writing ‘Back Where We Belong’ and have you been pleased with the reviews & fellow Stoke fans reactions so far? Any chance you may do a follow-up covering this season?

 

At the start of the 2007/2008 season I began writing 150 words as a ‘fans view’ for The Sentinel after every match. In January (on the way back from Charlton) it was suggested I should write a book on my experiences of the season. I accepted the challenge and decided that whatever the outcome of the campaign, I would publish the book. Thankfully (and memorably) we obviously won promotion.

 

Sales of the book have been steady so far and the feedback I have received has been positive. Due to extortionate shipping costs, no shops currently stock the book so it has been down to me to entirely self promote the publication. A book signing in Hanley alongside Denis Smith, Alan Hudson, David Lee (who has organised it) and David Johnson on October 18th will hopefully accelerate sales.

 

Will there be a follow up? I am currently writing a sequel but whether it will be seen by the eyes of others depends on what the lads on the pitch do. If we fall through the trap door I can’t imagine too many people queuing up for it!!

 

Back Where We Belong is available (signed) for £12.99 (plus P & P) through 07840 591493 and jtwknowles@aol.com

 

What do you think of Pulis’s new signings so far and do you think we have a strong enough squad at least until the January transfer window?

 

Abdoulaye Faye is rapidly turning into the steal of the summer. He has been a rock so far. Despite a shaky start, Sorensen is beginning to put in displays that show why he has been at the top level for so long. The big summer signing, Kitson, is playing too deep (whether that is the manager or the player remains to be proven). If he is given a run as an out and out striker I think we will see the best of him.

 

The other new boys have slotted in well but we need to strengthen in January. We lack any pace in our side and are far too reliant on Delap’s brilliant long throw. If Rory was to pick up another bad injury then you fear that our season may well be over.

 

Has our start to the season met your expectations or been worse than you expected?

 

There is a lot of doom and gloom at the moment but I think that is more to do with the fact we are competing so well. We have been ever so close to every team on the pitch (perhaps with the exception of European Cup runners up Chelsea). Another win could well set us on our way. The league hasn’t been quite up to the standard I was expecting and I am confident we can stay in for at least another year.

 

Your top five best and worst players you have seen in a Stoke shirt and why…

 

Best:

Mark Stein- He truly was the ‘Golden One’

 

Peter Hoekstra- Although we didn’t see much of him, he was clearly blessed with tremendous talent. If he wasn’t so injury prone he would never have pulled on a Stoke shirt

 

Sergei Shtaniuk- I loved Sergei. Nothing got past him. He could have easily cut it in the Premier League.

 

Ricardo Fuller- He frustrates the hell out of me at times, but the skill Ric possesses is a great weapon to have in your team.

 

Kevin Keen- A great player who was a tremendous servant. The best thing Megson did in his short time was re-sign Keeno.

 

Worst:

Where do we start?!

Gordon Marshall- Thankfully only lasted ten games but he was a truly dreadful signing

 

Jeff Whitley- A panic signing by Pulis and his terrible performances left me panicking every time he went near the ball!

 

Keith Scott- How we swapped Sheron for him is anyone’s guess. Cheers Mr O’Neill!

 

Paul Williams- After a couple of decent outings it soon became apparent that Willo was past his sell by date. A decent fella but sadly that doesn’t make you a good player.

 

Lee Collins- The centre back signed on a free from Villa and only made four appearances. The fact his debut game in a 2-0 loss away at NINE man Millwall says it all!

 

How did you feel when we won promotion into the Premiership and which were your player(s) of the season?

 

To be honest, it was the best moment of my life. Even if we only last one season up here to say we did it is a magnificent achievement. What does seem rather surreal is the amount of media attention we now attract.

 

The players of the season? Hmmm, Lawrence swept the board with the awards but for me Delap’s contribution (not just with his long throws) in the second half of the campaign was pivotal. A special mention also for Mr Fuller.

Author interview…DAVID JOHNSON

Fellow Stoke supporter and now an author, David Johnson, whose new book ‘Tie Me To The Mast’ (my brief review is here) is one not only for Stoke fans but any lover of football (plus it has side issues such as how to stack a dishwasher and why is TV so carp nowadays).

 

How did you come to support Stoke City?

 

We moved to North Staffordshire from Liverpool when I was two. When I was three and four I kept going on at my dad to take me to a game. In a last-ditch attempt to convert me, he bought me the complete Everton kit and a “casey” ball for my fourth birthday, but it was no use. He caved in and the first game I saw was a nil-nil draw at the Victoria Ground against Birmingham. My dad says it was the worst game of football he’s ever seen, but I was hooked. We sat in the Butler Street Stand and my dad used to make me bring a bright orange, flowery cushion with me. He said it was so I could see over the people in front, but I suspect it was punishment for not supporting Everton.

 

What have been the highlights and lowlights during your time supporting Stoke?

 

I would expect to be able to reel off a list of football-related triumhs and tragedies, but I find it really difficult. Humiliating defeats against Birmingham and Liverpool of course stick in my mind, as do victories over Manchester United and Chelsea. But I’m not the sort of fan who obsesses about statistics. For me the unique beauty of football is the human drama and the camaraderie, and some of the most special memories I have come from awful, dire, depressing seasons or from games against teams I can no longer remember.

 

How did you go about writing ‘Tie Me To The Mast’ and have you been pleased with the reviews & fellow Stoke fans reactions so far?

 

I can’t tell you how much the good reaction from fellow Stokies means to me. The people closest to me have been remarkably tolerant as well, bearing in mind the mick-taking they come in for. It’s a good job, really, othewise I’d be friendless and in the divorce courts by now.

The reviews so far have been great, even from a national broadsheet like the Telegraph. I’d like to be all cool and nonchalant about it, but in truth it makes me really proud that people from every walk of life seem to like it. It’s an incredible relief after months of uncertainty.

It’s my first book, and, sticking to the cliched advice to write about what you know, I’d made some notes the season before. But, as often happens in my life, chronic laziness overtook me and nothing came of it until I needed an excuse to go to the first game of last season away at Cardiff. I told my wife I was writing the book so I had to go, and from then on my fear of Alison overrode my motivational crisis.

At Anfield last week a complete stranger stopped me and said: “Loved the book, mate.” That one moment made it all worthwhile. 

 

What do you think of Pulis’s new signings so far and do you think we have a strong enough squad at least until the January transfer window?

 

I think Kitson is struggling in the system that we’re playing and I’m sure Pulis expected to have added another genuine wide player before deadline day. As it was we missed out, leaving Kitson a bit adrift at least until January. On paper, even with the new signings, we should be doomed, but how we gel as a team is the really critical thing.

 

Your top five best and worst players you have seen in a Stoke shirt and why…

 

Top Five, in no particular order.

Mark Chamberlain – something exciting seemed to happen every time he received the ball on the touchline.

 

Mark Stein – goals, goals and more goals.

 

George Berry – commitment and a real one-off.

 

Denis Smith – broken leg? Felt nowt.

 

Alan Hudson – where sport meets art.

 

Bottom five, in no particular order.

 

Lee Chapman – I still can’t understand how he scored so many goals.

 

Dave Brammer – thought he was David Beckham but was actually David Brent.

 

Vincent Pericard – it’s a shame, but he seems to have completely lost his way.

 

You know what? I’m struggling with the other two. Any Stoke player I saw before I turned 16 was a hero and most of the players in our doldrum days just merge into so much grey crapness.

 

How did you feel when we won promotion into the Premiership and which were your player(s) of the season?

 

It was a strange, wonderful, mixture of joy, relief and calm anti-climax. After the initial celebrations immediately after the final whistle, it felt a bit like the few minutes after midnight on New Year’s Eve – shaking hands with strangers, but genuinely wishing them all the best.

I stayed up in the stands for a few minutes with my mates before heading down towards the pitch. Half way down and suddenly I was struggling not to cry. It had been an emotionally bruising season. A short while later I heard the Leicester fans applauding and I looked up to see if their team had come back on. When I realised they were clapping the Stoke fans – minutes after their own team had been relegated – it was all but impossible to stop the tears.

‘Tie Me To The Mast’ by David Johnson

‘Tie To The Mast’ by David Johnson Sports Books (2008) www.sportsbooks.ltd.uk

   An account of the 2007/08 season which saw Stoke City promoted to the Premiership and how he felt during the course of a typical roller coaster season as a Stoke supporter. But it is much more than this as David Johnson muses on everyday life such as loading dishwashers (good to read about someone else having radical ideas on how to stack items in them), being a dad and writing various complaint letters on such subjects as reality TV, Ford car adverts and more.

   Johnson’s style is very readable and very funny in parts, not only on his spot on descriptions of Stoke players but also his observations of everyday life. Stoke strikers Jon Parkin and Vincent Pericard come in for deserved ridicule and those who follow Cardiff may feel offended (although I doubt many of their fans read books without pictures in them).

   A very easy and enjoyable read enjoyable for any football fan outside of the Big Four who knows what is like to have years of so near yet so far finishes sprinkled with the odd year of major success that makes it all worthwhile supporting your team. Get this on your Christmas list pronto.

Lou Macari & Neil Warnock books

  Just finished reading two very enjoyable football memoirs. First up, current Crystal Palace and former Sheff Utd boss Neil Warnock ‘Made In Sheffield’ (Hodder paperback £8.99) who certainly likes to take a few pots at referees throughout the book. He’s a manager fans either love or loathe, personally I quite like him and enjoy his TV appearances and newspaper articles. Plenty of coverage of his days at Sheff Utd along with his success as manager at Scarborough although his time at Palace is fairly whizzed through and you can tell is a hasty addition for this paperback addition. Nice to see he rates two players now at Stoke, namely Michael Tonge and Tom Soares.

   Lou Macari’s ‘Football My Life’ (Bantam Pres hardback £18.99) tweaked my interest as along with Tony Waddington, Alan Durban and current manager Tony Pulis, Lou Macari is one of the best manager’s we have had a Stoke during my time supporting them. Macari still lives locally and writes for the local paper ‘The Evening Sentinel’. It is your standard football biog really covering his playing days at Man Utd and Celtic then moving onto his managerial career, which was famously interrupted by the financial scandal at Swindon Town whilst he was the manager there. Macari covers this episode although I would imagine for legal reasons he can’t give too much of his real feelings away! Needless to say he makes a valid point in that Swindon’s financial irregularities are small beer when compared to what goes on at some clubs today and they were possibly made an example of due to their small club status.

   Stoke get ample coverage including winning the Auto Glass Trophy at Wembley beating Stockport County (I was there and it was so good to see Stoke on such a big football stage) plus he took us up as champions of the old Division Three (now Championship League One). The players he signed weren’t bad either including Vince Overson (whom followed Macari up the M6 from Birmingham City), Ian Cranson and the wonderful striker Mark Stein, what a steal he was from Oxford Utd! Off the field Macari’s other big signing was Nello the Clown aka Neil Baldwin who became Stoke’s kitman and all round positive influence on the players and staff at the club. He even came on as a sub in a testimonial match against Aston Villa. As a quick aside I have actually worked with Neil when was briefly a front of house volunteer at the Theatre Royal in Hanley. A very nice person, who one day bought in briefcase full of replies from various members of the Royal Family who he had written to over the years regarding various issues.

   Of definate interest to Man Utd, Celtic, Swindon and Stoke fans. He also briefly touches on the infamous 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina when Scotland went out thinking they could win the World Cup but came back having lost to Peru, drawn with Iran and beating eventual finalists Holland. Not the best time to be a young Scotland supporter I can tell you…

Author interview – JEFF ABBOTT

‘Run’ by JEFF ABBOTT is just published and if you like real page turning thrillers with strong characters and plots grab a copy now, then go and read his excellent backlist including ‘Panic’ and the Whit Mosley series. Along with DENIS LEHANE, STEVE HAMILTON and MICHAEL CONNELLY one of the best US crime/thriller writers currently out there.

What are you currently up to?

I’ve just finished touring for RUN (called COLLISION in the US), and am doing a bit of polishing on the thriller that will be out in summer 2009, and deciding what the next book I write will be.

What made you want to start writing and who have been your inspirations when it comes to writing?
My grandmother was a teacher for 37 years and she really inspired me to start writing. She constantly encouraged me in every thing I did. And my teachers told my parents I needed a channel for my creative energies. They got me a Big Chief paper tablet and a Husky pencil and I started scribbling stories and I never stopped. Probably as a young reader my influences were, bizarrely, Agatha Christie and Robert Ludlum. They were the first “grown up” authors that I read. Some of my other favorite authors include Frederick Forsyth, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Eric Ambler, Harper Lee, Ken Follett, and Laura Lippman.  

Your newer books have been stand alone fast apced thrillers. Have you found your readership and sales have risen as a result of this?
Yes, very much so, although my Whit Mosley series is doing well also since it was rereleased here in the UK. But PANIC has been one of the best selling thrillers of recent years in the UK, which just floors me still. PANIC’s success in the UK led to it being bought in many other countries. So I am very grateful to my British readers. That said, if I ever decided to do a series again, I think I would apply what I’ve learned about pacing and character in the standalones to a series book.  

Would you like your books to make the big screen and if so ideally which actors/actresses would you like to see portary your  main characters?  

PANIC’s screenplay is in development at The Weinstein Company, and they’ve got a fantastic script. They’ve started casting and so it would not be appropriate for me to discuss actors right now because that process is actually happening. I trust that the studios that are developing PANIC and RUN (Collision) into films will do a great job of casting. RUN (Collision) was just optioned by Twentieth Century Fox and they’re looking for the right screenwriter for the project.  

Did you ever envisage the success you have had so far? What have been the highlight(s) so far?
I always hoped I could make a living from writing, but I knew it was a difficult business and I was going to have to stick with it through thick and thin. The highlights have been getting to tour in Europe and the US, meeting readers, and knowing that my books are reaching a lot of readers. My kids think I have a very cool job, so that’s a highlight. I love getting to work from home and have more time with my family.  

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from writing?
Reading, movies, swimming, good food and wine, and most importantly, time with my family.  

Message for your fans…
Thank you, thank you, a million times thank you, and as long as you keep reading them I’ll keep the books coming.
Jeff Abbott www.jeffabbott.com

Adrian Chiles, Nugent and 17,000 fans…

Just finished reading the excellent book ‘We Don’t Know What We’re Doing’ by West Brom supporter and ‘Match Of The Day 2′ presenter Adrian Chiles. He talks to all manner of West Brom supporter from one fan who weaves West Brom related rugs, another who takes jobs to fit around the games and the touching story of a regualr supporter and his battle against lukemenia. Chiles has a very readable style that is both humourous yet manages to capture the passion of the Baggies fans, although you can insert your own club instead and it still applies. He also comments on how his passion for West Brom affects his family who have yet to be persuaded to support them (I know that feeling as my daughter is a Man Utd fan and my wife hates all things football related). A book suitable for any football fan(atic) and even fellow celebrity Baggies fan Frank Skinner makes regular appearances in the book.

Latest rumour is a £4m bid for Portsmouth’s David Nugent according to the Sentinel. John Rudge has confirmed we would be interested in Rangers striker Lee McCulloch but have no interest in fellow Rangers player Dave Cousins.

Meanwhile the club have reported record season ticket sales with over 17,000 now sold. That will mean 20,000 plus each home game at least!

Five Quick Q’s with…OLD STOKIE

Old Stokie (aka Mick) is well known amongst Stoke supporters and on the Oatcake message board.

1. With Stoke just two games away from possible automatic promotion do you think we will do it? Or can you see us making hard work off it and slipping up at Colchester  

Well, Jason, it’s now just one game left. I thought we would beat Colchester but I didn’t think we’d make so much hard work of it. I was sat outside a sports bar in Brussels listening to the commentary on the game with a bunch of other Stokies and we were tense. We were all gutted when Hull scored their winner but Stoke could have done no more than win. Now we just have to get a draw at home to Leicester. Will we do it? Yes.  

2. Which players have you enjoyed watching most in a Stoke shirt? Also who have been the worst signings we have made (I know this could potentially be a long list!) in either terms of value for money or failing to live up to expectations?  

I go back a long way. The greatest player I’ve ever seen in the red and white was Alan Hudson. He was pure genius. Mathews of course but he was past his best when he returned. The list is endless.

I’ll just pick my top five.  

1) Hudson. Pure genius.

2) Banks. After the great Lev Yashin, the best goalkeeper ever.

3) Denis Smith. Mr Stoke City himself. My favourite Stokie of all time.

4) Peter Hoekstra. His sublime skills made me gasp in admiration. His games against Reading are amongst the highlights of my sixty years supporting the club.

5) Jimmy Greenhoff. I just loved the guy. He was my own ‘Roy of the Rovers’. I actually shed tears when we sold him.  

The worst players? Again, a top five.  

1) Mick Kennedy. He was simply evil on the pitch. I felt ashamed that he ever donned our colours.

2) Pericard. I can play better than he can and I’m nigh on seventy.

3) Parkin. Not because he lacks skills but because he’s a disgrace to himself. He has talent but no balls. Any man who can’t apply himself to his profession isn’t worthy of anything.

4) Keith Scott. Fans get on about Mama but they really don’t know what a bad forward is. Keith Scott was the worst.

5) John Clark. It seemd that every time he cleared the ball out of defence, it ended up going out of the ground. His right leg was like the ‘Iron Man’s’, he would kick the ball at the boothen end and it would disappear over the Stoke End Stand. He had absolutely no control over the awesome power in his kicking foot.  

3. What have been the highlights and lowlights for you whilst you have been supporting Stoke City and what was the first Stoke game you attended?  

 I can’t remember the first game I attended…it was too far back in the mists of time. It would have been towards the end of the 40’s. The greatest highlight for me was a personal one. It was winning promotion under Alan Durban. It was personal because that season was the first my son, Tony, attended with me and my old mate, Boothen Ender Bill, who has now, sadly, passed away.  

The lowest point would be when we were relegated to the third division. A close second to that was the day Pulis was reappointed. I just don’t like the man at all even though he’s proved me wrong [or, hopefully, is about to] about his mangerial ability. I can’t help it….it’s just personal….a personality clash. That’s no more his fault than it is mine. Life’s like that.  

4.  Any recent music/books/films you would recommend?  

Books? Not recently. My eyesight is failing and I have great difficulty reading nowadays. That’s a shame….I love reading. The last book I read in full apart from winger’s ‘She Stood There Laughing’ was Primo Levi’s ‘If This Is A Man’. A harrowing tale of one man’s survival in Auschwitz. Shortly after reading it, I visited Auschwitz. The horror of his story gave my visit more meaning. I’ve just written a novel. Whether it gets published or not is debatable. We’ll see.  

Films? Life is Beautiful. Captain Correlli’s Mandolin. Goodfella’s. Pingu. Spongebob Squarepants. Pulp Fiction. Once Upon A Time In America. ET. Bambi.  

Music? I love music but I can’t play a note, unlike my dad’s side of the family. They were excellent musicians. One was even a professor of music. At the moment, I’m listening to a Tony Bennet CD. Others I like are Streisand, Andre Bocelli, most Rock ‘n Roll, Paul Simon, Enya and Classical. I hate packaged stuff.
 
5. Message for the Stoke fans   Just get behind the team. Nothing else matters.  

Best regards,

Mick. [OS]

Five Quick Q’s with…STEPHEN FOSTER, Stoke fan & author

Author and blogger Stephen Foster wrote the excellent book on being a Stoke supporter ‘She Stood There Laughing’. Plus he has written fiction and ‘Walking Ollie’about his dog called err Ollie.

1. With Stoke just two games away from possible automatic promotion do you think we will do it or fall under pressure? Has the Pottermouth poem galvanised the fans and players do you think? (I read one Vale fan comment that the Stoke players wouldn’t understand the accent!)
Even Norwich put 5 past Colchester recently, how hard can it be?
So: yes, I think we’ll do it. I’m amazed we’re in this position at all but the bad-results blip seems to have passed just in the nick of time.
I had an arts journalist from the Guardian (who I didn’t really know) email the Pottermouth link to me: this ‘call to arms’ has even achieved national recognition, which is really something for anything Stoke-related.
Never mind what Fale fans think: they’re back where they belong, in tinpot obscurity.

2. How did you first get into writing and were you pleased with the reaction to ‘She Stood Their Laughing’? What attracts you most about writing and how easy/hard was it to land your first book deal?
 

I went back to education in my early thirties, to Norwich School of Art and Design. I did a degree in Cultural Studies, which meant I spent my time in three parts: one third art history, one third visual work, and one third creative writing. I’d been accepted on an entirely visual portfolio – I thought painting was what I was going to do, but I discovered I had some talent at writing and really rather less-so re. visual work. My first book was a collection of stories set in Stoke-on-Trent, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cracks-Like-Breaking-Skin/dp/0571195067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209113530&sr=1-1. I had 50 copies of the early prototype of that printed at a local firm and I stood them on a plinth for my final degree show piece. One of those copies found its way into the hands of an editor from Faber and Faber; he subsequently sent me a letter wondering if I had a few more stories to flesh it out into a publishable length. So my intro into publishing was non-standard, in that I was touted up, though I’ve had a few of rejection slips since: three or four editors turned down She Stood There Laughingbefore Simon & Schuster picked it up.
SSTL got a broad thumbs-up from Stoke fans, and it topped the Independent newspaper’s dedicated sports book chart for a few weeks. Some reviewers didn’t like it because I included terrace talk and filthy language while at the same time referring to French cultural theoretical concepts and applying them to football. They considered this pseudish, as though those two voices couldn’t be part of one person. I was more than happy with that: to be pissing off a few public schoolboy sports hacks.

3. What have been the highlights and lowlights (this maybe a few!) as a Stoke supporter?

Highlights: The League Cup, signing Alan Hudson, the second coming of Lou, the introduction of Delilah, Steino, the Millennium Cardiff, Bjarni, Hoekstra, Gerry, Boskamp’s press calls. This season could provide one, too.

Lowlights: I’ve never enjoyed the relegations; I hated leaving the Vic; post-Waddo our form in the FA Cup has been dire whoever has been in charge; there was a horror period when we kept losing to the Fale who at one point even seemed to be a division higher, but that must surely have been an hallucination bought on by a bad oyster.

4.  Any recent music/books/films you would recommend?
 

Music: Tinchy Stryder: Star in the Hood (my son, Jack, manages this guy: he is the future of UK Grime.) I like Duffy, too.

Book: Currently reading Divided Soul, by David Ritz, an account of Marvin Gaye’s life. I’m partially doing it as research for a part of my next novel – I’ve always been fascinated by that period Gaye spent towards the end washed up in Ostend, it’s seems so incongrous. There are lots of nice quotes in the book, for instance, when asked how much he has spent on toot over the years, Gaye replies: ‘I don’t even want to think about it. I don’t want to know. To be truthful, I’ve been careful never to keep track. My attitude has always been, whenever good blow is around, buy it, regardless of price.’

Film: American Gangster is great. It looks superb: Ridley Scott has managed to recreate ’seventies cops in ’seventies America, filmed today using modern production values, and made it shine. He’s a genius film maker for the big screen – he would have won Oscars for it if only he wasn’t such a bolshy git. 

5. Message for the Stoke fans…

Do eet, just do eet.

Reading matters…

Been enjoying quite a few good reads lately…first up the final novel from David Gemmell, who sadly passed away in 2006. His last book in the Troy trilogy ‘The Fall Of Kings’ (Corgi) is a fitting end to a great career. Although it is very sad to think I can’t look forward to a new Gemmell book each year now. He is the only fantasy fiction author I carried on reading from my student days when I loved authors such as David Eddings, Raymond Feist, Terry Brooks and of course David Gemmell.

Just finished the latest Inspector Banks novel ‘A Friend Of The Devil’ (Hodder) by Peter Robinson. Now that Ian Rankin has finished his excellent Rebus series I really look forward to the new Inspector Banks novel each year. This one has two plot lines – the killing of a convicted murderer and a murderer who needs to be caught as he/she could be a new serial killer. This may all sound a tad depressing but Robinson, like Rankin, creates characters you really identify with and are eager to see how they progress throughout the story. One of the best police procedural authors out there.

Another crime fave are the books of Graham Hurley. Set in Portsmouth and featuring DI Joe Faraday and the less scrupulous DC Winter, these really pull no punches with their graphic description of criminal overlords, drugs and policemen willing to bend the rules to get their results. His new novel, ‘Price Of Darkness’ (Orion) is shaping up to be one of his best yet…

Onto all things football and two books I am currently reading (I have to have at least three books on the go for variety!) are the latest collection from the excellent football fanzine ‘When Saturday Comes’. This cherry picks top stories and writing from the magazines including pieces by a Norwich fan on Delia Smith’s now infamous half-time on the pitch rallying cry through to an interesting piece on bungs.

The other football read at the moment is ‘Reading Between The Lines’, the book on Reading’s first season in the Premiership. Very informative and entertaining with players, backroom staff and media contacts all being interviewed and match reports. For Stoke fans, former Stoke players Michael Duberry and Brynjar Gunnarsson are interviewed, along with many ex-Brentford players! Assistant manager (and another former Brentford link) Wally Downes gives an entertaining take on his supposed feud with Neil Warnock.

Lord Weidenfeld comes out fighting

 Further to a piece in ‘The Bookseller’ magazine about W&N paying back some author advances it seems ‘The Observer’ newspaper added their own spin to the story. This bought out Lord Weidenfeld, co-founder of W&N, who is normally a very nice man but not one you would like to cross as the Observer has found out…

Lord Weidenfeld has rounded on the Observer, calling for a retraction of its story that Weidenfeld & Nicolson was shelving serious history books in favour of celebrity biographies and TV spin-offs, described by the newspaper as “crappy”.

The Sunday paper spun its article, published on 6th April, out of last week’s Bookseller report that Orion-owned W & N was writing off hundreds of thousands of pounds in author advances from its non-fiction list.

Weidenfeld called the Observer story “a mischievous and misleading bit of journalism”. He said: “It is a complete  misrepresentation. We particularly take pride in our distinguished list of biographies, history and current affairs titles. We have written off some of our non-fiction list, but not at the expense of serious historical authors. We are still bringing out major celebrity memoirs. What we have rid ourselves of is middle of the road journalistic popularisations whose time has gone and do not have much of a market.”

The past year’s publishing list shows W & N’s commitment to serious non-fiction, Weidenfeld insisted, with the company bringing out books by Antonia Fraser, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Andrew Graham-Dixon and Antony Beevor. Its future non-fiction publishing programme includes “higher-end” authors such as Daniel Barenboim, Robert Hughes, David Marquand and Victor Sebestyen. Weidenfeld also took issue with the notion that the overall W & N list was being cut, saying resources were being shifted to other parts of the company.

He added: “This is not a reduction in our list but a shift in the programme. The market is now much more fiction orientated, and we have hired talented new staff to acquire distinguished fiction in translation as well as home-grown fiction.” This week, W & N acquired the second book by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, a prequel to The Shadow of the Wind, which has sold nearly a million copies since publication in 2004.

Meanwhile, agents have reported that books dropped by W & N have “generated a lot of interest”. One agent said: “You don’t like to see any publisher dropping books, but it eventually worked out for my author. We were able to place the book very quickly.”

A commissioning editor added: “At least two of the books Orion and W & N dropped we were interested in first time around and were outbid. Whatever W & N’s problems are is neither here nor there for us.”

Meanwhile look out for a new Led Zeppelin biography by Mick Wall in September from Orion and the new Chris Simms (very dark but highly enjoyable crime series set in Manchester) novel is out in May.

Nibbies – British Book Award winners 2008

J.K. ROWLING received her first Nibbie ten years ago for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and who went on to collect another three over the intervening years, this week received her fifth Nibbie when she was presented with the Book People Outstanding Achievement Award.    Galaxy Book of the Year, which went to Ian McEwan for On Chesil Beach (Vintage). The award is chosen by a 12-strong panel of experts from the Academy of the British Book Awards. The night marked a significant “double” for McEwan, who was also was named Reader’s Digest Author of the Year for On Chesil Beach . Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns (Bloomsbury) winning the coveted Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year. Kim Edwards received the Sainsbury’s Popular Fiction Award for The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Penguin). Catherine O’Flynn was named Waterstone Newcomer of the Year, a popular win for booksellers who have already enjoyed strong sales of her What was Lost (Tindal Street). Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman’s Long Way Down (Sphere) won the Play.com Popular Non-Fiction Award. Booksdirect Crime Thriller of the Year which went to Patricia Cornwell for Book of the Dead. Francesca Simon’s Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman (Orion) won the WHSmith Children’s Book of the Year, well deserved win as these are excellent for children aged 5-8.

One of my old employers gets a blasting!

I spent three happy years at Orion, home to the W&N imprint and Ian Drury was the respected W&N Military Editor. W&N were indeed reknowned for high quality, lavishly illustrated books along with very strong military titles (they owned the Cassell Military list as well).  Celebrity does sell but only certain ones – Jordan, Robbie Williams but there are far more turkeys like Leslie Ash, Charlotte Church and one of the biggest flops of them all Anthea Turner (I mean what has she even done that you would be remotely ineterested in reading about?). So good on you Ian and people stop buying these ghost written celeb biogs and buy a decent novel or interesting non-fiction book.

From The Bookseller

One of Britain’s most distinguished publishers has been condemned for turning its back on serious history books in favour of ‘crappy’ celebrity biographies and TV spin-offs, is the Observer’s take on The Bookseller’s news that Weidenfeld & Nicolson had returned some author advances as a result of cutting its lists.

The piece interviews Ian Drury, formerly publishing director of non-fiction. Drury, now a literary agent at Sheil Land Associates, says: “I find it gutting that a premium brand, known for quality history, is throwing that list away while publishing Charlotte Church, Leslie Ash and other crappy celebrity books. It seems to be bizarre to turn your back on a genre which has been providing stonking bestsellers over time.”

Drury added: ‘For the last year or so I was there, there was a move towards celebrity biography and it became progressively more difficult to publish the sort of books I’m interested in, such as serious history. ‘That side of the business was cut back and there was a definite feeling it was corporate led, reflecting a lack of belief in serious non-fiction. However, a lot of authors I had difficulty in retaining as a publisher, I’ve had no difficulty selling as an agent.’

…this as Ant & Dec get signed up by Penguin…

Penguin has confirmed that it has signed superstar TV presenting duo Ant and Dec, and is understood to have paid £2.2m for a joint memoir. The book will be published in autumn 2009-though the presenters will be in Australia recording a reality show at the time. Ant and Dec will be working with their long-term scriptwriter Andy Milligan to produce the memoir, described as “a collection of observations and reminiscences” which will offer special insights into their friendship, first formed when the two appeared together in school soap “Byker Grove”.