dirtyleeds.net

It’s taken a few months, a lot of research and a lot interviewing but I’ve finally finished my latest book. It’s been hard work not helped in the slightest by having first a throat infection, then 3 days of proper flu and now a crappy headcold which isn’t going anywhere fast enough for my liking! But you know what? It will take more than pathetic illnesses to stop me trying my best, even if all the medicines and tablets etc meant that I might not have been fully compus mentis when I was writing haha!

Best wishes to you all, for Christmas and 2010. It’s been a good year for Dirty Leeds since Septemeber when the book was first unleashed. it still seems to be doing well in the shops etc (sympathies to all at Borders, terrible news, hope you all recover).

Thank you for looking in, I promise to communicate a bit better on here in the new year.

Watch out 2010 - DisRepute is the next book wot I is writing : - )

PRESS

The Dirty Leeds book is reportedly selling very well and there has been some brilliant feedback, for which I’m very grateful obviously as well as proud as a peacock. Here’s a couple of press articles which are also online too, they might be of interest. The Times one is more about David Peace and the ‘movement’ he has created, but I am mentioned a few times. Would have LOVED a photo of the book cover too but beggars can’t be choosers and all that.

Times: p://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6884489.ece

The Yorkshire Post
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/books/The-team-unfairly-damned-as.5619575.jp

The Bookseller - http://www.thebookseller.com/news/83605-dirty-leeds-for-tonto-books.html

‘EVENTS’

I’ve done a fair few launches, signings, interviews and so on of late. The events at places like Borders and Waterstone’s haven’t exactly seen people queueing outside to get in but I’m reliably informed Dirty Leeds is selling well and that the shops are v pleased. It’s always a genuine pleasure to see people attending these events anyway - and it is, after all, more about the quality of people than the quantity! I was lucky enough to be invited to do a reading and Q&A event last Sunday morning at Morley Town Hall, as part of the excellent Morley Lit Festival. I predicted 10 people at the most would attend but a few more actually made it. I had a great time, hope the audience thinks the same!

QUESTION TIME

I don’t understand all this fuss about the deluded, extremist, Simpson-eyed, closet-nazi/gay, ‘patriotic’ chap appearing on Question Time - very sorry but I’ve forgotten his name - I think it’s a great sign of the times that a white man can lead the Black ‘N’ Proud party, I really do.

LUFC

In Simon Grayson we trust, the League season is going very nicely so far thank you.

LEEDS UNITED UNPLUGGED

The best show on radio, presented by Adam Pope, Gareth Jones and usually Andy ‘Stitch’ Ritchie. Okay so I’m biased as it’s about Leeds but still, there can’t be many programmes as good as this about any football team. Thursday evenings, 7pm til 10.30.

I’m v proud to be on as part of the MORLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL, my little slot being 10am to 11am at Morley Town Hall. And it’s free, AND it’s on a Sunday morning for all you folk who normally, like me, do v little on Sunday mornings. That’s Sunday 18 October, at Morley Town Hall.

Had a belting time on Leeds United Unplugged the other week, BBC Radio Leeds’ and Adam Pope’s programme on all things LU related. Really good band on too, Delirium Theory.
Trouble was, Andy ‘Stitch’ Ritchie wasn’t supposed to be there but he turned up due to a charity golf match he’d been involved with was cancelled cos of rain. So he turned up for the show as usual, meaning that I couldn’t get in as much chat about ‘Dirty Leeds’. But what the heck, it’s a buzz being invited on whatever the scenario, and Gaz and Karl Harrison were great company as well over a couple of pints after the show in the Wardrobe. The Wardrobe funnily enough is the venue of my first ever public reading, back in 1999 I think it was.

There was a great one page article on DL and me in the Yorkshire Post’s Culture supplement on September 4th (I was interviewed over the phone by Nick Ahad) as well as a grand little feature in Phil Hay’s Evening Post column that night. Top fellas both of them!

This Wednesday, 16 September, I’ve been invited to be interviewed on LUTV at Elland Road, which promises to be something new for me (don’t they know that I’ve a face for radio???) and on Thursday morning I’ll be appearing on Radio Leeds again, this time on the brilliant Graham Liver’s show from 9.30am.

The Book Launch

For anyone who isn’t aware, the launch of Dirty Leeds is being held on Thursday 24th September at the Northern Monkey Bar on Headrow, Leeds, from 7pm. I’ll be there, along with the maestro Micky P Kerr who will be doing a reading from the book plus with luck, playing us all a couple of his own superb songs. The book will be available on sale, as supplied by Waterstone’s, and I’ll be very happy to sign any copies that are sold. My signature might one day be worth the paper it’s written on! PLEASE NOTE that it is a ticket only event, though they are FREE. Tickets available from the Northern Monkey bar itself or from Waterstone’s bookshop on Albion Street. Micky P Kerr has a gig later on that night at Joseph’s Well so it is going to be pretty strict timings - please don’t be late.

DIRTY LEEDS the Book

All set for 24th September release, final edit been done and if there’s any mistakes within it then they are there to bloody stay!

NEXT BOOK

Am currently working my proverbials off researching two ideas for books, one involves England and DR, while the other one is related to music and specifically HC.

Also, am currently involved with compiling a ‘Fans’ alternative history’ book on The Stranglers via the Burning Up Time forum and it’s going really well. Hoping for a publication by late next year - by whom, with what funding etc remains to be seen but I’m not worrying about it. Get the book finished and ‘they will come’! He says, hopefully!

LUFC

Fine start to the season, couldn’t ask for more really, except maybe more proper goal attempts so we can bury teams rather than let them back into it.

EYES

The operation or ‘procedure’ as the surgeon and doctors prefer to term it, went brilliantly well and I’m still wearing shades whenever watching pc or TV screens. No, really!

MUSIC

Great gigs recently include Micky P Kerr at the Cockpit, with Rebel Yell in support too. Both were bloody great and I’m chuffed that MPK is going to be involved at the book launch. Or one of the book launches should I say. (He says, again, hopefully!)

The Stranglers were magnificent at Holmfirth last week, but that’s no surprise, while the Buzzcocks at the Garforth Festival a few weeks back were also spot on. Shame about folk’n’shite Chumbawamba!

DIRTY LEEDS the book

Has been edited and I’m currently scanning the first edited version, looking out for typo’s and things like that. The Editor has done a great job overall, and what chuffing hard work it must have been for her! It has been edited down to about half of what it was in its first ‘complete’ version. There are a few minor issues to sort out still, as well as lots of tiny errors to fix, but it’s all still full steam ahead for late September launch. Can’t wait! I’ve seen the cover, I’ve seen the blurb, I’ve seen the ‘praise from other authors’ and I’ve even started making arrangements for the launch at the Northern Monkey in Leeds. It’s all looking mighty fine.

The Screenplay

First draft finished and sent to my America-based partner who has said ‘loves’ it. He’ll now be sending it to various contacts in film industry to give their opinions on and, if miracles do occur, actually take it on and finance production! It’s a biopic combining mostly live action with 2D animation. I’m chuffed that my co-writer likes it but to be fair, the ‘writing’ is half done by the subject of the film himself already, and the characters he created in the early 20th century. I would be the proudest Endeacott on the planet were the film to make it on to the screens, but I’m realistic about the chances - there are a million ‘classic’ films which never make it into production. I HAVE though, great faith and respect in my business partner who loves the film idea more than even I do!

LUFC

Ain’t pre-season boring?! I’m not even fussed about friendlies. That’s actually the same from my pub-football-playing point of view as well - I really don’t like playing in friendly matches. And with Leeds there never seems to be much good news anymore, certainly not on the transfer front anyway. My own playing ‘career’ is in doubt - at 44 it might be time to hang up the boots due to problem in my right hip. I’d rather carry on playing though, but I think it might be the time to pack it in - Skysports as we speak are on the phone, trying to nab the exclusive ‘Endeacott Retires’ bombshell. My arse : - )

HOL

Had a great little break in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland last week, met some great people and didn’t get pished on as the weather behaved itself pretty well!

EYES

Eyesight is so so much better since the laser ‘procedure’ 6 weeks ago. I’m not completely recovered yet but am very pleased I did it. Got to cut down on the screen reading though if I can!

Is currently being edited (by a great editor who realy knows what she’s doing!) and is scheduled for release by Tonto Books on September 24th. Yeehah!

Just recuperating from having corrective ‘procedure’ on both my mince pies so trying to keep away from too much computer work. But I’m chuffed I’ve done it, the cost isn’t too bad seeing as they let you pay interest fee over a year or so.

Bye for now.

If I was a politician embroiled in the Expenses scandal (or whatever word you want to use) then I would be seriously worried. Not about whether I owed any money or whether I’d done anything wrong or right seeing as the ’system’ allows all sorts of shenanigans to go on, but I’d be seriously worried about my motives for being in politics in the first place. I’m no angel but I know if I’d ever got involved in politics, local or national, I would have been so with the right intentions - to help whatever real people’s cause I was supporting. To misquote Elvis Costello, my aim genuinely would have been True. So, I don’t really give a damn about what the partly political arseholes have been claiming expenses for, but I do give a damn that they have been involved in politics for completely the wrong reasons - ie themselves, the greedy bastards. Not for the people, not for valid causes, not for the benefit of society, but for their own benefit. I know some people would think me naive or just deluded, but I have always thought that not ALL politicians are selfish tw@ts, that there are some who do believe in what they’re doing and do believe in fighting for what’s best for their constituents. Sod who to point the finger of blame at, ANY politician who is ‘guilty’ in this whole shitty situation should be worrying about ‘why’ they’re there in the first place, and if they can’t ascertain that their reasons are still worthy and for the people rather than their own pockets, then the bastards should resign. 

On a slightly different tack, I was originally quite impressed when MEP for Yorkshire & Humber, Richard Corbett announced he would be asking about Leeds United being given the 1973 European Cup Winners’ Cup which was undoubtedly won by cheating, by AC Milan and of course the bent Greek referee who admitted afterwards to have been ever so slightly bent (and shit). All well and good, and I believe Mr Corbett has a 12,000 strong petition in support of this little crusade. He’s replied by email to some if not all the people who signed the petition, and the words ‘if I am re-elected this June’ (or similar language) sprang out, as if he DOESN’T get re-elected then I assume he’ll jack in the crusade, as if really, he doesn’t care about it. He admitted to not even having seen the game, other than one minute on You Tube, so who is he fighting for, and why?   

Millwall v Scunthorpe in the play off final then, seeing as we blew it. Fair do’s, we could and possibly should have beaten millwall in the second leg but they put up a battle and must feel confident. I’m hoping Scunny win though that would then mean we’d have to play the millwall twice again next season.

Good luck to JONATHAN DOUGLAS who has been told today that he can leave LUFC. He’s never been everybody’s favourite player but I’d prefer him to stay, he has worked harder (and better) for the team than plenty of pretenders over the last couple of years, and he played really well at right back for much of hte seasin.  So I wish him well. I have a gloomy suspicion we’ll lose Beckford and maybe Delph too this summer, but what the hell there’s nothing I can do to change LU events.

Just getting over a neck/back injury which was annoyingly quite nasty for a couple of days. Not sure what caused it, but I’ve been numb for 10 or so days now thanks to the painkillers! Hasn’t stopped me working though, even if what I’ve been writing is maybe halluciogenic drivel!

Off to see the SPECIALS on Sunday, looking forward to that. Would be even more fun to see the past it two-tone has-beens of newcastle united get relegated earlier in the day! Good luck to Hull too, hope they stay up.