dirtyleeds.net

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.

Leeds lost in the first semi-final leg of the play offs, 0-1 to millwall. I thought we played well enough first half but not the second, so the result was just about fair.  Dregs like those who ran on to the pitch when the goal was scored, plus those with their Galatasaray flags etc really aren’t worth anything other than disdain so I’m not bothering to waste any more text on them.   I believe in ‘what goes round comes around’sort of thing and that people usually get their just desserts in life.

The showcase of 14 plays at West Yorkshire Playhouse went pretty well and even though it didn’t all ‘work’ in my partocular production, I learned plenty more about play writing as well as wishing that people who like talking through plays would just stay on their park bench and bother the pigeons rather than spoil the theatre experience for everyone else, including the actors themselves!  The four actors who performed all the plays were brilliant, and when I find out their names I’ll post them up here.  No props, no scenery, no sound effects and all in-hand scripts, but the actors were true professionals and did fine jobs, I thought.

Important debate going on in my head, in advance of the Leeds-millwall 2nd leg this Thursday: should I get a) cosily drunk, b) paggeredly drunk or c) not drunk at all?  Decisions decisions!  I must admit, whilst I KNOW the team should win the tie because we’re a much better team than that mob, I’m not as confident as a lot of fans seem to be.  Somehow I think something will work against us, again.

Screenplay - going very well at the moment, though will definitely need to review it all at some stage soon. Main issues have been how to keep the balance between humour and drama right, and how much of World War 1 footage to incorporate without depressing the viewer too much.  Try try again is the answer (on writing it), until you think it’s right. I’m hoping to be near at least to hitting the right tone.

Playlist - Thin Lizzy, Everything But the Girl, Stranglers gig, the unsung genius god that is Bill Nelson and The Divine Comedy are all taking up the CD hi-fi space at the moment. I always get a bit sad when I hear Phil Lynott’s voice, God bless him.

Last Thursday I was at the New Roscoe, Leeds, to listen to Roxyrama play in a live Radio Leeds United Unplugged broadcast, as hosted by the brilliant Adam Pope, Gaz Jones and guest Karl Harrison (former RL star, now coach of Batley Bulldogs as well as loyal season ticket holder at Elland Road - what a bloke!).  I thought the band were superb and the Radio Leeds chappies only added to the quality of what was a brilliant night all round.  There was also one of the legendary Grumbleweeds there, and a very nice fella he is too (Graham Walker) who I will never forget from my childhood, with his Gasmask Grimshaw antics!  ‘Sam’ Hirst out of Roxyrama (lead guitar-hero) spoke with Graham before the gig, telling him how much he’d loved the Barron Nights when he was a lad haha!

Please let’s have a good enough win on Thursday!

As the theatre world works itself in to a frenzy in anticipation of my stageplay debut this coming Saturday, I’m trying to remain calm and collected, in the hope that good Karma will shine kindly on my 5 minute epic ‘Communication Breakdown’.  

Course I’m meaning to talk utter tosh about the mini-play but I am excited about it all, and I hope my effort is received fondly as well as the other 14 or so stageplay debuts. They are all as a result of the So You Want To Be A Writer course so impressively set up by the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Tickets are only £4, if anyone who’s reading this (IF anyone is!) is interested.  A BARGAIN price is that!

The same day, though it’s 12-45 kick off, Leeds are at Millwall. I dearly hope for a positive result - whatever, it will be hard to not get paggered while watching the game but I have to behave as I have the theatre to attend on the night, don’t you know. I’ve a feeling this match will be the hardest of the possible 3 (two semi’s, and the final) so I’m praying that Simon Grayson and the boys do us proud, like they have done for most of the time he’s been here.  It’s looking pretty good, the team’s in form and are probably the most consistent of the four play off teams.

PLAY LIST

On the hi-fi are: the god that is Bill Nelson and his fantastic ‘Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam’ album.

Plus U2’s Zooropa which is capped by a fantastic track with Johnny Cash on vocals {it’s called ‘The Wanderer’),

plus The Ruts - Best Of, which says it all. What a vocalist Malcolm Owen was, RIP.

Plus two live Stranglers bootlegs, both great quality and both with the maestro Hugh CornwEll singing - live in Glasgow from 1985 and live in London, 1981. Brilliance, virtually throughout. Not that I’m biased like!

Was yesterday the quietest and coldest May bank holiday Monday of all time? I’ll be a bit warmer if the gooners beat the scummers tonight!

Saw the play ‘It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow’ last night, and today (this isn’t a timezone related gag, don’t worry) I’ve had more chance to think about it. I thought it was bloody great - the writing, the acting, the humour, the drama, the sadness and the atmosphere. Okay, so Dom Grace (with Boff) is a mate, this is still an objective comment!

With it, containing the same cast of 4 actors (top notch too) was ‘Me As a Penguin’ by Tom Wells which definitely had its fine moments too.

Leeds play Northampton tomorrow - not sure if it will be as easy as some people think, as Northampton need a draw to stay in this division. Regardless, I can feel a rake of ale approaching.

It looks like we’ll be meeting Millwall in the semi-finals. Rather then than the final anyway, I would like to go to Wembley and actually enjoy the game. If it had Millwall involved there’s as much chance as that as there is me being named the Pope!

Happy Bank Holiday folks, see you next time!

We’re in the Bookseller magazine, which is some achievement in itself. Here’s the piece. not sure I agree with all the content but what the heck, it’s good publicity.

Dirty Leeds for Tonto Books
24.04.09 Victoria Gallagher

Tonto Books has acquired the rights for Dirty Leeds by Robert Endeacott, a novel based on fact about the secret history of Don Revie, a Leeds manager in the 60’s. Tonto managing director, Stuart Wheatman bought world rights directly from Endeacott himself.

Dirty Leeds tells of Leeds United Football Club through the eyes of Jimmy O’Rourke who dreams of playing football for them. It follows the team from 1961 to 1974 as Leeds attempts to become the best team in Europe. The novel will be published in September this year in paperback priced £7.99.

Wheatman said: “Tonto now has a lot of support in the north-west and Yorkshire, so it seemed very fitting when I had the opportunity to take this title on. Robert is a great writer and counts David Peace as one of his fans. I’m sure the book will appeal far wider than those who remember the bad old days of Dirty Leeds.”

Endeacott is a life-long Leeds fan and has previously authored One Northern Soul and Fanthology (Route) and No More Heroes (Relish).

‘Dirty Leeds’ the book is to be published by a cracking outfit (Tonto Books) and release date is late September. It’s already moving along very quickly even though Stu has had tons of personal work on as it is. I’ve a good feeling about our working arrangment, just like I did with Route a few years ago, and I’m very hopeful the book will do well and that Tonto Books will benefit big time too. Stu deserves it, I’m sure of that.

Talking of Route, it looks good news there too, Ian Daley has said that there is likely to be a re-print of ‘One Northern Soul’ later in the year. It’s Ian and Route who I have to thank for setting me on ths weird career path, 7 or so years ago. It has been more a part-time career path before, but this year I’m going for it. So far so good, but I’m always wary! That might be the Yorkshireness coming out, I’m not sure, but whatever, it’s YOUR round : - )

Next Monday (20th April) is the last meetnig of the SoYouWantToBeAWriter group at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and a couple of Saturdays after there is the Showcase event at the theatre, where all our 3 to 5 minute plays will be performed. There’s 15 in the group so that’s a lot of theatre! I’ve loved every minute of the ‘training’ and the group is a fabulous set of people. The course finishes next week as I say but I would hope to meet, work, collaborate with, and support, them all again.  My own particular play is called Communication Breakdown and is meant to be a comedy.  Blimey, I hope people realise that and actually laugh when it’s on!

The screenplay has for this last week had to take a backseat but having said that, it is always prominent in my mind. I’ve promised Tony my screenwriting ’partner’ over in the US of A that I’ll have a first draft completed by the end of June this year. That target is still very much realistic. I hope anyone reading this doesn’t feel I’m a bit precious about any of the projects I’m working on, but the screenplay industry is notorious for people nicking ideas etc etc so I’ll reveal my idea as and when my esteemed Cockney pal Tony deems it okay!

BRAKES - saw them at the Cockpit on Wednesday, and thought they were ace. And if anyone saw a poor bloke get a pineapple right on the noggin then that was my mate Kev, standing right next to me! He’s bruised but not badly hurt.

LUFC - need a win v Tranmere this Saturday, to virtually confirm our PlayOff position, though a draw might do. If we get to the final, IF, then I think we’ll do it.

Best wishes all, bye for now!

R

I was 43 last week, until Wednesday, and now I’m 44.

I was half blinded on Tuesday after being ‘measured up’ for laser surgery to help correct my long-sightedness.

I heard that my first book might well be re-printed later this year.

I haven’t heard a thing about Dirty Leeds!

LUFC pretty much consolidated the play off spot though going up auto looks very difficult as P’boro keep winning and Leicester I think are too far despite getting the shakes of late.

I went to the Colchester Leeds game on Saturday - very tidy little stadium and a pleasant place in the town centre. Probably a bit of shenannigans between police and LU and CU suporters along the way but we saw none of it and had a great day out. Good to speak to a couple of West Ham fans on the way back at a services, telling us to hurry up and get back to the Prem where ‘we belong’. Told the one chap that he shouldn’t hold his breath, at least not until our chairman runs out of his own!

Screenplay’s going well and I’ve enjoyed the two WYP theatre group sessions so far, the third’s tonight.  All the writers have to create a 3 - 5 minute play which will be performed at the theatre in early May.  Exciting but a bit daunting, even though it is relatively short a task!