(ISBN: 1
903158 42 7)
Dave Thomas's new book -
launch details
You
may recall that a while ago, Burnley supporter Dave Thomas
contacted us with details of the book he
was writing. Well,
the book is now complete, and the
publishers have been in touch with an update.
It's
Burnley, Not Barcelona - The Search for
Champagne with Beer Money will be published
by
The Parrs
Wood Press on Friday
1st August. Please see below for more details.
PS
The publishers have also promised us an advance copy, so keep an
eye
open for our review.
The
book
"IT’S
BURNLEY NOT BARCELONA is the diary of season 2002/2003 at Burnley
Football Club, possibly the most financially difficult
season in Burnley's long history since that of The Orient Game in 1987.
The
travels, hopes and joys of a long-suffering supporter, as well as the
despair, the drenchings and hypothermia are set out against
the financial problems, reduced budgets and insecurity suffered by
all Nationwide clubs following the collapse of ITV Digital.
August 2002 was disastrous at Burnley FC, leaving them in bottom
place after four defeats and with scores of disgruntled supporters.
From
then on the book chronicles Burnley's recovery and progress with
wit, humour, pointed observation and a bit of education thrown
in for free.
2002/2003 was a marvellously eventful season, one of the most
entertaining for years, with two wonderful Cup runs and some
bizarre games.
IT’S
BURNLEY NOT BARCELONA records the aspirations of supporters blessed,
some might say cursed, with dreams of grandeur. Unfortunately
dreams come unstuck too often at Turf Moor with results such
as Grimsby 6 Burnley 5 on Halloween Night, Burnley 4 Watford 7
and Burnley 2
Sheffield Wednesday 7.
IT’S
BURNLEY NOT BARCELONA deals with games where points and goals were
tossed away; to others when Burnley played football of
such sublime delight that supporters were in ecstasy, such
as Burnley 3
Fulham 0 and Burnley 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1.
The diary paints pictures of places wherever Burnley fans
travel: Huddersfield and Gasworks Street, Rotherham the
new Milan of
the North, Georgian
Brighton, maritime Portsmouth and the smells of Grimsby.
It
is pure conjecture but if ever Bill Bryson wrote a book about football
this is how it might be written, whilst
at the same
time it draws on
the best of website and fanzine material."
The
author
"David
Thomas spent his first twenty years in Todmorden, near Burnley, until
College and matrimony took him away from his roots.
His love however for Burnley Football Club has never diminished.
Luckily,
marriage only took him as far away as Leeds, where he has lived for
over thirty years. In
Leeds he was a Head teacher until he decided that he could do no
more for the nation's ungrateful children, most of whom
thought it very funny that he was a Burnley supporter.
His
career as a professional footballer never really got off the ground.
In
his one
season as school centre forward he scored just one goal. Sadly
scouts flocked in the other direction. His one claim to fame is that
he
did actually teach Dean West, the current Burnley full back.
As
well as
this book, he has written many articles for The Times Educational
Supplement, none of them serious, and had several short stories
published about
his (sometimes) hilarious time as a Head teacher in a small village
school near Leeds."
The
launch
The launch for the book will be on Monday
4th August from 1pm to 4pm, in the James Hargreaves Suite
at the Club.
Everyone is
welcome at the event. There will be a buffet, the bar will be open,
and it's expected that several past
and present players will be attending. Why not go along and take a
look?
