World Cup Baby - Quality Read - UPDATE

 

 

 

 

Thanks for writing the WCB book, UDB - a mate gave it to me at Christmas because he thought it would be right up by street.  And he was right.  Couldn't believe that someone had combined two subjects that are so close to my heart.   And from a NZ perspective, too (I've been here for 10 years).

 

Ipswich took Leeds to 3 replays (count 'em! 3! )  in the QF of the FA Cup in 1975.  The last game was unbelievably exciting.   I was 8 and I listened via a coffin-sized wooden wireless that took 10 minutes to warm up.  Ipswich won 3-2 and the next day I announced to my Chelsea-loving schoolfriends and my Liverpool-supporting brothers that Ipswich will be my team from now on.   They laughed - and they are still laughing.  Bastards.   Anyway - the book is wonderful. 

 

I am now inspired to write a book about the music of Depeche Mode and the football of Ipswich Town and from a Kiwi perspective.  I expect the book to appeal to millions.

 

i did see them in concert at the Wembley Arena..

 

They are a brilliant live, as are Ipswich at Portman Road for most of the time this season. 

 

Love the idea but personally I see Tottenham as affable elder statesmen of rock.   Someone like Genesis.  Cyndi Lauper I would say is Blackburn Rovers.  Arrived suddenly and all-conquering for a while but still around now and have not dropped off the radar altogether.    

 

My thought is that if Ipswich were a band, they would be Depeche Mode - very successful at times but not too massive to be distant.  Casual observers are surprised that they are still going.  Very loyal following.  Most neutrals like them if they think about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't mind Depeche Mode until I made the fatal mistake of travelling up to Auckland with a DP junkie to watch the cricket test against the Windies in 1987.

800 kilometres of DP was followed by a Gordon Greenidge double century and the late Malcolm Marshall terrorising our batsmen over two straight innings. We lost by 10 wickets. Then it was DP again for another 800 kilometres. By the time I got home, I would have gladly padded up and faced Malcolm Marshall rather than have to listen to another song by DP.  

And Town lost at Roker Park on the Saturday of that inglorious weekend. Mind you, no surprise in that. I cannot remember us ever winning there. When I heard they'd knocked it down and built a supermarket on the site, I went to the local bottle store and asked for six bottles of their best champagne.

Glad you enjoyed The World Cup Baby, ipswich - but I'm not sure Depeche Mode and ITFC are the right fit. Maybe Foster and Allen, The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, or The Mickey Mouse Club would be more suitable.

Put your money away, Hard News!  I won't hear of it.  I will organise my PA to send complimentary copies of my book ("Blue Celebration" or "Just can't get enough of Laurie Sivell") to be issued to a select few.  

 

if Hull City were a band they'd be a bunch of undiscovered 70 year old geniuses just waitin for the dj at the Fate Disco' to give them the crucial spin to launch their one-hit-wonder career that will be tragically cut short as the bass player snuffs it at their first press conference

 

What price on this, tigers? -

 

Wembley Stadium, May 2008, Championship Play-Off Final, Hull City FC v. Ipswich Town FC.

 

We'll be able to sit together on the flight over there. Not so sure about the way back, though.

 

the last league game of the season might be interesting

 

If your scenario came into fruition we could add Toffeeman and Hard News

 

it 'd be a air steward's nightmare   we could set a new record for the ammount of bollocks talked at altitude

 

 

so Mrs News needn't be concerned

 

but .....

 

no, daft idea,  i quite like being married (and alive)

 

 

 

p.s. - brilliant response News (I'm still smiling - it's too tragic to laugh out loud )

 

Answer:

NZ Justice system: 3-5 years

Mrs. Hard News: Life

 

Junior HN will have to come too. I can just see him with his shirt off at Wembley.

 

The great Uli Stieleke himself gets a mention in the book.

order a copy if you havent already from www.theworldcupbaby.com or pick one up from CHamps Sports on Left Bank off CUba Mall in Welly.

 

 

 

Next world cup was in a bar in Buenos Aires watching England play Bulgaria or Romania, England scored and I (without thinking) shouted out a cheer (my Dad is a pom), looked around at all the angry argies staring at me - quiet for the rest of the game.

 

Same world cup and doing a tour in Rio, our young guide spent the whole time with a massive ghetto blaster against his ear. We were up the top of Corcavaldo (Christ the Redeemer statue) and Brasil scored their first goal - you could see and hear fireworks going off all across the city. Coming down by train through the favala?? (slums) Brasil scored twice again and people were hanging out their shanty windows screaming at us in the train 'Viva Brasil' - amazing.

 

1974 Australia v West Germany - Lost 2 nil but we had made it.

1982 - Italy v Brazil - Enter Paolo Rossi with a hatrick and Dino Zoff saving a goal on the line

1982 - Italy v West Germany( Final)  - Marco Tardelli's celebration. I still get goose bumps

2006 - Australia v Japan - Enter Tim Cahill

2006 - The Grosso dive and end of a dream for Australia

2006 - Grosso scores the final penalty to win the World  Cup

2010 - Australia v NZ first round game - How good would that be?

 

What a great game.

 

Actually I was in a bar in Rome with my wife wearing our Socceroo tops. Was awesome got a lot of stick but all good fun. Was gutted when we lost to Italy but at least Italy went on to win it. Which state do you live in

 

No, I assumed it was you. This person of infinite pedigree and wisdom must be found.

 

 

I'm getting feedback from people who are going into bookshops & finding it's not there, especially outside of Wellington. (In Wellington, your best bet is Champs, Dymocks Lambton Quay or Paperplus Porirua.)

 

I employed a nationwide book distributor in an attempt to get cross-country coverage but this has only been partially sucessful to date. He tells me that he's meeting resistance from bookshop owners because - surprise, surprise - 'only rugby books sell here'. Which kind of begs the question - Well, how do you know if you don't stock anything other than rugby books?

 

Anyway, if you want to buy a copy from a bookshop & they don't have it, just ask them to e-mail me at theworldcupbaby.com website and I'll send them a copy. Based on experience to date, this seems to be the most effective method.  

 

It's also in a number of public libraries - Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Hutt & Kapiti are just some that I know of.

 

I'm currently negotiating with an Australian publisher for release across the ditch. However, this will be - to use his words -  an 'International edition' which will have the NZ content 'toned down'.

 

So if you want a genuine First Edition, New Zealand-centric version, you'd better hurry as my stocks are dwindling & you may end up having to read The World Cup Bonzer instead.

 

At $30 (including postage) it's great value. It also makes an ideal present for any football tragic you may know. 

 

If you wish to order a book in the interim, just drop me a line with your details at info@theworldcupbaby.com

 

At $30 it makes the perfect Xmas present for any football tragic.