Brian Glanville - World Soccer Magazine

[djm68]

A reactionary old Fart and a dinosaur. A toady and sycophant when writing about those he admires, a bitter, hypocritical old whingebag when considering those he disapproves of.
Like the Rolling Stones, his body of work and longevity commands respect, but has long been living on reputation and past glories, having failed to produce anything relevant for years.
The best things he ever wrote were the children's books we used to get out of the school library as kids, mostly about young lads dreaming of becoming footballers at made-up teams with names like Borough Wanderers.
Anyone remember them? Goalkeepers Are Different was one that sticks in the memory.

Brill Post. Couldn't agree more!

I remember being hooked into one of Glanville's ( I'm sure it was one of his!)childrens' football books, until the point where he talked about some kid having been signed for a club and then watching a pro do a load of' keepie-uppies' and being amazed, because he had never done more than 6 or 7. Given I was a less than average kid player, but could do a hundred 'ky-ups' in my sleep, I thought, - "This guy knows nothing!"

I still enjoyed reading some of his subsequent stuff because of his command of the English Language, but a large proportion of what he expressed, I found myself disagreeing with completely.

He often comes across as a bit of a pompous old fart...bit like myself, I guess!

 

[Phleeper]

I went off Glanville when Stanley Matthews died. Matthews had just completed his autobiography and it was due to be published, which came as bad news to the writer who'd published an authorised biography of him ten years previously (I forget his name) and was looking to cash in by getting it reprinted. It may not have been a good idea for one newspaper to get the writer to review the autobiography, as he did an hatchet job on it. Glanville then used this review as the basis of his own piece whereby he expanded on the unfounded criticisms and even accused Matthews of racism as he omitted to mention his team mate Frank Soo. World Soccer does not have a letters page, and I'm not surprised as I was ready to fire off an angry letter regarding such a scurrilous piece.

 

[djm68]

I went off Glanville when Stanley Matthews died. Matthews had just completed his autobiography and it was due to be published, which came as bad news to the writer who'd published an authorised biography of him ten years previously (I forget his name) and was looking to cash in by getting it reprinted. It may not have been a good idea for one newspaper to get the writer to review the autobiography, as he did an hatchet job on it. Glanville then used this review as the basis of his own piece whereby he expanded on the unfounded criticisms and even accused Matthews of racism as he omitted to mention his team mate Frank Soo. World Soccer does not have a letters page, and I'm not surprised as I was ready to fire off an angry letter regarding such a scurrilous piece.

The autobiography you refer to was written by David Miller. I should know as it is my name as well. I bought the book in, was then Sherratt & Hughes in St Annes Square and had it signed by both the Author and Sir Stan. The Author signed it with the legend "There is only one".. which could have worked as a retort to me or a compliment to the player....pretty quick of him!

 

[LoveCity]

This horrible old twat is at it again.

(Stolen from Twitter)

 

[sergiokun]

They are all bitter

 

[ClaudioDeyna]

Brian Glanville's parents bought his education. I wonder if he sees the irony?

 

[LongsightM13]

He cites Colin Shindler as "always a devoted City Fan".
The case for the prosecution rests, m'lud

 

[Chris in London]

A reactionary old Fart and a dinosaur. A toady and sycophant when writing about those he admires, a bitter, hypocritical old whingebag when considering those he disapproves of.
Like the Rolling Stones, his body of work and longevity commands respect, but has long been living on reputation and past glories, having failed to produce anything relevant for years.
The best things he ever wrote were the children's books we used to get out of the school library as kids, mostly about young lads dreaming of becoming footballers at made-up teams with names like Borough Wanderers.
Anyone remember them? Goalkeepers Are Different was one that sticks in the memory.

Brilliant post! I remember one about an English player who went to play for Lazio - this was 15 years before Gazza.

There was another series of football books for kids written about the same time called the Mark Fox series, if you remember them? Can't remember who wrote them though. Wasn't Glanville.

Oh and Brian, if you're reading this, that crowd of nearly 50,000 who were so delighted at the QPR win, they're from Moston, and Longsight, and Stockport, and Clayton, and Wythenshawe, and Blackley, and Glossop, and Dukinfield and Urmston. Even if some of them live in New York or Paris or London now. That win meant just as much to us as it did to our dads and grandads 44 years ago. Nothing Mancunian other than the name and the location? You've forgotten what a football club is, mate.

 

[LongsightM13]

A reactionary old Fart and a dinosaur. A toady and sycophant when writing about those he admires, a bitter, hypocritical old whingebag when considering those he disapproves of.
Like the Rolling Stones, his body of work and longevity commands respect, but has long been living on reputation and past glories, having failed to produce anything relevant for years.
The best things he ever wrote were the children's books we used to get out of the school library as kids, mostly about young lads dreaming of becoming footballers at made-up teams with names like Borough Wanderers.
Anyone remember them? Goalkeepers Are Different was one that sticks in the memory.

Brilliant post! I remember one about an English player who went to play for Lazio - this was 15 years before Gazza.

There was another series of football books for kids written about the same time called the Mark Fox series, if you remember them? Can't remember who wrote them though. Wasn't Glanville.

Oh and Brian, if you're reading this, that crowd of nearly 50,000 who were so delighted at the QPR win, they're from Moston, and Longsight, and Stockport, and Clayton, and Wythenshawe, and Blackley, and Glossop, and Dukinfield and Urmston. Even if some of them live in New York or Paris or London now. That win meant just as much to us as it did to our dads and grandads 44 years ago. Nothing Mancunian other than the name and the location? You've forgotten what a football club is, mate.

He has never paid for a ticket in his life. He only became a journalist because he had no friends at public school. And that is a fact

 

[Ray78]

A reactionary old Fart and a dinosaur. A toady and sycophant when writing about those he admires, a bitter, hypocritical old whingebag when considering those he disapproves of.
Like the Rolling Stones, his body of work and longevity commands respect, but has long been living on reputation and past glories, having failed to produce anything relevant for years.
The best things he ever wrote were the children's books we used to get out of the school library as kids, mostly about young lads dreaming of becoming footballers at made-up teams with names like Borough Wanderers.
Anyone remember them? Goalkeepers Are Different was one that sticks in the memory.

Brilliant post! I remember one about an English player who went to play for Lazio - this was 15 years before Gazza.

There was another series of football books for kids written about the same time called the Mark Fox series, if you remember them? Can't remember who wrote them though. Wasn't Glanville.

Oh and Brian, if you're reading this, that crowd of nearly 50,000 who were so delighted at the QPR win, they're from Moston, and Longsight, and Stockport, and Clayton, and Wythenshawe, and Blackley, and Glossop, and Dukinfield and Urmston. Even if some of them live in New York or Paris or London now. That win meant just as much to us as it did to our dads and grandads 44 years ago. Nothing Mancunian other than the name and the location? You've forgotten what a football club is, mate.

He is just another bitter gooner who just needs to be ignored.