city fanzines....

[citychris]

I will write it for you Noel, you know I will be objective haha

 

[ctidcarl]

There have been a lot of posts on this thread - many from people who weren’t involved in any of the City fanzines - so let me put a few people straight on a few things albeit in abridged form...

In the beginning there was BluePrint. I acknowledged early on that they had unlocked the door and given some of us at least the idea.

Unfortunately, BluePrint seemed to be staffed entirely by social workers and right-on pseudo-intellectuals who had some quaint ideas, including offering the club £1,000 to have blue and white netting in the goals. That was fair enough as it went; it was their money. However, things took an about-turn when they decided that we – Electric Blue at the time– should be doing something similar. We weren’t. Any meagre profits we made in the early days were banked and paid for sundry items (typewriter ribbons and Letraset amongst other things). We had a big fallout with holier-than-thou BluePrint because of this.

Dave Wallace was someone I had a great relationship with for many years. We sometimes socialised together and he was good enough to give me a lift to a lot of games. I appreciated that, enjoyed his company and paid my way. It was mutually beneficial in my opinion.

However, following an editorial meeting when we’d realised that Dave was planning to be the fan on the board, I asked him about this. He was uncharacteristically vague, saying that he was reluctant but: “everyone wanted him to do it.” I found this a bit hard to believe as I hadn’t heard anyone else say this, but he didn’t actually admit that he was interested. Had he done so, I would have supported him; I didn’t want the job personally. Certainly, had he asked me to support him I would have had absolutely no qualms in doing so.

Subsequent issues of his fanzine saw writers promoting Dave as FOTB. One of them – someone I knew well and respected – said a fanzine editor should do the job, before comparing Dave and I and coming up with the conclusion that because they sold more than me and my ex did, therefore Dave should be FOTB. I wasn’t happy about being put into a frame that I had made no pretensions of being in, only to be relegated to second place.

I wrote to Dave several times subsequently and – whatever some of his supporters think – unlike me (check out the back catalogue for proof), Dave abhors criticism, however constructive or well intended it may be, and simply refused to print my letters.

Consequently and admittedly, I had a few pops to “deflate his bubble of pomposity” and I tried to be at least humorous but – rightly or wrongly – things turned nasty.

For what it’s worth, we met up some time ago and buried the hatchet. Too much water’s gone under the bridge for me to bear any malice and I’m too busy with other things, but one day I’m sure someone – perhaps Gary James? – will write a book about the so-called ‘fanzine wars.’

Personally, I am proud to have been part of what might be called a cultural phenomenon and I recognise that everyone else who was involved had a part – however large or small – to play in what was a part of City’s off-the-field history in what, for most part, were the darkest of days.

Virtually all of the fanzines have gone now and never a week goes by without someone asking me to bring another Bert Trautmann’s Helmet out, but Dave soldiers on. Personally I think he likes the limelight a little too much to ever return to the rank and file, but good luck to him anyway, and his writers too.

Fairplay Noel for at least shedding some light on the "fanzine war"!!

I loved your publications (Electric Blue & BTH) but equally enjoyed the initial BluePrint and definately KotK.

It's a shame (in a way) that you and Dave Wallace had a falling out as essentially, you were both promoting, championing, reporting and providing fantastic insight and opinion (back the day, long before this easily available internet nonsense) on a cause which all of us have in common, which is CITY.

Only you and he will ever know the true facts of what went on (and that is your perogative) but I do agree with you and always felt that Dave tried to always play the martyr in this situation, suggesting that you, Noel, were a bit of a bully (not my opinion, by the way!!)

On the other hand.......and for all the abuse that Dave Wallace receives..... I doubt that there are many City fans who, if offered the option of becoming a "fan on the board", would turn the opportunity down??

Alongside that, and there may be others who know differently, but IF the media contacted any of us, I doubt there are many of us who would refrain from giving an opinion??

I don't want to go down the road of comparing now and then as they are infinately miles apart, but........... they WERE good times off the pitch!! The football would occassionally provide some entertainment/good results, but City's fanzines definately captured the period and embraced them to a quality level.

In these fast moving times, I, for one, find it VERY reassuring that the "golden era" of (our) fanzines are remembered so fondly

A credit to you, Noel, and anybody who has made a contribution to any City fanzines, back when typewriters were in fashion, trips to printers, letters/contributions from individuals were heavily relied upon and it wasn't merely a case of sitting in front of a monitor, on a readily available, home PC (as I am now!!)

** Give us a playlist, for nostalia's sake, Leon Yelyab.... ;o)

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

He was uncharacteristically vague, saying that he was reluctant but: “everyone wanted him to do it.” I found this a bit hard to believe as I hadn’t heard anyone else say this,

Well there were quite a lot of fans who voted him there, so some people must have wanted him to do it

Virtually all of the fanzines have gone now and never a week goes by without someone asking me to bring another Bert Trautmann’s Helmet out, but Dave soldiers on. Personally I think he likes the limelight a little too much to ever return to the rank and file, but good luck to him anyway, and his writers too.

I imagine the hours and days of hard work that continue to go into making KOTK every month has a little more to do with a couple of lines on the radio every few months, or whatever else this 'limelight' may be. Probably more to do with the fulfillment that they get through making it, the friends they've made over the years and the enjoyment people get out of reading KOTK, I suspect

 

[Gary James]

For what it’s worth, we met up some time ago and buried the hatchet. Too much water’s gone under the bridge for me to bear any malice and I’m too busy with other things, but one day I’m sure someone – perhaps Gary James? – will write a book about the so-called ‘fanzine wars.’

Personally, I am proud to have been part of what might be called a cultural phenomenon and I recognise that everyone else who was involved had a part – however large or small – to play in what was a part of City’s off-the-field history in what, for most part, were the darkest of days.

It'd be a best seller. Actually, there is a need for someone to write an indepth book on the fanzine movement and its impact, particularly at City (not me - someone with the right talent who can write about it with knowledge from the inside). I know people have produced lots of books on fanzines, but as far as I know, no one has ever really captured the significance of the 'movement'.

The variety and quality of City fanzines always impressed me. I used to buy the lot. I loved the fact they expressed different views and were able to communicate directly with their own section of support. Sometimes they were simply funny, sometimes they tackled serious issues, but they all had such a powerful feeling towards City and the fans at a time when we really needed it.

To me, other clubs seemed to have fewer fanzines and I liked the fact that we needed (at a peak in the late 80s/early 90s) 3 major fanzines (EB, BP & KK) and several others (MSV etc). Each had its own identity.

Because internet forums, blogs and so on have developed maybe the culture continues, but I do feel that there are a lot of fans who miss out today.

In many ways football is a completely different game today, but during the late 80s Mike Kelly, Noel Bayley, Dave Wallace, Steve Welch and all the others who made/contributed to the first fanzines did so at a time when fans really were often perceived as scum by the Government, media and club officials. We needed a voice and the fanzines gave us that.

As far as fan on the Board... always a tricky one. Before anyone's name was ever mentioned they should have had a nomination process and a proper, legitimate voting system. The second year they created a voting system but I don't think it was particularly transparent. Dave was always on difficult ground - no one person could ever represent all fans plus the new Board's perception of the role was clearly not the average fan's perception of what was needed.

As to which was the best fanzine.... I think it all depended on your age, interests, whether you stood in chanters' corner or sat in the North Stand etc. Apart from the first 'blue on blue' almost unreadable issue (which in itself made this more interesting!), I always felt BTH was more my sort of fanzine (though I did also write odd one-off articles for BP & KK when it seemed right to do so, and almost without exception all fanzines supported my books in some way - thanks!).

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I'd echo Gary's comments about the quality and range of City's fanzines. I write for KOTK and did a little bit for CTIC, so I'm a bit biased but I often buy the opposition's fanzines at away games and none of them come remotely close in quality of writing and production.

 

[Vic]

Dave was elected as "fan on the board" - but (a) he wasn't on the board, only attending the meetings and (b) they expected him to be a fan of the board, which wasn't quite how he saw his role. Next election, Mark Bittner was elected to succeed him, and the Board quickly dropped the idea....

 

[Didsbury Dave]

A book about the UK fanzine scene would be great...Gary...your next project, surely?

City's own fanzine wars could be witnessed at many away game in the 90s. Big stand up rows between the respective editors on the terraces. I remember one particualrly nasty one at Coventry.

I'm glad you made peace, BTH. Life's too short.

A big "respect" to all fanzine editors and contributors. If you enjoy Bluemoon then the fanzines were the forerunner. They were the only way ordinary City fans could have a voice.

When it came to the Swales Out campaign and then the FTM30K campaign, I can't remember which fanzines nailed their colours to the fence. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[1_barry_conlon]

A book about the UK fanzine scene would be great...Gary...your next project, surely?

City's own fanzine wars could be witnessed at many away game in the 90s. Big stand up rows between the respective editors on the terraces. I remember one particualrly nasty one at Coventry.

I'm glad you made peace, BTH. Life's too short.

A big "respect" to all fanzine editors and contributors. If you enjoy Bluemoon then the fanzines were the forerunner. They were the only way ordinary City fans could have a voice.

When it came to the Swales Out campaign and then the FTM30K campaign, I can't remember which fanzines nailed their colours to the fence. Can anyone enlighten me?

Which one...? Throughout my teen and adult life there always seemed to be a Swales out campaign. I used to work with a guy who's surname was Swales, everytime i walked past him i used to shout 'Swales out, Swales out' and then apologise as i couldn't help it and it was a force of habit....

 

[Didsbury Dave]

A book about the UK fanzine scene would be great...Gary...your next project, surely?

City's own fanzine wars could be witnessed at many away game in the 90s. Big stand up rows between the respective editors on the terraces. I remember one particualrly nasty one at Coventry.

I'm glad you made peace, BTH. Life's too short.

A big "respect" to all fanzine editors and contributors. If you enjoy Bluemoon then the fanzines were the forerunner. They were the only way ordinary City fans could have a voice.

When it came to the Swales Out campaign and then the FTM30K campaign, I can't remember which fanzines nailed their colours to the fence. Can anyone enlighten me?

Which one...? Throughout my teen and adult life there always seemed to be a Swales out campaign. I used to work with a guy who's surname was Swales, everytime i walked past him i used to shout 'Swales out, Swales out' and then apologise as i couldn't help it and it was a force of habit....

Haha. I mean the "Forward With Franny" one - the successful one.

With regaqrds to your Swales Out shouting, I worked ina company who had a client named Colin Bell. He rang all the time. The receptionist would shout out "Colin Bell" to whoever he had phoned and I always, for years, let out a big cheer.

 

[Shands]

I'm enjoying reading this thread, it's very interesting. I suppose people now have blogs as a means of presenting their views but they tend to be individual rather than communal efforts and being dotted across the web makes for a much more fragmented approach than a fanzine.