Gary James
Well-Known Member
Recently some news has slipped out about my latest City book and, although it’s a little too early to order and confirm publication details, it is an appropriate time to give some basic information and seek help from fellow City fans.
The book will be called “City: Heart & Soul†and will be looking at what makes City the Club it is. For years we’ve talked about City as being unique and special. Neutrals have looked at the club and recognised the size of support and the loyalty of fans, but has anyone really, truly considered why those fans have followed the side through thick and thin? Why City evolved in the way it did?
For me City will always be a special club and one that I could talk about for hours, days, weeks…. but media coverage in recent years has got me to question whether perceptions of City are actually true or not.
I have interviewed many, many people over the course of the last twenty years about the Club - and an awful lot of people who contribute to Bluemoon have supported me and my writing - and over the last year or so I have been looking back at those interviews, listening to long forgotten tapes, studying my notes and generally trying to get to grips with the heart and soul of the Club.
This book will hopefully help all fans understand why they love the Blues as deeply as they do; will aid the media to get a better feel for the Club; and will help others come to terms with what we’re really about.
My writing and research has reached a stage where I need a bit more info from fellow fans. I would like supporters to provide information to me, care of an email address set up by the publishers, on their views of what makes City City. Some of these comments may be used in the book but, and I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea and definitely don’t want to give anyone false hope, inevitably I won’t be able to use all material. If you send anything to me I promise I will read it but I cannot promise I’ll do anything else with it (please accept apologies in advance!). It will however all help my understanding and will help make the book a better publication.
Anyway, here goes…. The questions I am most interested in are:
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES CITY THE CLUB IT IS?
WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE HEART & SOUL OF THE CLUB?
WHICH PERSONALITIES (PLAYERS, MANAGERS, CHAIRMEN, SUPPORTERS etc.) REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE CLUB OR TYPIFY MANCHESTER CITY?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CLUB TO YOUR DAILY LIFE?
WHAT MOMENT (GAME OR OTHERWISE) PROVIDED YOU WITH MOST ENJOYMENT?
WHAT IS THE SADDEST OR MOST NEGATIVE MOMENT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A FAN?
IF YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF CITY FOR A YEAR WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE AND HOW WOULD YOU SHAPE THE CLUB?
IF YOU COULD DESIGN OR SELECT THE CLUB’S EMBLEM, COLOURS AND SO ON WHAT WOULD YOU SELECT?
I would be grateful if responses could be emailed to: city@manchesterfootball.org Please include your name and address as I won’t be able to use anything that is anonymous or written under a pseudonym.
Due to the pressures of researching and writing I won’t be able to reply to each email, but rest assured I will value everything sent. Please don’t be offended.
As always, thanks for your support.
Gary James
The book will be called “City: Heart & Soul†and will be looking at what makes City the Club it is. For years we’ve talked about City as being unique and special. Neutrals have looked at the club and recognised the size of support and the loyalty of fans, but has anyone really, truly considered why those fans have followed the side through thick and thin? Why City evolved in the way it did?
For me City will always be a special club and one that I could talk about for hours, days, weeks…. but media coverage in recent years has got me to question whether perceptions of City are actually true or not.
I have interviewed many, many people over the course of the last twenty years about the Club - and an awful lot of people who contribute to Bluemoon have supported me and my writing - and over the last year or so I have been looking back at those interviews, listening to long forgotten tapes, studying my notes and generally trying to get to grips with the heart and soul of the Club.
This book will hopefully help all fans understand why they love the Blues as deeply as they do; will aid the media to get a better feel for the Club; and will help others come to terms with what we’re really about.
My writing and research has reached a stage where I need a bit more info from fellow fans. I would like supporters to provide information to me, care of an email address set up by the publishers, on their views of what makes City City. Some of these comments may be used in the book but, and I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea and definitely don’t want to give anyone false hope, inevitably I won’t be able to use all material. If you send anything to me I promise I will read it but I cannot promise I’ll do anything else with it (please accept apologies in advance!). It will however all help my understanding and will help make the book a better publication.
Anyway, here goes…. The questions I am most interested in are:
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES CITY THE CLUB IT IS?
WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE HEART & SOUL OF THE CLUB?
WHICH PERSONALITIES (PLAYERS, MANAGERS, CHAIRMEN, SUPPORTERS etc.) REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE CLUB OR TYPIFY MANCHESTER CITY?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CLUB TO YOUR DAILY LIFE?
WHAT MOMENT (GAME OR OTHERWISE) PROVIDED YOU WITH MOST ENJOYMENT?
WHAT IS THE SADDEST OR MOST NEGATIVE MOMENT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A FAN?
IF YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF CITY FOR A YEAR WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE AND HOW WOULD YOU SHAPE THE CLUB?
IF YOU COULD DESIGN OR SELECT THE CLUB’S EMBLEM, COLOURS AND SO ON WHAT WOULD YOU SELECT?
I would be grateful if responses could be emailed to: city@manchesterfootball.org Please include your name and address as I won’t be able to use anything that is anonymous or written under a pseudonym.
Due to the pressures of researching and writing I won’t be able to reply to each email, but rest assured I will value everything sent. Please don’t be offended.
As always, thanks for your support.
Gary James