Some might say, they have paid good money to go corporate and the last thing they want is someone hawking his book around
I understand City's stance here also, if you do it for one you have to do it for everyone, add to that the type of image City want in corporate someone knocking out books aint going to fly
Sounds like you think Tommy would be going table to table asking if anyone would like a book. In truth what would have happened, because this was what was done at Coventry and will be a Blackpool and Swansea, is that the books are on a table at the periphery of the room. If anyone wants one they would come over to the table. I would take the money either cash or card. Tommy would then have a chat with them, personalise the book and have a photo if they want. Anyone who didn’t want a book but just wanted a chat and a photo, that was fine. Someone who wanted neither, also absolutely fine, they wouldn’t be bothered in any way.
At Coventry we sold the books for an hour before the game and half an hour afterwards. The rest of the time Tommy was either touring the lounges talking to the corporate guests or watching the game.We were able to sell the book in the shop on the morning of the game and in the casino afterwards therefore giving non-corporate fans a chance to meet up with him and buy the book if they wanted too.
Over that weekend, including a Q and A session with a supporters group and Tommy coming and playing with my walking football group on the Monday, we sold about 350 books.
On the day of the game, Tommy worked hard he was whisked here there and everywhere, speaking in five or six locations. His ‘wages’ were that he was allowed to sell his book.
It is what it is. City are entitled to make up there own rules for this sort of thing. They are however out of step with every other club I have approached. The fact that you say that corporate guests may not want to be bothered by a bloke like him ‘hawking’ his book is, I think a telling comment and one which I think is out of step with what most City fans feel.
I was really impressed with the bunch we met in Crewe. A good 50% of the people there were too young to have seen Tommy play. Yet they listened respectfully for two hours to his stories. This despite being in a bit of a wreck of an upstairs room of a pub with not enough chairs for everyone to sit and which was freezing cold. (The usual hotel and room were made unavailable literally on the night of the event). I had a good chat with several of the City fans there despite following another club. They couldn’t have made Tommy or me more welcome. Are you telling me that a good percentage of those at the Etihad on Friday would have been offended by two old guys, one of which made a significant if brief contribution to the clubs history, were able to flog a few books at the game? I don’t think so.
Playing for City was one of if not the high point of Tommy’s career. His sons ( born in Blackpool and Coventry respectively) and grand children would call themselves City fans. He has been back several times to see City play. To me it does seem that some of that down to earth spirit that old time City fans still have has been lost by the club.
Just to say (in answer to someone who said there would only be a single chapter in his time at City) there are in fact four chapters on Tommy’s stay with you (I’ve just checked) and frequent other references to the club (not surprising considering Tommy was signed for Coventry by Joe Mercer and made his debut against City in the game that saw Mercer and Alison in opposition for the first time since the former was stabbed in the back by the latter.)
I’m biased I know, but I think most City fans would find it an entertaining read.