Popular Post @owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 10, 2021 Over the last few weeks I've mentioned a brand new book that's about to be published called 91: The inside story of Sheffield Wednesday’s historic 1990/91 season by local sports writer Alex Miller. I thought it would be a good idea to catch up with Alex and ask him a little bit about how the book came together and what we can expect. Have a read - let me know what you think below and if you'd like more interviews like this one.. Also - stay tuned to Owlstalk as we are going to be giving away three copies of the book in a competition in the next few days! Can you formally introduce yourself to those few who (amazingly) won't know of your work already? Of course! I’m Alex Miller and I’ve been a Sheffield Wednesday writer at the Sheffield Star for well over 18 months now. Working alongside Joe Crann I cover all things Owls, following them around the country. It’s a dream job.. I’m a lucky bloke! Over the past few months I’ve also been working hard on a side project that has taken over my life - writing a book telling the inside story of Wednesday’s triumphant 1990/91 season in which of course they achieved promotion from the Second Division and won the Rumbelows Cup. What gave you the idea / inspiration to make you want to write this book and tell this story? As someone who grew up reading football books, it’s long since been an ambition to write one myself. Looking to fill time in lockdown last summer, I went about searching for some Wednesday reading material and though there some incredible books have been written about the club I was surprised not to find anything on th 90/91 season alone given its place in history. With the 30th anniversary coming up I felt compelled to give it a go! What kind of people have you spoken to when putting this book together? I’m sure he won’t mind me saying that after months of trying to nail him down to a Zoom call, I spoke to David Hirst this week, which is the 56th interview I’ve done for the book. I might even sneak one or two more in! I’ve been really lucky to speak to 16 first team players about their memories from within the changing room and to every surviving member of staff including Ron Atkinson, who has been very generous with his time and has provided the book’s foreword. It’s been great to get the perspectives of dozens of Wednesday fans, players from opposition teams, referees.. all sorts! I t’s taken me all over the world, to Costa Rica with Gordon Watson, to Shanghai with Carlton Palmer, Florida with Paul Williams, Gothenborg with Roland Nilsson, South Carolina with John Harkes.. It’s just a shame it was all on Zoom! Do you think Wednesday fans will read about things and discover things they never knew about this amazing season? Absolutely. I’ve certainly found different sides to players and stories that surprised me. The football is one thing of course, but what has always fascinated me is the way a club and a changing room tick, the stuff you don’t necessarily see from the stands. There are tales of drunken mishaps, of Big Ron’s famous man management techniques, fall-outs between players and loads else. Which Wednesday player felt he was treated ‘like a leper’ at times by Ron? Which player spent hours of the Rumbelows party on his own in a park? After the semi-final second leg win over Chelsea, which player went straight to training the next day from Josephine’s? Then there was the club’s run to the FA Youth Cup final, beating Ryan Giggs’ Manchester United en route, the reserve team league win.. It’s all in there! When writing this book and talking to your interviewees do you get any overall feel for why this season was so successful? It was a mixture of factors, I think, and while Ron Atkinson was the architect and the man at the centre of it all, everyone played their part; every player, every staff member, every supporter. From top to bottom, every single decision was made to pull in the same direction, which was a powerful thing. Then there were the characters; Palmer, Sheridan, Anderson, Pearson, Hirst, Atkinson, Barker etc etc and so on. How could they lose? It was a pretty decent team, too, don’t forget! Who has been your favourite interview that you did when researching for the book and why? I’m going to cop out on that one and say that it’s impossible to pick a favourite, but one that does stick out as extraordinary is the club’s fitness coach Roger Spry, who started his career in Brazil, is a martial arts champion and is a close friend of Jose Mourinho; I wasn’t expecting to hear all that when I gave him a call. Calls to Carlton and Phil King had me giggling, Ron is a great interviewee, it was interesting to speak to Lee Sharpe about his memories of the final.. the list really is endless. When is the book out? The Spring. We’re aiming for the 30th anniversary of the Rumbelows Cup final, but the way the world is at the minute means there can be the odd delay on some of the logistics so we don’t want to promise anything. We’re all steam ahead! Where can people get hold of it? Pre-orders are available now via Vertical Editions and have been flying off the shelves. Book now to avoid disappointment! You can pre-order this book here https://www.verticaleditions.com/shop/-p268281909 7 3 Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 Ps if anyone has any other questions about this book drop them in this thread and maybe @Toadie will have time to answer a few of them but the main thing is that everything will be in the book so get ordering ASAP!! Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doghouse Daz Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Copy ordered. Missed out on this season, and the following seasons, much to my regret. Getting married, setting up home and starting a business. If only you could turn the clock back. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadie Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 23 minutes ago, @owlstalk said: Ps if anyone has any other questions about this book drop them in this thread and maybe @Toadie will have time to answer a few of them but the main thing is that everything will be in the book so get ordering ASAP!! Yup - more than happy to answer any questions! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDY Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Ordered. remember it like it was yesterday. Car broke down on M1 (Rover SD1 2600) just after J28. rang the garage up where I’d bought it a couple of weeks earlier. He turned up within the hour with a 3500 V8 Vanden Plas. Went like shīt off a shovel. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, ANDY said: Ordered. remember it like it was yesterday. Car broke down on M1 (Rover SD1 2600) just after J28. rang the garage up where I’d bought it a couple of weeks earlier. He turned up within the hour with a 3500 V8 Vanden Plas. Went like shīt off a shovel. Vanden Plas - not heard that for Years! Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Rimmer Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 3 minutes ago, Toadie said: Yup - more than happy to answer any questions! Did you get any impression there were any unsung heroes during that season? Somebody the fans wouldn't necessarily know the influence of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo89 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Crackin little interview that!! Looks like it'll be a good read, even to someone like me who tends not to read much. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadie Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, Ellis Rimmer said: Did you get any impression there were any unsung heroes during that season? Somebody the fans wouldn't necessarily know the influence of? Definitely. I think most people know the names, but was interesting to hear players talk about the roles of the 'other' backroom staff. Ron was such a big, out-facing icon and I think most people know the role that Richie Barker played, but the fitness coach Roger Spry, physio Alan Smith, reserve coach Frank Barlow and youth team coach Albert Phelan played a huge part behind the scenes - a few of the lads pay particular tribute to Frank. In terms of players, Lawrie Madden is one that sticks out as someone who was influential off the pitch, especially with younger lads. It's also clear that Paul Williams was as important as anyone to the success they had that season. He's an absolute gentleman, a really brilliant interviewee and was incredibly honest about all sorts of things - including a largely unspoken issue he had with one of the other players. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, Sambo89 said: Crackin little interview that!! Looks like it'll be a good read, even to someone like me who tends not to read much. I don't really read books as such - but have ordered this one 1 Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Rimmer Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, Toadie said: Definitely. I think most people know the names, but was interesting to hear players talk about the roles of the 'other' backroom staff. Ron was such a big, out-facing icon and I think most people know the role that Richie Barker played, but the fitness coach Roger Spry, physio Alan Smith, reserve coach Frank Barlow and youth team coach Albert Phelan played a huge part behind the scenes - a few of the lads pay particular tribute to Frank. In terms of players, Lawrie Madden is one that sticks out as someone who was influential off the pitch, especially with younger lads. It's also clear that Paul Williams was as important as anyone to the success they had that season. He's an absolute gentleman, a really brilliant interviewee and was incredibly honest about all sorts of things - including a largely unspoken issue he had with one of the other players. Cheers. Sounds fascinating. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo89 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Just now, @owlstalk said: I don't really read books as such - but have ordered this one I'll be ordering it tomorrow I think, I'm the same with books, set off with every intention of reading it, get 20 pages in and chalk fizz on it. Recently there's been an Alan Partridge book (Nomad) and Peter Crouch's book, both of which I really enjoyed and found really funny, up to about 20 pages then haven't picked em up since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 Just now, Sambo89 said: I'll be ordering it tomorrow I think, I'm the same with books, set off with every intention of reading it, get 20 pages in and chalk fizz on it. Recently there's been an Alan Partridge book (Nomad) and Peter Crouch's book, both of which I really enjoyed and found really funny, up to about 20 pages then haven't picked em up since. That Nomad is great - I've only listened to it on Audiobook though Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo89 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, Toadie said: Definitely. I think most people know the names, but was interesting to hear players talk about the roles of the 'other' backroom staff. Ron was such a big, out-facing icon and I think most people know the role that Richie Barker played, but the fitness coach Roger Spry, physio Alan Smith, reserve coach Frank Barlow and youth team coach Albert Phelan played a huge part behind the scenes - a few of the lads pay particular tribute to Frank. In terms of players, Lawrie Madden is one that sticks out as someone who was influential off the pitch, especially with younger lads. It's also clear that Paul Williams was as important as anyone to the success they had that season. He's an absolute gentleman, a really brilliant interviewee and was incredibly honest about all sorts of things - including a largely unspoken issue he had with one of the other players. CLICKBAIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, Sambo89 said: CLICKBAIT Too right - quite right too! He's not going to publish the whole book in a post on here mate 2 Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo89 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, @owlstalk said: That Nomad is great - I've only listened to it on Audiobook though P1ssed misen at what I read, but if I don't pick it up for a couple of nights then I dont bother again. Was it Partridge reading it? Like he did in the autobiography? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@owlstalk Posted February 10, 2021 Author Share Posted February 10, 2021 Just now, Sambo89 said: P1ssed misen at what I read, but if I don't pick it up for a couple of nights then I dont bother again. Was it Partridge reading it? Like he did in the autobiography? Yeah If you search for it it's all on Youtube - all the Alan Partridge audiobooks! Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo89 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Just now, @owlstalk said: Too right - quite right too! He's not going to publish the whole book in a post on here mate What a tease!! I bet he interviewed 26 people in total, but number 6 will shock you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlyegg Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 7 minutes ago, @owlstalk said: I don't really read books as such - but have ordered this one Me too. Love football story's though... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambo89 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Just now, @owlstalk said: Yeah If you search for it it's all on Youtube - all the Alan Partridge audiobooks! Brilliant!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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