The Gentleman Footballer: John King on Alan Hudson

Footballer biographies are two a penny these days, but this wasn’t always the case. First published in 1996, Chelsea, Stoke and Arsenal legend Alan Hudson’s The Working Man’s Ballet was unusual in its time of being a non-ghosted tale of battles on and off the pitch, demons fought and, yes, Ben Shermans worn. London Books, run by John King (Skinheads, The Football Factory) and Chelsea Shed boy Martin Knight, are now republishing Alan’s biography, which John says is an account of “shared rebelliousness” between the dressing room and the terraces. 

A Creases Like Knives exclusive, John King’s intro to the new edition is below (with thanks to Stevo). Read also our interview with John if you haven’t already.

Advertisement

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: FootballTags: 70s football, Alan Hudson, Chelsea FC, John King, London Books, Stoke City FC, The Working Man's Ballet Leave a comment

Drinking with the swamp krauts: The Young Ones

Despite their band name, the Young Ones are actually in their thirties like all of us. Unlike most of us, they are a band from the Oi capital of Maastricht, which is run by them and their elder peers in Close Combat (who we interviewed before). They have finally started doing some new music after being out the game for some eight years. Their sound is like sped-up Cockney Rejects with a smattering of Hard Skinesque humour. Girth spoke to their bassist Merijn, whose interest in conspiracy theorist David Icke is second only to ours.

November 9, 2017March 16, 2018 by Crombieboy Categories: Music, Oi!Tags: Dutch skinheads, netherlands oi, skinheads holland, the young ones oi, young ones oi band 1 Comment