Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
Absolutely delighted with the review of the Peter Barnes Authorised Biography in the November issue of When Saturday Comes. the magazine is out this week and i love the review by Ian Farrell. Thanks to Ian, Andy and all at WSC. it really is appreciated.
The former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams has been featured on BBC Radio Five Live recently and took time out to talk about my new biography of another Manchester City star Peter Barnes. You can hear what Alex had to say here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09wrmfw
While we’re talking about Barnes… Peter and I will be appearing at the Hazel Grove branch of the City Supporters Club tomorrow (5th October) at 8pm. We’ll have copies of the biography available at the discounted price of £15 (cash only) and, of course, Peter and I will be signing copies on the night. Why not come along and say hello.
I’m currently arranging visits to a number of supporters clubs over the coming months. Watch this space for details soon.
If you can’t attend any of the meetings but would like the book copies are available via all usual stockists. For example:
I’d like to thank Howard Burr and all at Reddish MCFC Supporters Club for making Peter Barnes & I so welcome last night. It was a great night and we really enjoyed talking about the book.
Reddish is a great branch (if you’re local and not a member then why not?) and it was wonderful to be in a room with City fans again.
Thanks for supporting the book and keep up the excellent work. Some great questions and I hope our answers encouraged a few to take a look at the book and see what it’s all about.
Tonight Peter & I will be talking about my new book on Peter’s life and career. At Reddish MCFC Supporters Club. If you can’t make it you can still order the book here:
United Kingdom
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – UNITED KINGDOM
Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).
£16.95
This 372 page, colour paperback book is £16.95 (including UK postage).
You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account. UK postage included; outside UK contact me for additional postage costs.
Here are the contents pages:
This is the life story of Peter Barnes who, at the age of 18, scored the opening goal in the 1976 League Cup final. Playing for the team he supported, Manchester City, Peter was idolised by fans and was awarded the 1976 PFA Young Player of the Year award. The following year he made his England debut and was described by one journalist as the ‘saviour of English football.’
These were the days when Manchester City won the League Cup; were runners up in the League (missing the title by a point); and were challenging in Europe but then Malcolm Allison returned as coach and within months Peter, and a whole host of international stars, were on their way out. Peter was sold for a record amount. City’s fortunes suffered while Peter carved out a new career at West Bromwich Albion (where he played for Ron Atkinson).
Another record breaking transfer to Leeds United followed, before spells at Real Betis, Coventry City, Manchester United (playing for both Ron Atkinson and his replacement Alex Ferguson) and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Written by acclaimed author Dr Gary James, this book covers the highs and lows of Peter’s life with stories about his time playing for some of the game’s biggest clubs and most famous managers. It also discusses Peter’s ongoing involvement with the sport and the significance of his family.
Oh, and if you’re wondering where the cover came from… it’s based on the packaging and advertising for the cult toy from the late 1970s The Peter Barnes Football Trainer.
If you run a book shop and would like to know more about the book please email: accounts@manchesterfootball.org
If you’re a media company interested in interviewing Peter or Gary about the book then please contact author Gary James: gary@GJFootballArchive.com
The ISBN is 978-1-9168852-0-2 and stocks are now available for book shops.
You can listen to Peter in conversation with myself about the book here:
Thanks,
Gary James
For those who are interested: tomorrow night Peter Barnes & I will be appearing at the Reddish branch of the Manchester City Supporters Club to talk about The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography. Copies of the book will be available on the night at the specially discounted price of £15 (Cash only).
Details of the evening here:
http://www.reddishblues.com/index.php/2021/07/31/welcome-back-party-official-book-launch/
On this day (2nd August) in 1981 the Sunday Mirror published an interview with Peter Barnes saying he would return to Manchester City if he could. The player was at WBA and, following Ron Atkinson’s move to Manchester United, it looked like Peter was to move from the Hawthorns.m
Both City and Leeds United seemed interested. This article from 1981 talked of Barnes’ final days at Maine Road two years earlier. Of course this time is extensively covered in my new book The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography which is now available direct from most bookshops. If yours doesn’t stock it then let them know they can get hold of it from their usual supplier or direct from me.
For those who use online retailers and prefer to use Amazon here’s their link:
Every game seems to need its own unique moniker these days. Every time there’s a live game on TV that is perhaps a difficult sell to those accustomed to only watching the so-called Big Two/Three/Four/Five/Six (delete as applicable depending on what decade we’re in) the TV companies rush to give them a name, often connected with a road (If Denton play Hyde would that be the M67 Derby?) or area of the country. So… as Leeds are playing Betis on Saturday (31/7/21) what better than calling it the ‘Peter Barnes Derby’?
Peter played for both clubs in the 1980s. At Betis he was known as El Rubio (the blond one) and at Leeds he was the club’s record signing (for many, many years). These are two clubs that, unless you’re a fan of either, the general public don’t tend to associate with Peter.
In The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography, which came out at the start of this month, Peter and I talk about what Leeds and Betis meant to him. Neither period was the highlight of career of course but both did mean something to him and he had been keen to play for Leeds for years. In the book he talks about almost joining the club as a boy; idolising an Elland Rd player (a Leeds legend); Don Revie’s singing interests and life at Leeds during a difficult period.
Peter’s time in Spain is also covered, including a game in which he nutmegged Maradona! To find out more order the book now.
You can still buy the book direct from me by using the link below:
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography (£16.95 incl UK Postage)
372 pages, 110,000 words, 100s of illustrations… Of particular interest to fans of City, United, WBA, Leeds, Real Betis, Coventry, Tampa Bay Rowdies and England. Outside UK contact for additional postage cost.
£16.95
Of course, if you only ever buy your books from certain online retailers then both Amazon and Waterstones are now advertising that they have it. Outside the UK this may be the cheapest way to order your copy. If you are outside the UK then please let me know if you find an online retailer servicing your country and I’ll post the details. Thanks
I’m delighted to say there have now been a couple of features in newspapers on The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography, while it has now started to make its way into bookshops and other retailers.
The articles appeared in the Sunday Mirror (main image) and the Manchester Evening News.
Thanks to Simon Mullock and Stuart Brennan for those pieces. Both men read the book and highlighted a few stories from it. Simon discussed an incident when Peter nutmegged Maradona in a game while Stuart quoted the book extensively for a piece on Malcolm Allison. See his article for a feel for the quotes/content and so on that appear in the book:
Of course that’s only a taster of the 110,000 words and the hundreds of illustrations in the book.
You can still buy the book direct from me by using the link below, plus it has now made its way to its first bookshop (EJ Morten in Didsbury) and Ginger Wig is selling it online too. Hopefully, soon it will begin to appear in other locations and retailers.
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography (£16.95 incl UK P&P)
372 pages, 110,000 words, 100s of illustrations… Of particular interest to fans of City, United, WBA, Leeds, Real Betis, Coventry, Tampa Bay Rowdies & England. Outside UK contact for additional postage cost.
£16.95
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography is currently being printed and is anticipated to be available from July 1st 2021. If you haven’t managed to order it yet you can do so now and, if ordered before July 1st, your copy will be signed by Peter and myself and posted before it appears in the shops.
This 372 page, colour paperback book is £16.95 (including UK postage).
United Kingdom
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – UNITED KINGDOM
Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).
£16.95
The ONLY way to guarantee your copy is from this site by using the order button above or those for non-UK below. You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.
Copies ordered by July 1st will be despatched BEFORE the book appears in any shops. Certain online retailers are advertising the book but, so far, none of these have actually ordered a supply. You can get yours before they do by ordering below (non UK see further down this page):
Here are the contents pages:
This long awaited authorised biography, written by Gary James with the memories and stories of Peter’s career throughout, tells the story of Peter’s life from his childhood in Manchester and Wrexham through to the modern day. With particular focus on his footballing career with Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Real Betis, Coventry City, Manchester United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and, of course, England.
Those living in the European Union can now order the book for £28 including postage to an address within the EU and those in the USA for £40 including postage to the States. If you’re in Malaysia it’s £35. Sadly, we have no control over those additional postage costs (we have used the Royal Mail international standard rate).
Outside the UK, EU, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and USA please contact for confirmation of postage costs.
Here’s the order button:
European Union
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – EUROPEAN UNION
Order today for £28 (incl postage and packaging within the EU).
£28.00
United States of America
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – USA
Order today for £40 (incl postage and packaging to the United States).
£40.00
Malaysia
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – MALAYSIA
Order today for £35 (incl postage and packaging to Malaysia).
£35.00
Australia and New Zealand
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Order today for £38.95 (incl postage and packaging to Australia or New Zealand).
£38.95
If you run a book shop and would like to know more about the book please email: accounts@manchesterfootball.org
The ISBN is 978-1-9168852-0-2 and stocks should be available for book shops after it has been distributed to all subscribers and others who have ordered it here. This is anticipated to be in early July 2021.
You can listen to Peter in conversation with myself about the book here:
Thanks,
Gary James
The opportunity to subscribe to The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography has now passed. However, you can still order the book before publication and your copy will be signed by both Peter and myself.
This is the only way to guarantee your copy of book.
Publication is anticipated to be June 30 and copies will be despatched in July BEFORE the book appears in any shops. Certain online retailers are advertising the book but, so far, none of these have actually ordered a supply. You can get yours before they do by ordering below (non UK see further down this page):
United Kingdom
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer UNITED KINGDOM
Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).
£16.95
The ONLY way to guarantee your copy is from this site by using the order button above or those for non-UK below.
This long awaited authorised biography, written by Gary James with the memories and stories of Peter’s career throughout, tells the story of Peter’s life from his childhood in Manchester and Wrexham through to the modern day. With particular focus on his footballing career with Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Real Betis, Coventry City, Manchester United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and, of course, England.
There are quotes from people connected with Peter throughout his career plus archive material too.
Pre-publication you can order the 360+ page, colour paperback book for £16.95 (including UK postage). Those living in the European Union can now order the book for £28 including postage to an address within the EU and those in the USA for £40 including postage to the States. If you’re in Malaysia it’s £35. Sadly, we have no control over those additional postage costs (we have used the Royal Mail international standard rate).
Outside the UK, EU, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and USA please contact for confirmation of postage costs.
Here’s the order button:
European Union
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer EUROPEAN UNION
Order today for £28 (incl postage and packaging within the EU).
£28.00
United States of America
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer USA
Order today for £40 (incl postage and packaging to the United States).
£40.00
Malaysia
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer MALAYSIA
Order today for £35 (incl postage and packaging to Malaysia).
£35.00
Australia and New Zealand
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Order today for £38.95 (incl postage and packaging to Australia or New Zealand).
£38.95
If you run a book shop and would like to know more about the book please email: accounts@manchesterfootball.org
The ISBN is 978-1-9168852-0-2 and stocks should be available for book shops after it has been distributed to all subscribers and others who have ordered it here. This is anticipated to be in early July 2021.
You can listen to Peter in conversation with myself about the book here:
Thanks,
Gary James
