-- Reviews by the Famous and well Known
It is a pleasure to write the foreword to this book ‘The King of Capplielow’.
Andy Ritchie was the bane of my life when I was at Aberdeen. He would continually score free kicks against us. So much so that we spent a whole week training in ways to defend against his great ability to score from all sorts of different positions at free kicking.
We tried everything to stop this, we tried two players on the posts, we tried leaving a gap in the wall so that our goalkeeper could see the ball.
We tried everything but two goalkeepers which was unfortante that the rules did not allow it.
Andy had a great talent and I can vouch for that as no one suffered more against it.
In closing, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
Enjoy the book!
Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, Football Manager - Written the Foreword
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-- Newspaper and Website Reviews
THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
Greenock Telegraph
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SPORTS WRITER'S DOUBLE
by David Himelfield.
SPORTS writer John Riddle left Huddersfield aged six months, but the lifelong Town supporter has never forgotten his roots.
Now, Almondbury-born John, 60, is offering Examiner readers a first look at his two new sports books.
John, a sports editor for Canary Islands newspaper The Paper, has released The Life of Brian and The King of Cappielow.
The Life of Brian – with a foreword by former England and Liverpool ace Peter Beardsley – tells the story of footballer Brian Honour of Hartlepool United.
The King of Cappielow charts the career of ex-Celtic and Greenock Morton player Andy Ritchie (not the HTFC manager!).
A longstanding Town fan, John travelled from his former home in Tenerife to the McAlpine Stadium to interview Steve Bruce – only to find he’d been sacked. Instead, he interviewed new manager Lou Macari.
John, who now lives in Hartlepool, said: “I always check Town’s results first. I’ve thousands of books on them.
“I still have family in Bradley. I even miss going to the Superbowl on Leeds Road where I trained as a bowling alley manager. In think the Yorkshire folk are the best in the world.”
John’s books can be pre-ordered from http://www.apexpublishing.co.uk
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
Inverclyde News
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TON LEGEND ANDY BROUGHT TO BOOK
Greenock Telegraph
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
County Durham News
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'IDLE IDOL' RITCHIE A LEGEND IN PRINT
Greenock Telegraph
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
Barrhead News
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
The Gazette (Covering Johnstone and Renfrewshire)
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
The Self Publishing Magazine
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
Winger Magazine
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
Programme Monthly & Football Collectable
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SPORTS WRITER JOHN'S HAT-TRICK OF SUCCESS
SPORTS writer John Riddle is celebrating scoring an incredible hat-trick.
Almondbury-born John, the sports editor for a newspaper based in the Canary Islands, has penned his third book and all three have found their way into major national bookshop chains, including WH Smith.
The 60-year-old, who now lives in Hartlepool, has been a reporter for 30 years and recently found success when he decided to pen books inspired by his experience of the world of sports stars.
John is now celebrating getting his books on to bookshop shelves across the country.
He joins a long line of Huddersfield authors to see their books in print, including best-selling Chocolat author Joanne Harris, also from Almondbury.
John commented: “I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would have three books published this year. I am grateful to Apex Publishers for the faith they have shown in me.”
Two of the books are biographies, entitled The Life of Brian and The King of Cappielow.
The Life of Brian – with a foreword by former England and Liverpool ace Pete Beardsley – tells the story of footballer Brian Honour, of Hartlepool United.
The King of Cappielow charts the career of ex-Celtic and Greenock Morton player Andy Ritchie.
Lifelong Huddersfield Town supporter John has also written Jailed, a book about sports stars doing extra time in prison, something he knows all about, having formerly worked as a prison probation officer.
John attended a book signing for Jailed in Tenerife and it was so popular that it sold out in two days.
Jailed is the only one of John’s three books that is no longer available in bookshops.
He said: “Unfortunately Jailed is not available, having sold out and 10 copies having been stolen or lost en -route to Tenerife. I thought it was ironic that a book called Jailed has gone missing, presumably stolen!”
As well as major high street book shops, John’s biographies are available from Apex Publishers at http://www.apexpublishing.co.uk
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
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FOREVER a hero in Hartlepool, Brian Honour is to be the subject of a biography out in August.
Inevitably it'll be called The Life of Brian.
The man the locals know as Jackie spent three years at Aston Villa before being released because he was too small, then signed for Darlington on £60 a week. After 84 games, Cyril Knowles also freed him: too small.
His first football memory, however, is of Stan Matthews coming to the family home in Horden to sign their John for Port Vale.
Happily for Hartlepool, manager Billy Horner knew the adage about good stuff and little bundles, spotted him up the road at Peterlee Newtown and offered terms. Brian, now managing Bishop Auckland, spent 11 years as a Pool player and four on the coaching staff.
The book's by retired probation officer and freelance journalist John Riddle, Hartlepool lad, who's also compiling a biography of Morton legend Andy Ritchie. "The King of Cappielow" is expected in October.
The Northern Echo
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THE KING OF CAPPIELOW
Greenock Telegraph
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-- Readers Comments
The King of Cappielow is an interesting read. Until recently although following the fortunes of Greenock Morton from a distance I have to admit I had not visited Cappielow Park until 2008.
I was educated at the Greenock Academy and had heard people talking about this guy Andy Ritchie. I read this book about his life and then bumped into the legend in Gourock, my birthplace.
He is as charming and entertaining as is portrayed in the book but I can imagine that his verbosity got him into trouble more than once with Jock Stein. I also can well understand why the people of Morton idolise this guy. He is charismatic and I have no doubt having watched a video of some of his goals that in his playing days he was larger than life itself.
I think Andy Ritchie's life story would make a cracking film and the book itself is well worth a read.
Lorna Young
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An excellent read, bringing back many fond memories for me. I found the book very interesting and well written. It is obvious that a lot of research has gone into this book. I am sure this book will be very popular amongst the Morton and Andy Ritchie supporters.
Harry Beaton
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-- Book Signings and Events
John Riddle and Andy Ritchie signed copies of their book 'The King of Cappielow' at Keystore, Gourock.
Keystore, Gourock
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John Riddle and Andy Ritchie signed copies of their book 'The King of Cappielow' at The Spinnaker Hotel, Gourock.
The Spinnaker Hotel, Gourock
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Andy Ritchie signed copies of his book 'The King of Cappielow' at The Greenock Morton Club Shop, Greenock.
The Greenock Morton Club Shop, Greenock
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John Riddle talked about and signed copies of his books 'The Life of Brian Honour' and 'The King of Cappielow' at Hartlepool Library.
Hartlepool Library
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