Details of Publication - Apex Publishing Ltd.

Life as a Chelsea Headhunter: It's Only a Game
	Author: Jason Marriner Foreword by: Kerry Dixon Classification: True Crime Sorry this book is Out Of Print	Brief Description: Optical illusions are the stuff of magic - harmless entertainment conjured up to both enthral and amaze, aren’t they? Well, maybe not, as it’s not quite so amusing if the ‘stunt’ takes the form of an episode of the BBC’s ‘groundbreaking’ documentary series MacIntyre Undercover on organised football hooliganism, the wizardry is conducted by unscrupulous investigative journalists posing as big-time drug dealers, and as a result the unwitting participant in the trick, avid Chelsea supporter Jason Marriner, is charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder and affray, together with his friend Andy Frain, and Jason ends up with a six-year jail sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. This is Jason’s chance to put the record straight, present the facts from his own perspective and challenge the reader, who may well have been one of the 7.4 million documentary viewers, to decide whether the programme actually revealed the ‘ugly face of football violence’, or indeed showed him plotting or committing any violence whatsoever, or whether the original 344 hours’ worth of footage, secretly filmed over a period of 18 months, were distorted beyond recognition by cutting, editing and stitching together clips from the original sequences to achieve the programme’s aim at any cost. Jason would be the first to admit that in the past he had been a ‘nuisance’ on the terraces, but this was the late 1990s and, with a wife, children and his own business, he had done a lot of growing up and moving on. Fortunately, he had also developed the strength of character needed to survive in prison with humour, dignity and determination, and he shares his insights of life behind bars as he tried to work with the system, despite the knock-backs, in order to make it work for him in return. ‘Good will always follow bad’ is Jason’s admirable philosophy about his experiences, but this shocking real-life story serves as a warning to all: this could so easily happen to you.

Special Note: This book is now out of print.

About the Author: Jason is a London-born family man who has had a lifelong passion for football, both watching the sport as an ardent Chelsea FC supporter, and also playing the game on a regular basis. Since being thrust into the spotlight as the result of a MacIntyre Undercover television documentary on football violence and his subsequent high-profile court case and prison sentence, Jason has set up It’s Only A Game Promotions and has started his Real Football Factory Tour. He has also been touring the UK with his ‘An Audience with Jason Marriner’ shows and has recently made a DVD with Gangster Videos. Details of current news and events can be found on his website at http://www.jasonmarriner.com

Purchasing
Information Reviews by the
Famous and Well Known Newspaper and
Website Reviews Radio and
TV Readers
Comments Signings and
Events Libraries that
stock this book

-- Purchasing Information

	Paperback	Hardback
Publication Date:	10 October 2014	22 May 2009
ISBN: ISBN 13:	1-910295-13-2 978-1-910295-13-7	1-906358-62-1 978-1-906358-62-4
Page Extent:	200	276
Book Size:	216x138mm	234x156mm
Price:	£9.99	£15.99
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Publication Date:	10 October 2014
Digital eBook ISBN 13:	978-1-908548-47-4
Digital pdf ISBN 13:	978-1-907792-51-9
eBook Price (UK):	£5.97
eBook Price (USA):	$9.59
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-- Reviews by the Famous and well Known

In the 1980s it was accepted that violence was a fact of the beautiful game, for many it was a way of life.
I joined Chelsea in 1983 from Reading for £175,000. I joined what I regarded as a sleeping giant, the season was a roller coaster ride for the club, both on and off the pitch, while the team battled it out on the pitch with the likes of Newcastle United, Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday at the top of the Second Division, certain sections of the Chelsea fans were having their own battles before, during and after games.
One of the most feared firms of those days were called ‘The Chelsea Headhunters’. During the course of the first 2-3 seasons most of the players got to know some of the headhunters.
Football violence is generally now regarded as a thing of the past. I got to know Jason during my stay at the club, while not condoning all of his or other members of this group (firm), he has become a friend and this book accounts his battles with his life then, and with the authorities, following arrest for being part of the headhunters.
Kerry Dixon, Ex-Professional Football Player - Written the Foreword

Honest, open and frank ... this book is everything that the Donal MacIntyre sham was not. Jason Marriner was stitched up like a kipper by the BBC and we were all sucked in. In a cluttered market of hooligan books, this one stands above the rest as a fitting retort to fabricated journalism dressed up as 'entertainment'. There are two sides to every story and Marriner has penned a mesmerising account that should become a must-have read that extends way beyond the football genre.
David Williams, Author of 'Desert England'

Chelsea bad boy Jason Marriner tells how he was stitched up by the BBC - an eye-opening read.
Garry Bushell, Newspaper Columnist, Television Presenter and Author

Jason is a close trusted friend and a solid, staunch, loyal man. I can’t speak highly enough of Jason. What happened to him was disgraceful. This book needs to be read to be believed, the strokes that were pulled were more criminal than any criminal would do!
It’s ALL in the book ... A gripping, mind blowing book of skulduggery, cloak & dagger, violence, prison & self belief, this inspiring book is not a typical gangster or hooligan book ... THIS BOOK IS MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Tel Currie, Author of 'Left Hooks and Dangerous Crooks' and 'Ronnie Biggs: The Inside Story'

It was a conspiracy all right, but Jason was the victim not the perpetrator. A fascinating insight into the lengths the authorities will go to to bring down someone they dislike. A lesson to us all.
Norman Parker, Author of 'Parkhurst Tales: Behind the Locked Gates of Britain's Toughest Jails'

At last, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Martin King, Author of 'Naughty Nineties'

An interesting account that dispells the illusions and misconceptions of football hooliganism and exposes the real corruption!
Howard Marks, Underworld Figure and Author of 'Mr Nice'

A brilliant book by Jason, this man doesn't bend or break for anyone. You are either with him or you are not. If you are not, well then piss off ... This man takes no crap.
Jason Marriner’s book is a winner. ‘It’s only a game!’.
Leighton Frayne, Author of 'The Frayne Bros'

An excellent read by a man who has suffered the adversities of a system riddled with corruption. Jason Marriner clearly shows his injustice needs to be settled, this is unfinished business ... Jason’s strength, doesn’t allow him to be robbed of his dignity, he is no longer in the systems power. Jason’s adversity has the effect of conjuring his talents and skills, what is rare is the courage to follow his instinct in to the dark place to expose this corruption. Don’t stand in the way of Jason Marriner when on the mission of justice, or you will get hurt. His dignity belongs to the conquered, individual faith in freedom can keep us free. A top read by a top man.
Lindsay Frayne, Author of 'The Frayne Bros'

-- Newspaper and Website Reviews

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Daily Star Sunday (Take 5 Magazine)

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Ipswich 24 Magazine

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER: IT'S ONLY A GAME
The Brit (Madeira Newspaper)

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Programme Monthly & Football Collectable

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Daily Star Sunday

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Four Four Two Magazine

An intriguing and fascinating look into the other side of 'so called' serious, undercover, ‘investigative’ journalism from someone really and truly on the receiving end. Gripping stuff and if you don't question what you see and hear in the media after reading this, you are as gullible, naïve and as stupid as the 7 million or so TV viewers that accepted and believed everything Donal MacIntyre reported.
Robin Barratt, Bodyguards and Bouncers Magazine (Editor)

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Daily Star Sunday

Marriner's book starts well before building momentum to become a compelling, convincing and comical account of his perceived injustice. In the convicted hooligan's view it should have been Donal MacIntyre in the dock, not him. When you reach the end, the reader will more than half suspect he's right.
Rick Lyons, Daily Star Sunday (Crime Correspondent)

LIFE AS A CHELSEA HEADHUNTER
Winger Magazine

-- Radio and TV

Colchester Garrison 107 FM feature and run a competition on 'Life as a Chelsea Headhunter: It's Only a Game' written by Jason Marriner and 'Left Hooks and Dangergous Crooks' written by Tel Currie. The competition was run on 'The Liz Mullen Show'.
Colchester Garrison 107 FM

Apex Media Player

Jason Marriner was interviewed on Express 93.7 FM. Jason answered questions about his book 'Life as a Chelsea Headhunter'. He was interviewed on 'The Darren Gamblen Show'.
Express 93.7 FM

Apex Media Player

Jason Marriner was interviewed on Leith 98.8 FM. Jason answered questions about his book 'Life as a Chelsea Headhunter'. He was interviewed on 'The Graeme Logan Show'.
Leith 98.8 FM

Apex Media Player

-- Readers Comments

-- Book Signings and Events

-- Libraries that stock this book
The British Library, Boston Spa
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The Library of Trinity College, Dublin
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The Bodleian Library, Oxford
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The University Library, Cambridge
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The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
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The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Author, Jason Marriner has his own website: www.jasonmarriner.com