On Radio Leeds

this evening (19th) at 6pm and tomorrow morning (20th) at 7.45am talking about Leeds United past and present

Paperback launch in Leeds next Thursday (20 June)

Free event/talk/signing. Just book your tickets prior to setting off http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayDetailEvent.do?searchType=2&store=266%7CWATERSTONE'S%20LEEDS%2093-97&sFilter=1

THE LAST CHAMPIONS paperback launch

I'll be reading from The Last Champions and talking about  the book, the charge to the 91-92 title and subsequent changes in football at Waterstone's in Leeds from 7pm on the evening of June 20. The event is free: you just need to call the store to reserve tickets. Hopefully it will be as successful as last year's launch, where LUFC's former commercial director/chairman Bill Fotherby came down to share even more eyebrow-raising and hilarious stories that aren't in the book.

Details of the 20 June event here http://www.list.co.uk/event/20423048-dave-simpson-author-event/

WILKINSON V FERGUSON, 1992: David slays Goliath.

Alex Ferguson's achievements speak for themselves, but Howard Wilkinson's triumph against the odds in 1992 must not be forgotten... When I was researching The Last Champions, I wanted to know precisely what those odds were and, among other things, unearthed these extraordinary stats. 

TRANSFER FEES OF PLAYERS FEATURING IN THE TWO LEAGUE FIXTURES BETWEEN LEEDS UNITED AND MANCHESTER UNITED, 1991-92

LEEDS UNITED                                                  MANCHESTER UNITED

John Lukic                   £1m                                 Peter Schmeichel    £505,000

Mel Sterland                £600,000                         Paul Parker            £2m

Tony Dorigo                 £1.3m                              Denis Irwin             £625,000

David Batty                   £0                                    Neil Webb              £1.5m

John McClelland          £110,000                          Steve Bruce     £825,000                         

Chris Whyte                 £400,000                          Gary Pallister          £2.3m

Gordon Strachan          £200,000                          Bryan Robson       £1.5m

Rod Wallace                 £1.6m                               Paul Ince               £1m

Lee Chapman              £400,000                          Mark Hughes         £1.8m

Gary McAllister            £1m                                   Brian McClair         £850,000

Gary Speed                 £0                                     Clayton Blackmore £0

Chris Fairclough          £500,000                          Andrei Kanchelskis £650,000

(subs)

Steve Hodge                £900,000                              Ryan Giggs           £0

                                                                                  Mike Phelan       £750,000

                                                                                  Lee Sharpe       £200,000

                                                                                  Mal Donaghy     £650,000

TOTAL                       £8,100,000                                                   £15,155,000

"A fascinating read, which is difficult to put down" Review at www.footballbookreviews.com

http://footballbookreviews.com/reviews/book-review-the-last-champions-by-dave-simpson

Extract in On: Yorkshire magazine

Who very kindly call The Last Champions "the sports book of the year" :)

http://www.on-magazine.co.uk/2012/12/leeds-united-the-last-champions/#

Event at Morley Literature Festival this weekend

http://www.morleyliteraturefestival.co.uk/portfolio/dave-simpson/

Following a jam-packed and riotously well-received event at Ilkley Literature Festival, Guardian journalist Dave Simpson again discusses his revelatory exploration of Leeds United and the glory years of the 1990s. After 1992, he argues, football changed beyond all recognition as the Premier League saw sky-rocketing wages and billionaire owners and the dictates of television took the game away from the fans. Today Simpson reveals the secrets of the inner sanctum that delivered that extraordinary title and explores whether football is now so disenfranchised from supporters that it has lost its soul.  Booking options http://www.morleyliteraturefestival.co.uk/book-tickets/

When	Saturday, 13th Oct , 1.30pm
Where	Morley Town Hall
Duration	1 hour (approx)