Different Class : Fashion, Football & Funk The Story of Laurie Cunningham

By Dermot Kavanagh

A biography of England's first professional black footballer, who represented Leyton Orient, West Bromwich Albion and became the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid

Sunday, 29 November 2015

Radical to the Third Degree

'Radical to the Third Degree' is the name of an article I wrote a couple of years ago for the US soccer magazine 'Howler'. It is a 100+ page glossy quarterly that is very well designed with high production values and can be bought online via their website. Although mostly about soccer in North America they write extensively about European football too and have contributors from all over the world. Here is the piece they ran on Cunningham. I think it looks great and better than most UK publications about football.Although there does seem to be a growing niche market though for such magazines over here - Pickles and Mundial to name two- are similarly well designed and illustrated. I was amazed that Americans would be interested in Laurie's story but they instantly got his maverick character, and like me, loved his personal dress sense, typified by the 'Great Gatsby' suit picture. When I asked why the magazine was called 'Howler' they said it was an English footballing term meaning to miss an easy chance, which I suppose it is, but I wouldn't say it was exclusive to football, it's more generic than that, 'Sitter' is more widely used in my experience but doesn't really have the same ring. I think they just liked the sound of it.

    

Back to project page
Share on social

Comments

mike fitzgerald
 mike fitzgerald says:

Hi Dermot,
Delighted you writing this book. It will be an extraordinary story. I am 64 and remember the times and atmosphere well. Deeply hostile to anyone non-White, football was a hard, hostile, and often violent crowds, inside and outside grounds. Imagine you inundated with material, but for general background, I suggest the tv series Reggae Britannia, Pauline Black's excellent autobiography, much of it focused on West Midlands, and Policing the Crisis, by Stuart Hall et al, which starts with an incident in Birmingham. Really looking forward to book. Enjoyed today's piece...as from Liverpool Irish family, and empathised.
Mike Fitzgerald

posted 1st February 2016

Top rewards

£5 
25 pledges

Digital

E-book edition
Buy now
£20  + shipping
230 pledges

Hardback

1st edition hardback, plus ebook edition