Mike Amos tells all in new book – the stories of his life

On his blog on the 2nd June he said of his book

“Almost a year after it was conceived, gestation period of a hairy mammoth, the autobiography – or at least the softback edition – is here.

Unconsidered Trifles arrived this morning in a three-car convoy from the printer’s in Middlesbrough. Now the hard work really starts, shifting the things again.

Sub-titled Memories of a Jobbing Journalist, as can probably be seen above, it’s by no means just a football book – rather a snapshot of North-East life and folk over many decades – but footy provides a constant and a recurring theme.

There are wonderful stories like the afternoon that Stanhope Town played Wearhead United, nether regions of the Crook and District league second division, at the Stadium of Light or the evening that the inmates of Holme House prison in Stockton played Roseworth Social Club within those walls, perhaps the first occasion since Newgate that spectators have been charged to get into a prison.

There’s a first-hand account of West Auckland’s ill-starred trip to Turin to mark the centenary in 2009 of their first World Cup win, several affectionate stories about Graham Kelly – “the most traduced man in football” – and all manner of Northern League memories.

One of my favourites is about the ultra-posh banquet to mark the FA’s 150th anniversary – Prince William, Sepp Blatter and me. In where draughts cannot? Suffice that those who believe there’s only one Mike Amos may be mistaken.

Shildon lad and former Darlington FC chairman George Reynolds features quite a lot, too. A particularly indelible yarn concerns the time he gave acclaimed artist Mackenzie Thorpe a tour of the new GR Arena….

Though the spread is regional, occasionally beyond, there’s inevitably a slight bias towards Shildon. The book launch was planned for the Dean Street clubhouse before the virus compelled a change of plan.

.So now I need to sell a few books – to blog readers, their friends, pretty much anyone. The softback, beautifully produced and designed, is £10. The hardback will be £22.  Postage for the softback is £3 20, dunno about the hardback yet.”

It’s available via Amazon or by post from me at 8 Oakfields, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, North Yorks DL10 6SD. Cheques payable to Mike Amos. Payment can also be made on-line – details from mikeamos81@aol.com

Mikes blog can be found here

From Mike Amos “The Chairman’s Blog”

December 21 2015

Shildon are staying at their Dean Street home, elderly but much loved. After years of speculation, and a great deal of hard work and exploration, the decision was taken at tonight’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
My own shareholding, it should be explained, is humble. It’s precisely four and with a face value, memory suggests, of 25p apiece. Sell? No chance, they could be worth 50p one day.
The club has long contemplated a move, not least because of the perceived need to grow an academy and development sides but also because the dear old “pagoda” stand has seen very much better days. That the seats and flooring are wooden also means that attracting funding for refurbishment would be difficult.
Several property developers had expressed an interest in the ground – opening up the possibility of a move to an athletics stadium on the edge of the town – but nothing acceptable has materialised.
So what now? The club will look to erect a 250-seat stand to replace the existing cover on the far side, allowing the seating areas of the old stand to be mothballed. The dressing rooms and clubhouse will be upgraded, with the hope of an academy partnership with Sunderland’s Foundation of Light.
Club director David Dent has done a huge amount of work on the whole project, The backing for his recommendations was unanimous. Off the field, at least, it was one of the most momentous nights in Shildon’s history. Those shares could be worth a fortune.

 

Mike’s blog can be found at http://www.northernleague.org/blog/view_latest_chairmans_blog.php