Northern Ireland in Serbia - 4-4-2 Magazine

Time for a little shameless self-promotion, because today is rather an exciting day for me. 

Yes, we are on the eve of two elections and a referendum.  Yes, Northern Ireland is ninety years old to the day.  Yes, it’s Rory McIlroy’s birthday.  All landmark events - but none quite so compelling for me personally as the publication of my first article in FourFourTwo magazine. 

Let me explain.  I grew up as a football mad kid on a diet of football magazines.   You could map my development by these changing titles.  From Roy of the Rovers I graduated to Shoot magazine, sneering at those who preferred its rival Match, which I considered far too lightweight. 

Shoot was gradually supplanted by the edgier content of 90 Minutes, as I approached my teenage years.  During adolescence I experimented with fanzine inspired monthly When Saturday Comes and the statto’s bible, World Soccer, but I was more often immersed in the glossy pages of FourFourTwo.
    
You can see the significance I’m sure.

Anyway the article is a four page feature on Northern Ireland fans’ trip to Serbia.  The game was played in Belgrade, behind closed doors but with just over 200 away supporters in attendance. 

June's issue is available now.   

Comments

O'Neill said…
Excellent, looking forward to reading it.

I notice you're sharing the issue with Jonny Evans and a certain Mr D Gibson?!
4 May 2011 at 17:32
CW said…
Liked the piece Owen. A good combination of travelogue and reportage. Reminded me of Simon Kuper's "Football against the enemy". It reads as if written by one of their own in-house staff though - ie "FFT did this, FFT saw that" rather than in the first person - an editorial policy decision on their part rather than your own wording I presume?
If you don't mind me asking did they pay you for it?
9 May 2011 at 22:29
CW said…
Liked the piece Owen. A good combination of travelogue and reportage. Reminded me of Simon Kuper's "Football against the enemy". It reads as if written by one of their own in-house staff though - ie "FFT did this, FFT saw that" rather than in the first person - an editorial policy decision on their part rather than your own wording I presume?
If you don't mind me asking did they pay you for it?
9 May 2011 at 22:31
Owen Polley said…
CW, the style was requested by the magazine, although some editorialising went on. Particularly in the first 2 or 3 paragraphs. It was a paying article.
9 May 2011 at 22:54
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