Author Archives: garylongden

Football season 2025/26

Posted on August 9, 2025 by garylongden

This is the third successive season that I have seen Mansfield’s opening game, First at Crewe, then at Barnsley. Mansfield are always well supported away from home, and a crowd of 5170 which may prove to be Burton’s highest home … Continue reading →

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The Salt Path- film review

Posted on August 7, 2025 by garylongden

*** Lovely contrived schmaltz. I watched this knowing that the real life protagonists were fraudulent grifters and enjoyed it far more as a result. Every device that you can think of is wheeled out, Gillian Anderson as dodgy Wyn and  … Continue reading →

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Ten Years a Dad- Tom Allsopp Midland Fringe Festival 2025

Posted on August 6, 2025 by garylongden

Tom is the Black Country’s answer to Tim Minchin. Now if you don’t like Minchin I accept that is faint praise .But I do- and I like Tom’s work very much. Tom is a membrer of Lichfield Poets, Tim Minchin … Continue reading →

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Unbroken – film review

Posted on August 6, 2025 by garylongden

** The story, co-written by the Coen brothers and others, is based on a blockbuster sized book by Laura Hillenbrand. Inevitably the story has to be retold. Jolie’s inexperience makes this an uneven exercise. The first half is strong, the … Continue reading →

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black vinyl- white powder, by Simon Napier Bell, book review

Posted on August 6, 2025 by garylongden

**** In his own words this is an exploration of “the centrality of drugs and drug culture to the development of the British music business”, A legendary manager in  pop and rock, this account by Napier Bell is an exhaustive, … Continue reading →

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St Davids Cathedral- Wales

Posted on July 24, 2025 by garylongden

St Davids  Cathedral, Wales – a travelogue Somehow, despite being in my sixth decade, and a regular visitor to Wales I had never made St Davids. A t trip to the Pembrokeshire coast rectified that omission. The UK’s smallest city … Continue reading →

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Killing Thatcher- Rory Carroll, book review

Posted on July 24, 2025 by garylongden

Paced brilliantly and has the twists and turns of a thriller novel despite being a true story. Superbly researched. This is more than simply an account of the attempt to assassinate Thatcher and her cabinet. It is also an exploration … Continue reading →

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Rangers and the Famous ICF: My Life With Scotland’s Most-Feared Football Hooligan Gang- Sandy Chugg, Book review

Posted on July 14, 2025 by garylongden

Rangers and the Famous ICF: My Life With Scotland’s Most-Feared Football Hooligan Gang- Sandy Chugg,  Book review **** out of five I knew nothing about the Scottish firms beyond their propensity to behave appallingly at any game in England be … Continue reading →

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Homo Reloaded- by Carlos Alberto Bisceglia , book review

Posted on July 13, 2025 by garylongden

**** out of 5 An astonishing book which skilfully weaves science, geology and geography with informed conjecture to reappraise 75000 years of human history Origin, Evolution, and Transformations of Human Civilization and Earth: Evidence of Cosmic Impacts, Climate Changes, and … Continue reading →

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I was there- Alan edwards, book review

Posted on July 12, 2025 by garylongden

I Was There by Alan Edwards, book review – the rock gods’ right-hand man This is one of the best insights into the Rock and pop business i have read. **** out of five Alan Edwards, founder of public relations … Continue reading →

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