Story of Harty's Brighton and Hove Albion journey proving popular - but what comes next?
Long time Worthing Herald sport columnist Ian Hart’s first book, Brighton and Hove Albion From Every Angle, has exceeded sales expectations – and now a second reprint has been ordered.
The book, published in early December, charts Harty’s journey as a Brighton and Hove Albion fan from 1973 to 2011 – and as the title suggests, it covers the various angles he’s seen the club from: as a fan, fanzine editor, phone-in host, columnist and even one-time club employee.
So how has Harty been enjoying life as a ‘published author’?
“It’s truly been an amazing experience, and I’ve been buoyed by the support I’ve received from the whole Albion family,” he told us.
"There’s always that little bit of self doubt, but my publisher Dan Tester, and the five-strong focus group who pre-read the book before it was printed, said I was underestimating sales with the set figure I’d said I wanted printed.
"They told me to increase it, but that sold out fairly quickly, so we had a reprint before Christmas, then just after Christmas, the Albion contacted me about selling the book in the club shop, so we had to go back to the printers and get more done.”
A book launch at The Broadwater pub, attended by Albion legends Kerry Mayo and Guy Butters, proved popular, but the book’s appeal was highlighted to a wider audience when Harty was a guest on TalkSport’s top-rated morning show with Jim White and Simon Jordan.
“Full disclosure, through dealings with the Boxing Writers’ Club and at the Albion, Jim (White) is a friend of mine, and he was aware of the book, and he invited me on,” Harty said.
"It was an amazing experience and while initially I was very nervous, Jim, Simon and Danny Murphy, who is also a top bloke, put me at ease. The time flew by, and I truly loved every minute of it.
"These gents are consummate professionals, at the top of their game. Jim kindly took me for lunch in Borough Market afterwards, and said ‘We normally have authors on for five minutes, 10 if the book’s half decent, you were on for 45 minutes!’."
With the book on sale at Waterstones in Brighton and Worthing, as well as City Books in Hove and Arcade Bookshop in Littlehampton, staff at all four stores said there was definite spike in sales after that appearance on national radio.
“Reality did kick in with the sales, I ended up outselling Peter James in Waterstones Brighton, but lost out to the Pokémon Annual in Worthing,” Harty joked. “You can’t win ‘em all!”
Those who have read the book they know that it doesn’t pull any punches, which Worthing Herald and sussexworld.co.uk readers will know is Harty’s usual approach.
So with the book featuring the very battle to save the club and the financial problems that dogged Albion after that for over a decade, was Harty surprised when the Albion made contact in the new year?
“Cliché alert, well it is me, I had to crack a number of eggs to make this footballing omelette, therefore there were some things in the book that the club might not have liked,” he said.
"That said Ray Bloom read it, said he loved it, and saw no reason why the club shouldn’t sell it at the club shop. He felt that as many of the 30,000 that pack the stadium for every game should know what we went through to have the club we have today.
"And on the back of that I was very happy to give the club’s own charity, The Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation, £4 from every copy sold in the shop along with the £1 to the Worthing Samaritans, who themselves will be getting a cheque early next month.”
Will there be a sequel, as the book finishes 15 years ago with Albion leaving The Withdean for their new stadium?
Hart revealed: “I have already started work on my second book, but its not Albion related – it is about a subject very close to my heart, mental health, specifically the career, life and sad passing of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton, who I had the pleasure of knowing and working with. I’m hoping that will be published in September of this year.
“Maybe ‘Brighton and Hove Albion From Every Angle Part Deux’ will come after that...
- Brighton and Hove Albion From Every Angle, by Ian Hart, priced £14.99. Email [email protected], or buy in person from Ian Hart Funeral Service, 92-94 Broadwater Street West, BN14 9QR, tel 01903 206299. Also available at City Books in Hove, Arcade Books in Littlehampton, Waterstones in Brighton and Worthing and the Albion club shop.