Last Saturday night at the Fitzwilton Hotel, author Brian Kennedy released his second book inside a year which focuses on his beloved Waterford United.
Titled ‘Blue, White & Dynamite,’ the book is a collection of stories from figures who’ve been involved with the club over the past 60 years.
The anecdotes and recollections of former managers, players, directors and fans form several chapters in ‘BW&D’, whilst Kennedy contributes four Blues-related stories of his own.
Former manager Tommy Lynch reflects on his time at the club, ranging from the highs of winning a First Division title to the lows of suffering verbal abuse on an way day in Bray.
Ex-director Martin Colbert recalls how things became so financially desperate that he stuck €2,000 on the Blues to defeat Bohs in a league match just so he had enough money to pay the players. By the way, United won, much to Martin’s relief!
Sticking with the monetary theme, Michael Butler tells of how a €1,000 whip-round on a cold December night helped save the Blues during a week when players went on strike, leaving the club fielding a reserve side in Derry.
Kennedy adds his own irreverent touch to the book through his own personal memories of following the Blues for the past 25 years.
One English-born Manchester United fan retells his astonishment at meeting Bobby Charlton, not in the Stretford End, but on a cold miserable day in Kilcohan against Finn Harps outside a ramshackle stand!
‘Blue White & Dynamite’ represents the Waterford author’s fifth book in the past three years.
Having wrote ‘Confessions Of An Exeter City Nut’ in 2004, ‘Poor ‘Ol Harry Sack’ in 2005 and the well-received ‘Singing The Blues’ last year, Kennedy has also just released a sequel to his first Exeter City book.
Titled ‘One Flew Over The Crossbar,’ Kennedy writes of the joy, pain, and severe depression that goes hand in hand with supporting the Grecians.
This time around, Kennedy recalls how the non-league minnows held Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 2005 FA Cup and saved themselves from a winding-up order by raking in over Stg£1.2 million from both meetings with the Red Devils.
The book winds up with Exeter’s first appearance at Wembley in their 104-year history last May. Typically, being Exeter, things don’t go according to plan!
This book was also officially launched at the Fitzwilton Hotel last Saturday evening, making the evening a publication-launching double header.
Reports indicate that an enjoyable night was had by all and that healthy sales of both books were recorded, much to the delight of the author.
Priced €9.99, ‘Blue, White & Dynamite’ is on sale at the Book Centre and makes the ideal stocking filler for the Waterford United fan in your life.
