Where is Rick Gekoski? (8 Viewers)

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Exit Stage Left

Exit Stage Left

Well-Known Member
I was going through a few old things in my loft this afternoon and came across a book called Staying Up which was written by American writer Rick Gekoski and was about Coventry City's 1997-98 season. It's actually a good read and reminds you of how things were before the Ricoh Arena and relegation from the Premier League.

What I wanted to ask though does anybody know what happened to the writer Rick Gekoski? From what I can remember he lived in Leamington Spa, was a season ticket holder and sometimes was a guest on CWR's phone-in show. Is he still a fan? Does he still go to games? Has he got an opinion on Sisu, Wasps or Coventry City Council? Does he want Bright Enobakhare back?! I did check his Wikipedia page and he still seems to be living in the UK. If you're reading this Rick, how about doing a sequel to Staying Up? There would be no shortage of material to write about.
 
SkyBlueCharlie9

SkyBlueCharlie9

Well-Known Member
That was a genuinely great book at a very interesting (and sadly contrasting) time in CCFC's history. Can't see the club doing this now as all parties too legally aware & PR savy. Hope Rick Gekoski is still a fan though as he seemed to care about the club.
 
Irish Sky Blue

Irish Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Exit Stage Left said:
I was going through a few old things in my loft this afternoon and came across a book called Staying Up which was written by American writer Rick Gekoski and was about Coventry City's 1997-98 season. It's actually a good read and reminds you of how things were before the Ricoh Arena and relegation from the Premier League.

What I wanted to ask though does anybody know what happened to the writer Rick Gekoski? From what I can remember he lived in Leamington Spa, was a season ticket holder and sometimes was a guest on CWR's phone-in show. Is he still a fan? Does he still go to games? Has he got an opinion on Sisu, Wasps or Coventry City Council? Does he want Bright Enobakhare back?! I did check his Wikipedia page and he still seems to be living in the UK. If you're reading this Rick, how about doing a sequel to Staying Up? There would be no shortage of material to write about.
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I am just coming to the end of the book 'Miracle in Castle de Sangro', a book about an Italian village team that made it all the way to Seria B. Who should be quoted on the cover of the book but Rick Gekoski, giving it a glowing reference. The book was published in the late 90s so not sure what he has been doing for 20 years.
 
Terry_dactyl

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
Irish Sky Blue said:
I am just coming to the end of the book 'Miracle in Castle de Sangro', a book about an Italian village team that made it all the way to Seria B. Who should be quoted on the cover of the book but Rick Gekoski, giving it a glowing reference. The book was published in the late 90s so not sure what he has been doing for 20 years.
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I read that in the 90s!
An incredible story. I seem to remember being slightly irritated by the author. Also an American right?
 
Exit Stage Left

Exit Stage Left

Well-Known Member
Irish Sky Blue said:
I am just coming to the end of the book 'Miracle in Castle de Sangro', a book about an Italian village team that made it all the way to Seria B. Who should be quoted on the cover of the book but Rick Gekoski, giving it a glowing reference. The book was published in the late 90s so not sure what he has been doing for 20 years.
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I think back in the late 1990s he was working at Warwick University, living in Leamington Spa and a regular visitor to Highfield Road. It seems he had a novel out last year and was recently on the panel judging the Man Booker Prize so he is quite well known in literacy circles. However he is now 75 and according to Wikipedia is living in Salisbury so I suspect his allegiance to the Sky Blues Army may have faded somewhat. I hope I'm wrong and he is still going to games because his book Staying Up came out around the time I started going to football matches. I also like the idea of a Ernest Hemingway type of American writer being a fan of our football club.
 
fernandopartridge

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
In the book he talks quite a lot about the London Supporters Club, a bloke called Jonathan Strange in particular. I think Mr Strange was part of the Supporters Consultative Group, possibly the chair. I think Gekoski lived in London so perhaps he's still involved. Then again who knows? We've shed many a fairweather fan and i got the sense that he's one of those.
 
Irish Sky Blue

Irish Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
The author was an American, Joe McLaughlin (since passed away I think). He was in his fifties before he became interested in football after watching a world Cup. As the season progesses he starts to argue with the manager on team selection which is a bit like Andy Turner telling Mark Robins which players to pick.
 
Terry_dactyl

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
Irish Sky Blue said:
The author was an American, Joe McLaughlin (since passed away I think). He was in his fifties before he became interested in football after watching a world Cup. As the season progesses he starts to argue with the manager on team selection which is a bit like Andy Turner telling Mark Robins which players to pick.
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That’s right! I also remember the club owner was described as being pretty shady to say the least.
 
Grendel

Grendel

Well-Known Member
fernandopartridge said:
In the book he talks quite a lot about the London Supporters Club, a bloke called Jonathan Strange in particular. I think Mr Strange was part of the Supporters Consultative Group, possibly the chair. I think Gekoski lived in London so perhaps he's still involved. Then again who knows? We've shed many a fairweather fan and i got the sense that he's one of those.
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I’d imagine strange helped write it - didn’t he write Keith Houchens biography?
 
Hobo

Hobo

Well-Known Member
Rick Gekoski? Shouldnt he be writing about Coventry Blaze? Or Chicago Cubs?
 
Gibbo

Gibbo

Well-Known Member
Best novel with a football theme
How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers won the FA Cup by J L Carr
It will take you not longer than a couple of hours. I read it once a year. Laugh and cry
 
JimmyHillsbeard

JimmyHillsbeard

Well-Known Member
Exit Stage Left said:
I think back in the late 1990s he was working at Warwick University, living in Leamington Spa and a regular visitor to Highfield Road. It seems he had a novel out last year and was recently on the panel judging the Man Booker Prize so he is quite well known in literacy circles. However he is now 75 and according to Wikipedia is living in Salisbury so I suspect his allegiance to the Sky Blues Army may have faded somewhat. I hope I'm wrong and he is still going to games because his book Staying Up came out around the time I started going to football matches. I also like the idea of a Ernest Hemingway type of American writer being a fan of our football club.
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Gekowski was indeed living in Leamington while working at the University of Warwick. The book is a good read but there are some really annoying mis-steps - he refuses to go to Bolton and misses our biggest away win for over a decade; and the entire pitch of the book (entitled ‘Staying Up’) is misplaced as we didn’t struggle against relegation, shd’ve won the FA Cup (which he really seems to misunderstand and underplays) and went on a 20 game unbeaten streak when he was really interested in the story of perpetual struggle.

And when Dion read the revelation that some people thought he had a large penis the book was withdrawn from sale in the club shop (it reappeared when Dublin moved to Vile the following autumn).
 
R

Rick Gekoski

Active Member
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the nice thoughts!
I’m still around, and still interested if chagrined by recent developments. I went to the playoff game at Wembley (with my friend Jonathan Strange) and it brought back happy memories of happier times.
To tell the truth I’m getting tired of football, the crazy money, the team-hopping players, the ludicrous world of oligarchs and billionaire owners. I much preferred watching the recent women’s World Cup. Proper football played in good spirit. Not so much of the ugliness that my former wife called detesterone.....
All best to you all,
Rick
 
BUSA

BUSA

Well-Known Member
Wish I could find a copy of your ccfc book. It was a great read but I lost it when I moved house ☹️
 
Houchens Head

Houchens Head

Fairly well known member from Malvern
You lost me at "I'm still around....". Who are ya?
 
O

oscillatewildly

Well-Known Member
How strange. I bumped into a former work colleague this afternoon at Leamington FC and he mentioned the book 'Staying up'. Altho I've got it (I've actually had it for nearly 20 years) I've never got round to reading it. But I did manage to recall the author as being 'Rick Gekowski'!
 
mrtrench

mrtrench

Well-Known Member
BUSA said:
Wish I could find a copy of your ccfc book. It was a great read but I lost it when I moved house ☹️
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You're not looking hard enough as there is a copy on my bookshelf. We can do "Hunt the Gekoski" if you like. Cold.
 
DannyThomas_1981

DannyThomas_1981

Well-Known Member
Rick Gekoski said:
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the nice thoughts!
I’m still around, and still interested if chagrined by recent developments. I went to the playoff game at Wembley (with my friend Jonathan Strange) and it brought back happy memories of happier times.
To tell the truth I’m getting tired of football, the crazy money, the team-hopping players, the ludicrous world of oligarchs and billionaire owners. I much preferred watching the recent women’s World Cup. Proper football played in good spirit. Not so much of the ugliness that my former wife called detesterone.....
All best to you all,
Rick
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I enjoyed the book many years ago Rik.
I would say to some of your points above though (crazy money/billionaire owners) that these are both very good reasons to actually show up at St. Andrews next season and support us - League 1 is a long way away from crazy money and a far more even playing field than the Prem. And without the glory hunters in the stands. Real fans and a closer connection with the team.
 
D

Deleted member 2477

Guest
Unless your our new 20 goal a season striker who gives a fuck.never heard of you and you went to the playoff final so what. Please tell me the significance of this post as im lost
 
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Terry_dactyl

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
oscillatewildly said:
How strange. I bumped into a former work colleague this afternoon at Leamington FC and he mentioned the book 'Staying up'. Altho I've got it (I've actually had it for nearly 20 years) I've never got round to reading it. But I did manage to recall the author as being 'Rick Gekowski'!
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Likewise. It’s been gathering dust on my shelf (along with a few dozen other books) for the best part of 20 years. Maybe this will be its year!
Nah.
Why can’t we try and get a Sunderlandesque Netflix doc made - not that I’ve watched that either. With all our off field shenanigans it’d be far more interesting. Plus I support cov so would find it doubly interesting. However, I would only watch it around someone else’s house...as I refuse to watch cov documentaries at home unless I’m living in cov. Which I’m not.
 
oucho

oucho

Well-Known Member
fernandopartridge said:
In the book he talks quite a lot about the London Supporters Club, a bloke called Jonathan Strange in particular. I think Mr Strange was part of the Supporters Consultative Group, possibly the chair. I think Gekoski lived in London so perhaps he's still involved. Then again who knows? We've shed many a fairweather fan and i got the sense that he's one of those.
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In the book, Rick keeps bumping into Strange, in fact IIRC at one point he describes JS at an an away game as 'leading a party from the London Supporters Club' ...which makes him sound like a tour operator rep. In fact, JS was a prominent member of CCLSC for many years and then chairman of that organisation for some time, too. In the last couple of years of his tenure as CCLSC chair, he became chairman of the old Supporters Consultative Group as well as being chair of CCLSC. When he resigned from the latter role, he continued alternating as chair and deputy chair of the SCG until that was disbanded midway through the 2016-2016 season. As far as I know, Gekoski isn't a CCLSC member and certainly isn't activily involved.
 
Grendel

Grendel

Well-Known Member
oucho said:
In the book, Rick keeps bumping into Strange, in fact IIRC at one point he describes JS at an an away game as 'leading a party from the London Supporters Club' ...which makes him sound like a tour operator rep. In fact, JS was a prominent member of CCLSC for many years and then chairman of that organisation for some time, too. In the last couple of years of his tenure as CCLSC chair, he became chairman of the old Supporters Consultative Group as well as being chair of CCLSC. When he resigned from the latter role, he continued alternating as chair and deputy chair of the SCG until that was disbanded midway through the 2016-2016 season. As far as I know, Gekoski isn't a CCLSC member and certainly isn't activily involved.
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Strange is an utter wanker
 
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