Author Ryan Baldi reveals his sportswriting and interviewing tips.

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Ryan Baldi wrote books about two all-time great Premier League teams: Arsene Who? The Story of the Wenger Revolution (the paperback has just been released) tells the story of Arsenal's 98 Double; and They Always Score: The Unforgettable, Improbable, Iconic Story of Manchester United’s Treble Winners is a detailed portrait of that season.

Both books came out in October 2023. Both are excellent. I wanted to find out how he did it. So, I asked him. Our conversation covers some of the below topics.

- Time management: how Ryan managed to bring up a young family, write two books at once and still catch Boston Celtics game late at night

- Structure: whiteboards, flashcards, folders - how Ryan plotted out his own book-writing ‘double’

- Interviewing: how Ryan lands big interviews; and, when he does, how he manages to get the best material

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com

'Between the Lines' is now known as 'The BackPage' and is part of our wider offering. Sign up to receive all our audio and written updates

*** SUBSCRIBE TO 'THE BACKPAGE' NOW ***

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com

John Greechan's top tip - get as close to the story as possible (featuring Maradona and a trip to Buenos Aires)

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Welcome to the second episode in the new season of Between the Lines. This is Martin's chat with John Greechan on his excellent new Ange Postecoglou biography.

As always, we discuss process and explore John's research trip to Melbourne earlier this year.

Enjoy

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To celebrate the publication of Andriy Shevchenko's autobiography, My Life, My Football, we break down the story behind the book: why it took three years for the English language edition to reach bookstores, the significance of the war in Ukraine, what matters most to an elite footballer like Shevchenko when he tells his story, and what happens when you get two world-class strikers in the same room.

This episode features Martin and Neil from BackPage and the Ballon d'Or of translation, Mark Palmer.

Find out more about Sheva's book, including where to buy it, here.

Find out more about our cover designer, Kulbir Gharra

Michael Cox's Athletic piece on Shevchenko, My Game in My Words

Gary Lineker's interview with Shevchenko

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In this episode, Neil and Martin talk to Mark Palmer, the translator of The Immortals, Arrigo Sacchi’s memoir of Milan’s 1988-89 season, which ended with the first of two back-to-back European Cup triumphs for the great team of Baresi, Maldini, Rijkaard, Gullit and Van Basten.

The Immortals brings to life the training diaries of Sacchi and captures in time one of the greatest club teams in football history.

In this interview, we talk about why this – and not an earlier Sacchi autobiography – was the right one for us; Mark’s task in bringing the eccentricities of Arrigo Sacchi to life; and what happened when we went to Sacchi’s hometown to meet the man himself.

Buy The Immortals here. 

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Author Daniel Gray and photographer Alan McCredie toured Scotland collecting pictures and that form a charming and true portrait of football in that country, from a European night at Ibrox to the Highland League.

This is Martin's conversation with Daniel about how he and Alan found their subjects and what he learned from his travels.

Find out more about Snapshot and Nutmeg, the Scottish football periodical that Martin and Daniel mention, here.

And please also check out the new BackPage title on Liverpool's Premier League campaign, At The End Of The Storm

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Returning to Between the Lines is Ben Reiter, author of Astroball, to talk about how the story he reported took a shocking turn - and how he went after it in a brilliant new six-part podcast, The Edge.

The incredible rise of the Houston Astros from the worst team in baseball to world champions is the story that made Ben's name. When, in November 2019, news of a cheating scandal engulfed the organisation and tarnished their achievements, Ben decided he had to return to the story to discover what happened and what, if anything, he had missed.

The result is, in our opinion, the sports podcast of 2020 and you don't need to be a baseball fan to understand or enjoy it.

Finally, please check out our latest title, produced in association with The Athletic: At The End Of The Storm - stories from Liverpool's historic title win. It's the perfect gift for the Liverpool fan in your life - and it's out now.

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Henry Winter returns to Between The Lines to talk about an interview he did with Nigel Pearson, in which the two men went hiking across Dartmoor and swam in a chalk pit. It makes for great copy and is testament to Winter's skill at relationship building and what he sees as the power of The Times, under whose masthead he writes. Aspiring and developing sportswriters listen up - Henry's breakdown of his intro to this piece is a lesson from the best in how to set up what he calls 'the shop window'.

Finally, please check out our latest title, produced in association with The Athletic: At The End Of The Storm - stories from Liverpool's historic title win.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com