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| 'Champ We Are United' creative team |
It is a great honor for Greek Unofficial Roy of the Rovers fan club
to publish the following interview with our dear friend Matthew Richards, one of the biggest supporters of British football
comic culture worldwide!
We Greek comic fans are very happy to contact people like you and your friends of Champ We Are United, having a real interest in football comic series. In Greece well known comic series are Roy of the Rovers (of course!), Eric Castel, This Goalie’s Got Guts (titled as The Doctor – Goalkeeper), Jon Stark - Match-winner for Hire, Limp Along Leslie, Bernard Briggs, The Goals of Jimmy Grant, Durrells Palace and Wayne’s Wolves, Hot Shot Hamish and Mighty Mouse, Billie’s Boots, Tommy’s Troubles, Mike’s Mini Men, Jack and Jimmy, Raven on the Wing, The Team that Went to War, The Hard Man, Kevin Cox etc.
- Except 2000AD & Judge
Dredd Megazine what other comics still exist in the U.K.?
- Answer: We still have the
famous “The Beano”, first published back in 1938 by DC Thomson, and
also there is one called “The Phoenix” which is positioned towards older
children 7-14, that’s been running since 2012. And from a “War stories”
sense DC Thomson still publish Commando books. There are other comics for
younger children, but they are tie ins with toys or TV programmes.
- How are things
about Roy of the Rovers new era? Hoping to see new stuff
soon or it’s the end of the story?
- Answer: From
what we hear and sense I sadly can’t see any new stories being published.
I’ve even noted that the 3rd episode of “Soccer Diaries”, the novels
regarding Rocky Race, has been delayed in being published, so all does not
appear well, but we live in hope!
- Are football comics
(comics, generally) famous among teenagers in the U.K. these days?
- Answer: Sadly no, there
are the ones already mentioned eg The Beano, 2000AD etc but I would think
a lot of the buyers are also adult comic collectors, unfortunately I think
the format is too dated for children or teenagers to read in big enough
numbers to make it viable for companies to be able to make a profit
nowadays.
- Do older British fans
collect comics of the past? Is it a hobby of low or high cost?
- Answer: Yes definitely many
do, there are a number of Facebook sites where you see people selling
comics, often in bundles of around £1 each….for individual copies you may
pay a little more, and collectors will buy them. I think it is a
relatively low-cost hobby, but of course it depends how many you
buy!
- What is your favorite
comic character, except Roy?
- Answer: That is very
difficult! It probably changes everyday! But I do have a soft spot for
Johnny Dexter ie “The Hard Man”, especially the early years from 1976 -
1980, but I have lots of other favourites such as Hot-Shot Hamish, Tommy
Barnes, Bobby Booth, Nipper, and of course all the Melchester Rovers
players! Blackie,
Vernon, Duncan, Mervyn etc etc
- Who is your beloved comic
artist?
- Answer: I would have to
say my friend David Sque, it has been a delight and honour to have
interviewed him a number of times, but then also there are many others
such as Yvonne Hutton, Barrie Mitchell, Tony Harding, Doug Maxted, Julio
Schiaffino, Paul Trevillion, Joe Colquhoun, Osvaldo Torta, Pete Foster and
Neville Wilson. So
many!
- In Greece (Athens mainly)
there are still some Subbuteo fan Clubs. Is this game always well-organized in
England?
- Answer: Yes it is! I
don’t participate, though I used to have a set back in the 70s, but it is
popular here, there are many Subbuteo fanclubs on Facebook. That is the
(positive) power of social media, many likeminded people can connect and
share their passions and hobbies.
- Would
you like to send a message to Greek football comic fans?
- Answer: Yes I would love
to! I love that Roy of The Rovers, and all British football comics and
characters are loved in Greece! To read for many years the fantastic Greek
Unofficial Roy of The Rovers I’ve always sensed the love that is there,
it’s fascinating hearing the differences in how you received the stories
and also what you took from them, ie the insights into British culture, I
guess it was slightly the same as when I read the “Asterix” books, which
in their own way educated me about France and other cultures (albeit 2000
years ago!
) and it is wonderful to connect, enjoy our
shared passions and be friends with you all!
