The published work of a Lanarkshire author provides an alternative insight into football, music, and politics.
Andy Bollen, from Coatbridge, has penned five books, including The History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects , and another about Johan Cruyff’s year with Feyenoord – bitter arch-rivals of Ajax.
If those are not alternative enough, the 55-year-old’s debut book was about his time touring with Kurt Cobain’s Nirvana .
Andy started life in Bellshill, but was brought up and educated in Airdrie. He attended St Margaret’s High and “always fancied” a career in journalism.
His route into writing for a living was unusual, starting with the beat of the drum to comedy.
He was drummer and backing vocalist with the band Captain America who became Eugenius, after comic book giant Marvel sued over the band's use of the superhero name.
Guitarist and singer Eugene Kelly was a former founder of The Vaselines, a band which Cobain admired and invited on tour with Nirvana .
“Yes, that always sounds a bit far-fetched and wild,” Andy told Lanarkshire Live. “It was all quite tame and sensible really.
"By then I wanted to be a writer, so I kept a diary and years later was convinced to write about it.”
The book, 'Nirvana: A Tour Diary,' was published in 2013 and recalled his time on the road with the grunge rockers.
“It’s a story of being up close on the road with them, capturing their kindness, sense of humour and fun as they were having a hit single,” Andy continued.
The Nirvana frontman’s real persona was far removed from the media’s portrayal, but that doesn’t suit the narrative, according to Andy.
He added: “The Kurt we knew was fun to be around, generous, and mischievous when he got bored. I was interviewed for the recent BBC Nirvana documentary, but refused to tune into the tragic icon crap.
"I don’t really do showbiz. They used people who weren’t there and details were wrong. I wasn’t used,” Andy laughs.
Long before the Nirvana book Andy’s love of music, football and having a laugh had led him into writing comedy. He’s written for BBC shows Only an Excuse? and Off the Ball for more than two decades, as well as others including Chewin' the Fat .
When work dried up, Andy turned his creative hand to the Nirvana book, and followed it with a satirical Kindle release about a fictional First Minister of Scotland; Sandy Trout .
“I would still love to be writing gags but the outlets stopped so I put the work I spent on that into books,” he said.
His latest release A History of European Football in 100 Objects: The Alternative Museum , covers a wide range of curious events in football, from fascism to a killer oyster, and Franco winning the pools to a pig’s head on the pitch during El Classico.
It’s his second book in less than a year, following on from Fierce Genius: Cruyff’s Year at Feyenoord .
Cruyff went on to win the league and cup double with the Rotterdam rivals of Ajax being gently pushed out the door of the Amsterdam club where his name is synonymous.
“It’s been a busy time,” admits Andy. “I suppose when everyone else was watching Tiger King I was writing about Johan Cruyff and the chaos of European football.
"The end result has meant two books out in a calendar year. Which is quite cool but it also suggests I don’t have much of a life.”
The new book is a natural successor to Andy’s earlier work; A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects: The Alternative Museum, inspired by a visit to the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden.
Andy said: “I kept thinking this is brilliant but where’s the below the counter stuff they don’t want us to know about?
“Scotland’s a small country but is mad not just about football, but the culture around it – pies, football programmes, radio phone-ins, podcasts.”
Not content with releasing two books in a year Andy is working on two more.
“So I won’t be out much until 2025,” he joked.
The new book released by Pitch Publishing is available at bookstores and online in hardback and Kindle form.
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