saint peach Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 (edited) As a football writer and lifelong Southampton fan I have always felt there isn't enough coverage of football outside the Premier League. Every aspect of the game is analysed at the top level but the interesting stories lie in the leagues below. Therefore I have created Park Life - the antidote to the Premier League. http://issuu.com/simonpeach/docs/parklife The magazine was produced as part of my final degree project but now I am entering talks with publishers to get it onto the shelves. If you have a minute have a little read and let me know what you think that'd be great. There are some great stories - even if I do say so myself! Edited 12 June, 2009 by saint peach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 How strange I was thinking about the lack of coverage that lower league teams get, as I found it so very depressing that we are now League 1 on the BBC website and not Championship. It kind of hit home a little bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 I quite like it. Im not sure it will hit the all age groups. Could it not be combined with a mens lifestyle type of mag, a bit like a up market Nuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany S Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Simon - I am a writer myself albeit not a football writer - but that is an area I would love to get involved in. If you do get this up and running and would like contributions then fire me a PM dude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 That's pretty cool. Except for the letter from the arrogant Forest fan. Had they not had the fortune of attracting Clough to their club they would have acheived far less.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooohTerryHurlock Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 I quite like it. Im not sure it will hit the all age groups. Could it not be combined with a mens lifestyle type of mag, a bit like a up market Nuts ....... or razzle???? you could have a section called franny's football fanny.... with benali roving around looking for the latter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 ....... or razzle???? you could have a section called franny's football fanny.... with benali roving around looking for the latter Lol, he'd beaver away looking for some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonsaint1604 Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Alex Campbell from Nottingham is a bit of a smug ***** isn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 As a football writer and lifelong Southampton fan I have always felt there isn't enough coverage of football outside the Premier League. Every aspect of the game is analysed at the top level but the interesting stories lie in the leagues below. Therefore I have created Park Life - the antidote to the Premier League. http://issuu.com/simonpeach/docs/parklife The magazine was produced as part of my final degree project but now I am entering talks with publishers to get it onto the shelves. If you have a minute have a little read and let me know what you think that'd be great. There are some great stories - even if I do say so myself! Nice thread Simon, As there is so much publicity for the " Big Four " - it would be a pleasant change for those fans in the other 88 league sides to get some coverage. After all - once you've accounted for the 150,000 or so fans that follow the top sides every week, there really is some case for feeding some tidbits to the fans in CCC and Leagues 1 & 2 - after all many of them have been in (old) Div.1 and Premiership before - if not there currently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicko Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Nice one Simon, particularly liked the Barry Fry interview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 ....... or razzle???? you could have a section called franny's football fanny.... with benali roving around looking for the latter Bangers and Gash - a fit bird spread over the bonnet of a really crap car, on the side of a football pitch to keep it relevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 I quite like it. Im not sure it will hit the all age groups. Could it not be combined with a mens lifestyle type of mag, a bit like a up market Nuts The Sun already does that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 The Sun already does that. I havent seen a copy of the Sun for ages but last time I picked it up Page 3 had become very poor. The magazine needs a proper bit of glamour, not top shelf but at least a few pictures of some beauties Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonsaint1604 Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 how was your meeting? Fairly pointless really. I was 15 minutes late and I just said that I'm still not sure what to do. Also instead of GW there was a woman from milton park on the phone who didn't really say anything, but it was quite funny when paul basically introduced me to a phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 If 'Park Life' got published, I'd definitely buy it. Some good articles in there, well worth reading. Nice job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooohTerryHurlock Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Bangers and Gash - a fit bird spread over the bonnet of a really crap car, on the side of a football pitch to keep it relevant. Love that!!!! Could get Nicky Banger involved.... cound be banger was gash!!!(hoho only joking - used to like NB!) Thats already two features..... think we need a more catchy title though... Park life.... you wanna cut down on your pork life!!!! ...... Vinnies Balls. Where the soccer hardman/moviestar gives us his predictions for this weeks lotto numbers!!! .... still need the title though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 This is brilliant - top job Simon. you could get that sold in football league grounds i reckon if you pushed it. I'd pick one up from the megastore every week/month for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eharty9 Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 If 'Park Life' got published, I'd definitely buy it. Some good articles in there, well worth reading. Nice job! same! looks like a great mag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint peach Posted 12 June, 2009 Author Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Cheers for all the positive feedback. http://issuu.com/simonpeach/docs/parklife_reallives Here is a link to the supplement that would come with the magazine so, if you fancy, feel free to have a gander. Thanks once again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disintegration87 Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 thats pretty cool. I remember being super frustrated when saints got the points deduction and the only story anybody was covering was the second coming of Shearer. Would be great to have a magazine focusing on the lower leagues. Hopefully in the next issue you could cover how the new Saints Chairman (Le Tissier) and manager (Keegan) are planning to take Saints to the champions league within 5 years!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morph Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Great idea, great read. Hope you find a publisher. I would definately subscibe to this. Regards Morph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
so22saint Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Simon, PM me your email address. Last year (and it's the last time I post this I promise) I helped build goalrun (http://www.goalrun.com) which uses the data from football.mitoo.co.uk (I also migrated this to a new server so if anybody here plays on the lower leagues and has noticed that it's now both fast and stable, that was me!) Anyway, the owner of Goalrun would be interested in this I'm sure and I'd be happy to introduce you. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee_saint Posted 12 June, 2009 Share Posted 12 June, 2009 Jesus Si! You seem to be doing well mate! Anyway, best ground in non-league, has to be Gravesend surely fella? Doing into the ground through a scrap-yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaroid Saint Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 Really like it Si. Top notch. Could be a little less busy at times; As an layout guy myself, I find (when the editor or client feels the need to run one) that reader surveys often come back with the same comments regardless of the mags subject, one main comment being that they always want more 'white space' - personally I like a magazine stuffed to the brim, but a little extra space does add a touch more class I guess...) EDIT: Just looked at the supplement mag - that's what I mean about space! I guess the sense of 'Branding' (obviously required for the advertising supplement) could be adapted and brought over to the proper mag a bit?!? Dunno, at the moment it's defo pitched at the right weekly mag market at the moment. I think both work really well, I really hope you get a backer. I do have a few contacts, so I'll send the link on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain saint Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 Nice! certainly a good read. Would definatly subscribe if you had overseas subscription. Wish you good luck for the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bounder Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 I like it, could be just what the lower leagues need, that is as a fact where most of the footie is played in this country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbattigger Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 In view of the fact that there are a lot of female supporters maybe a 'player of the month' to go alongside 'wag of the month'? Certainly a mag I'd buy Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangermouth Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 Hi Si. Dunno what marketing you've done, but there might be room for you to consider these things (some of which have been alluded to): layout, typeface, presentation overall. Marketing and especially distribution e.g. do you want to start selling at grounds through their outlets; sell to people who visit fora like this one or a wider audience, put in longer articles for those who'll like them, etc? Number of pages and advertising - again all tied into marketing. I would guess you've done a bit of this having done journalism at uni (Sheffield's quite a good one for that, isn't it; rankings-wise, anyway) but it has to be asked why some publisher hasn't taken this niche before? It must have been thought of (not saying it's a bad idea), but I assume you'd like this as a first step in your career, no, so what I'm saying in essence is that I think the finished article could be quite a bit more. No point in trying to compete with Nuts et al head on and the publishers would agree, probably. Then consider branding (if you go that far) and how often you'll need to freshen it up. Certainly controversial letters/columnists can keep readers coming back. Is it football only or are there other things you can put in? How will this work as a monthly/weekly and what about during summer months? How do you compete against, for example, Soccer AM and club programmes which are indirect competitors. Etc.... Personally, it's something I might glance at while at the dentist's, but after you've heard one footballer saying they like r 'n' b, blondes with big t'ts and Italian food .... Anyway, good luck with this; looks like it has a future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 As a football writer and lifelong Southampton fan I have always felt there isn't enough coverage of football outside the Premier League. Every aspect of the game is analysed at the top level but the interesting stories lie in the leagues below. Therefore I have created Park Life - the antidote to the Premier League. http://issuu.com/simonpeach/docs/parklife The magazine was produced as part of my final degree project but now I am entering talks with publishers to get it onto the shelves. If you have a minute have a little read and let me know what you think that'd be great. There are some great stories - even if I do say so myself! I'm not buying it - someone says we are home as we used to play in a cow shed! Honestly though - very good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 Nice one, saint peach. Good luck with it. But make the strap line 'ANTIDOTE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE' much bolder (above or below PARK LIFE) -important selling point imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 13 June, 2009 Share Posted 13 June, 2009 Nice one, saint peach. Good luck with it. But make the strap line 'ANTIDOTE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE' much bolder (above or below PARK LIFE) -important selling point imho. ANTEDOTE... - important sPelling point imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint peach Posted 13 June, 2009 Author Share Posted 13 June, 2009 Thanks all for your positive response. I'll be following up with it in the next few weeks and will mak a start on the next edition. Jesus Si! You seem to be doing well mate! Anyway, best ground in non-league, has to be Gravesend surely fella? Doing into the ground through a scrap-yard. Cheers mate, it has been a while. Gravesend was easily the worst place I've ever been! Although I seem to remember the pre-match kebab was pretty good. Hi Si. Dunno what marketing you've done, but there might be room for you to consider these things (some of which have been alluded to): layout, typeface, presentation overall. Marketing and especially distribution e.g. do you want to start selling at grounds through their outlets; sell to people who visit fora like this one or a wider audience, put in longer articles for those who'll like them, etc? Number of pages and advertising - again all tied into marketing. I would guess you've done a bit of this having done journalism at uni (Sheffield's quite a good one for that, isn't it; rankings-wise, anyway) but it has to be asked why some publisher hasn't taken this niche before? It must have been thought of (not saying it's a bad idea), but I assume you'd like this as a first step in your career, no, so what I'm saying in essence is that I think the finished article could be quite a bit more. No point in trying to compete with Nuts et al head on and the publishers would agree, probably. Then consider branding (if you go that far) and how often you'll need to freshen it up. Certainly controversial letters/columnists can keep readers coming back. Is it football only or are there other things you can put in? How will this work as a monthly/weekly and what about during summer months? How do you compete against, for example, Soccer AM and club programmes which are indirect competitors. Etc.... Personally, it's something I might glance at while at the dentist's, but after you've heard one footballer saying they like r 'n' b, blondes with big t'ts and Italian food .... Anyway, good luck with this; looks like it has a future. Cheers for the advice, mate. I too would have thought it would have done before but, from research, it seems it hasn't and there is market for a feature based magazine on the lower leagues. I agree with you that we've all heard about footballers who come out with same ol' cliches about blondes, food and the like. But this is about unearthing the real characters of the game, exposing stories that people want to read. Personally, I'd much prefer to read about a wheeler dealer like Barry Fry then listening to a Premier League player spouting PR rubbish. Hopefully we can show there is still some heart in the game whilst providing a product people want to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notjon Posted 15 June, 2009 Share Posted 15 June, 2009 Think as a Saints fan you might have used your presumed editorial power to either change or chop the Forest fan`s bile. Love the idea best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 15 June, 2009 Share Posted 15 June, 2009 great idea, really enjoyed reading it, although I far prefer printed magazines to electronic versions but maybe I'm just getting old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 15 June, 2009 Share Posted 15 June, 2009 Really good read & well laid out. Easy on the eye. Certainly got my attention. If you could consistently keep that standard going, then I would buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint peach Posted 19 June, 2009 Author Share Posted 19 June, 2009 Simon, PM me your email address. Last year (and it's the last time I post this I promise) I helped build goalrun (http://www.goalrun.com) which uses the data from football.mitoo.co.uk (I also migrated this to a new server so if anybody here plays on the lower leagues and has noticed that it's now both fast and stable, that was me!) Anyway, the owner of Goalrun would be interested in this I'm sure and I'd be happy to introduce you. Jim Jim, I tried to PM you but it seems I can't, for one reason or another. My email address is simonpeach@hotmail.com so if you could forward me any feedback that'd be great. great idea, really enjoyed reading it, although I far prefer printed magazines to electronic versions but maybe I'm just getting old. Cheers for that, Chez. Rest assured that it'll be a printed product - it was just so I could get people to read it that it is online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Luke Posted 19 June, 2009 Share Posted 19 June, 2009 I think I'd buy it. Sent it around for comment from other mates, see what they think. I agree about the Forest fan. Wait till you come back down next year fella! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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