Dick Knight - Mad Man: The Ad Man Who Saved Brighton

CONTENTS

Vision Sports Publishing

19-23 High Street

Kingston upon Thames

Surrey

KT1 1LL

www.visionsp.co.uk

Published by Vision Sports Publishing in 2013

Copyright Dick Knight

Print ISBN: 978-1-907637-58-2

Epub ISBN: 978-1-909534-21-6

Mobi ISBN: 978-1-909534-22-3

The right of Dick Knight to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Editor: Jim Drewett

Production editor: John Murray

Design: Doug Cheeseman

Front cover image: Artist Simon Dixon, commissioned by Alan Wares from an original photograph by Roz South

Ebook created by Palimpsest Book Production Limited, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

A CIP Catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

I remember once, quite early in my time as Albion chairman, thinking I should be keeping a diary about all this as I was thrust into the public spotlight far more than I had ever been as an internationally successful ad man.

I never did. But its remarkable how much we retain and how much came out as I opened up in discussions almost two years ago with my son David, and later Nick Szczepanik, Fleet Street football journalist and Albion fan, as my writing colleagues in this challenging task.

They were patient, persistent, memory-jogging, thought-provoking, deadline setting all the things needed to get the best out of me.

They got immersed hearing a new perspective on subjects they thought they knew, and stories and experiences that even David didnt know enough to even put up with my fastidious attention to detail which often drove them mad. Above all, they were faithful to my words. Thanks David for understanding and getting the whole thing started. And Nick, I cant thank you enough for helping me complete the story.

I also owe a huge debt to Tim Carder. However much of my story I remembered, I could always turn to Tims Albion Almanac, his amazing daily chronicle of all things Albion, to check the detail. The Albion historian is the most dedicated football fan I have ever met, and I am grateful that his narrative recording of our club has included the whole period of my watch, as well as before and since.

To Bill and Jan Swallow, whose design and editorial input during my time at the club was of the highest quality. And Bills wise counsel and advice has always been much appreciated.

Paul Samrah and John Baine were the unlikeliest leaders of the coalition of Albion fans the accountant and the would-be anarchist whose paths crossed for the worthiest of causes. Paul, the best chief executive I never had; John (aka Attila the Stockbroker), the poet in residence whose words had so much feeling.

To all the other fans who fought the good fight, who never gave up believing and who lent their weight where it was needed most: in the battle for peoples minds and against mind-numbing red tape.

I couldnt have done what I did without my trusted lieutenants: Martin Perry and Bob Pinnock. Martin was always at my side when we went into battle good cop, bad cop (our roles depended on the audience) and, considering our strike-rate, we were a pretty good forward line. And Bob, who set up the same financial controls and reporting systems we had at my ad agency, and who ensured that everyone knew where they stood on their budgets. Usually, it was on tiptoe.

The other directors Ray Bloom, Derek Chapman, Kevin Griffiths, Chris Kidger who helped me run the club; and to Norman Cook, Billy Brown and the other investors who helped us revive it. To the long-serving club staff Derek Allan, Sally Townsend, Edward David and Ian Carpenter, who got their mojo back; and other mainstays like Ian Andrews, Matt Hicks and Kevin Keehan who did so much good work.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Steve Ford and Alan Sanders, the people who made the Albions community scheme the envy of other clubs. Thanks guys, your leadership gave AITC staff great inspiration for a worthwhile cause.

Liam Brady gave me the inspiration to get involved in the Albion in the first place. The football legend never too big to help save a football club. Liam, its not just Arsenal fans who love you.

You all know how professional Des Lynam is as a broadcaster; well, he would deliver a voice-over of 18 pages of my script for a club video or DVD in less than an hour, with hardly a retake. Just the odd inflexion or emphasis change, usually at his suggestion. Ive directed a lot of famous v/os on commercials in my time, but no one beats Des for skill and perfect pitch. All for the Albion.

Film director on all those productions was Nick Apostolides, whose creative flair made the Albion highlights packages so watchable and solved many a Christmas present problem. Grateful thanks, Nick, especially for your film history of the club, a fascinating social record of the Albion through the decades with some rare early footage, which will be released on DVD soon and a must for Seagulls fans.

One ritual I always enjoyed was Withdean pre-match lunch at Topolinos with Des, Doug Hillman, Dess lifelong friend, and Mike Payne, cartoonist extraordinaire. Tracer bullets of wit and wisdom flew across the table, followed by our 1 score forecast bet on the game. We always let Des choose first. Great memories, great friends.

And finally, the person who stood alongside me throughout my Albion journey, my dear wife, Kerry. It was she who would listen patiently when I got home after a 0-0 draw away at Hartlepool, as I described every Albion near miss, while she had already seen on Match of the Day her idol, Thierry Henry, glide silkily through the entire opposition defence before gloriously slotting home. (Yep, shes a Gooner too!) Shes got stamina, my girl. Shes also got brains, and I cant tell you how many times her shrewd insights and reading of situations have helped me in the compilation of this book. Thank you darling, so much.

To the rest of my family. Enjoy. To Max, Sam, Emma, Louis, Natty and Daisy, never forget Brighton & Hove Albion is your club. You can tell your grandchildren about it.

Dick Knight

October 2013

What makes a man give up his lucrative business with frequent trips to New York, Los Angeles, Milan and Rome to take on the responsibility of an outfit which seemed to be on a downward spiral with little hope of success and where his travelling would now more likely involve adventures at somewhat less glamorous places like Rochdale and Darlington? Well, the answer is love, actually; you know that old commodity that we are constantly told is blind.