The official launch of David Hinchliffe’s new book, ‘They Walked on Water’ – the untold story of Wembley 1968, will take place on the 45^th anniversary of the match, which is still regarded as the most iconic in rugby league history.

David, the hugely respected former MP and lifelong rugby league fan and advocate, will be at the Cats Bar at the Rapid Solicitor’s Stadium, Wakefield on Saturday 11^th May from 11am along with some of the players from the Wakefield and Leeds sides who donned boots that never to be forgotten day, as Leeds triumphed 11-10 in controversial circumstances and monsoon conditions.

Bev Risman (Leeds and GB) and Ian Brooke (Wakefield Trinity and GB) will be speaking at the launch alongside the author.

“Although it has taken the best part of an adult lifetime, this was a book that I just had to write,” Hinchliffe said. “The game, and the injustices contained in it from my perspective, have been gnawing away at me ever since.”

“As a Wakefield fan, I was convinced that a major miscarriage of justice had taken place and that the focus on Don Fox’s dramatic missed kick at the end and accompanying Eddie Waring commentary that has gone into folklore was only a small part.”

“In looking at contemporary reports, gathering reminiscences and interviewing those involved, I uncovered tragedy and misgivings that reshape perceptions of that day. I might not have changed my mind about the fact that Trinity were robbed of the double but my perspective has altered and writing it has been a cathartic process after all this time.”

Over a dozen members of the Leeds and Wakefield playing squads from the 1968 Final have so far confirmed they will be present and many others who have also contributed to the book, including fans there on the day, will also be present.

The launch is open to members of the public and unique, signed copies of the book – priced at £13.99 – will be on sale.

Proceeds from the book are being donated to the Rugby League Benevolent Fund

Photographers & reporters welcome, review copies available

Historian and author Mick Pope will officially launch his new book ‘Headingley Ghosts’ – to coincide with the 150^th anniversary of Yorkshire Cricket – during play in Yorkshire’s home Championship game against Derbyshire, next Tuesday 30^th April from 10.30am, in the East Stand Long Room.

The book shares three common threads Yorkshire, cricket and tragedy.

Headingley Ghosts is a dark collection of over 60 Yorkshire cricket biographies, spanning more than 180 years of the game in the county.

From the Sheffield pioneers of the 1820s to the modern tragedy of David Bairstow, this haunting book – through original research and a wide selection of rare images – recalls what became of these tragic Yorkshire cricketers beyond the boundary.

They died young, they died old; they died in obscurity; they died in poverty; they died on the road, in the air and on the rail track; they died by their own hand; they died in war and they died fighting sickness – collectively they are Headingley Ghosts.

COVER PRICE: £14.99; ISBN 978-0956804396; PAPERBACK 336 PAGES

All reporters & photographers welcome.

Forty-20 retailer search

Look who popped into Philip Howard Books, Roundhay, Leeds – home of Scratching Shed Publishing Ltd – today! That’s right it’s David Milliband, future Prime Minister (he just doesn’t know it yet) and brother of current Labour leader Ed Milliband.

While he was in the shop, our own dear Ros Caplan couldn’t resist showing him a copy of the independent voice of rugby league. Welcome aboard, David!

Okay, so the review is written by Ian’s journalist son, Craig, but it’s still a goodie so here it is. The book is a match-by-match account of Blackpool’s one and so far only season in football’s Premier League. http://stortbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

After sixty years, Iby broke her silence about her extraordinary wartime experiences, surviving the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, and was featured in the BBC TV series My Story.

Iby’s talk is at the Otley Courthouse and begins at 2pm. Tickets, priced £6 or £5 concessions, can be booked here http://www.wegottickets.com/event/154650
Iby will talk about ‘the past is other countries’ and her book The Woman Without a Number.

What a hectic old time it’s been – hardly time to draw breath – and phew. One minute we are standing by the presses watching our latest offspring – Forty-20 Magazine – come to life, the next we’re on telly sat next to Look North‘s Harry and Christa promoting it.

Two issues in and we have to say the reaction has been beyond expectations. The subscriber numbers are more than double what we dared anticipate and cover around 100 different geographical locations across Britain and into France, Spain and Oz which sort of justifies our mantra about the spread of rugby league.

Adding the respected and esteemed Guardian columnist and local radio doyen Martin Kelner to the stable of great writers was a real coup for issue two, while Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, or Louie McCockney as he now refers to himself on Twitter, has increased the sale of QVC apps through his column. Louie is pictured above, hard at work.

With supermarket chain Asda coming on board and giving us near nationwide access in their stores, the magazine print run doubled between issues one and two which helped to bring on board Alton Towers as an advertiser. You’d think this was planned.

Not that the book front has been neglected, with York’s Greast Races proving to be a hit at the course and Ronnie Teeman’s legal and sporting meander A Lawyer for All Seasons also attracting media interest.

The veteran and venerable legal eagle of Leeds – who is still practicing and counts some of sport’s great names among his friends and clients – is set to appear on BBC radio in the north’s One on One programme this Friday, 19th August, an hour long Desert Island Discs-type format to discuss his life and career.

Waterstones in Leeds, where he is doing a signing on 24th September, have a display of his tome in the window and he has also been ‘booked’ (sorry) to appear on his old stamping ground, the Leeds University Law Society.

In addition, Mr T has been contacted by a long lost friend who he went to school and through university with, but has lived in London for years and came across his book by chance – ah, the power of the written word.

Also just published and going down a storm is Lee Crooks’ eagerly awaited autobiography, From Hull to Hell & Back.

The big man has been superb in answering the call of those wanting to interview him, including the Hull Daily Mail, Yorkshire Evening Post, Yorkshire Post plus stints on local BBC TV, Yorkshire Radio and Radio Leeds, where his honesty and candidness were captivating.

Launched with events in Hull and Castleford, and a signing in Waterstones Hull, Lee has been kept busier than when he used to face that great Wigan pack of the mid-eighties, and the signs are that isn’t about to change. There will also be a major feature on Lee and his autobiography, written in association with Vince Groak, in this year’s Wembley Challenge Cup final programme.

Thanks for supporting us, long may the indies flourish.

Phil & Tony

Online subscription

If old-fashioned ink and paper is not your thing, then from August 13th 2011, why not take out a subscription to our digital version?

As soon as Forty-20 is published – on the 13th day of every month – you’ll be able to read it online. A year’s subscription costs just £19.50 regardless of where in the world you watch your rugby league. Or you can take out a recurring three-issue subscription for just £5 a pop. That’s good news for your wallet and good news for the rainforests.

Visit exacteditions.com to see a free trial issue and then begin your free paid-for subscription from Saturday August 13.

AND COMING SOON: The Forty-20 iPhone and iPad app – available to buy through Apple’s App Store. Watch this space!

Along with local newsagents, a greater national spread of WHSmiths shops (actual stores TBC), several Super League clubs – and, of course, via subscription – Forty-20 will be widely available in ASDA from issue 2 (August 13). Here is a geographical breakdown of the ASDA stores who will stock the magazine.

ASDA
GATESHEAD; PETERLEE; SEAHAM; BISHOP AUCKLAND; MIDDLESBROUGH; SUNDERLAND;
BOLDON; BENTON; WASHINGTON; CRAMLINGTON;
HARTLEPOOL; GOSFORTH; DARLINGTON;
BLYTH; SPENNYMOOR; STANLEY; THORNABY;
STOCKTON; ASHINGTON; SOUTH SHIELDS

ADEL; MORLEY; HUDDERSFIELD; BRADFORD; DEWSBURY; WAKEFIELD; SHIPLEY; HARROGATE;
BARNSLEY; YORK; KILLINGBECK; PUDSEY; HALIFAX; KEIGHLEY; GLASSHOUGHTON

HESSLE; KINGSWOOD; CARCROFT; SCUNTHORPE; BILTON; CHAPELTOWN; HULL MT PLEASANT; GRIMSBY; SHEFFIELD; DONCASTER; ROTHERHAM

ASHTON; PILSWORTH; RADCLIFFE; CHADDERTON; WYTHENSHAWE; SHAW; TRAFFORD PARK; HYDE; EASTLANDS; ROCHDALE; HARPURHEY; STOCKPORT; HULME; LONGSIGHT

BOLTON; BARROW; BLACKPOOL; BURNLEY; FARNWORTH; BURNDEN PARK; LANCASTER; WIGAN; ACCRINGTON; PRESTON FULWOOD; CARLISLE; HORWICH; CLAYTON GREEN; BURY; BLACKBURN; KENDAL; COLNE; FLEETWOOD; RAWTENSTALL; WORKINGTON

GOLBORNE; LEIGH; LIVERPOOL BRECK ROAD; SEFTON; SOUTHPORT; AINTREE; HUNTS CROSS; WESTBROOK; SKELMERSDALE; WALTON; ST HELENS; BIRCHWOOD; BOOTLE; HUYTON

QUEENSFERRY; WREXHAM; ARROWE PARK; CREWE; RHYL; WARRINGTON;
RUNCORN; WINSFORD; BROMBOROUGH; LISCARD;
WIDNES; LLANDUDNO; ELLESMERE PORT

GRANTHAM; BURTON ON TRENT; LINCOLN; SINFIN; DERBY; MANSFIELD; WEST BRIDGFORD;
ARNOLD; HYSON GREEN; LONG EATON; SUTTON IN ASHFIELD; BOSTON; LANGLEY MILL

BRISTOL; LOWER EARLEY; SWINDON HAYDON; HEREFORD; LONGWELL GREEN; GLOUCESTER; BEDMINSTER; WESTON SUPER MARE; PATCHWAY; SWINDON; TILEHURST; TROWBRIDGE; FROME

CAERPHILLY; CARDIFF BAY; MERTHYR TYDFIL; CWMBRAN; TONYPANDY; BRYNMAWR; NEWPORT PILLGWENLLY; BRIDGEND; LECKWITH ROAD;
SWANSEA; BLACKWOOD; ABERDARE; CARDIFF; PENTWYN; LLANELLI;
NEWPORT; GORSEINON