00:01Well I'm at the Wellington Pub in Birmingham with esteemed local historian Norman Bartlam
00:05and footballing legend Peter Wythe.
00:08We caught up with Norman a few months ago as he was writing his guide and book about the Sports
00:13Argus.
00:14Tell us Norman, we're at the day now of it publishing. Why did you want to write the book?
00:17Well I've always been a big fan of the Sports Argus which is the sports bible for the West Midlands
00:22wasn't it over the years and everybody must have memories of getting the Argus the Sport in Pink
00:28on a Saturday night to get all the latest football news and scores and results as they came in.
00:33It became a bit of a tradition and a bit of a legend but suddenly due to modern technology it
00:38closed
00:38and it's exactly 20 years ago this week, 20 years ago this week would you believe
00:43that the Argus finally closed when it was his very last edition which is this one here 13th of May
00:482006.
00:50So lots of people have always said we'd ought to have a book written about it
00:53and I thought well if you're going to do a book it might have been now to celebrate the big
00:58anniversary.
00:59And what's the response been like? You spoke to a lot of people who were involved I understand.
01:03Yeah I spoke to lots of sports people that were involved in it like Peter
01:07and lots of reporters and backroom staff that worked on the Argus.
01:12It's not until you start to delve into it you realise just what a big organisation it was
01:17and what a fantastic team effort it was on a Saturday night.
01:20First thing you did, get a bit of tea perhaps and then leg it straight down to join the queue
01:24in the paper shop
01:25to try and get hold of your Argus.
01:27Yeah and Peter I understand that after a game you'd have a lad come in with the Argus
01:31and it would be a hot read.
01:33Yeah it would.
01:34We would, of course when we finished the game we went in the players lounge
01:37to have a few beers and then all of a sudden he'd appear
01:41and it was like, oh Argus is here, come on.
01:45So we'd get the Argus and then we'd read through and see what the,
01:48some of the players would look, see what the stars they got,
01:51did they get eight or nine stars.
01:54But it was great to read.
01:56I mean it was fantastic because it just didn't cover your club,
02:01it covered all the clubs so you could find out about, you know,
02:04even the likes of Walsh or Wolves,
02:06you got all the spectrum of all the football clubs in the Midlands at the time.
02:11I remember you said to me that you used to find out a lot was going on
02:14at your club through reading it in the Argus.
02:17Yeah because you never found out anywhere else.
02:20So it was the prime source for news then.
02:22Now we've been lucky to catch you today because you told me earlier
02:25you now live in Perth.
02:28Yes, I've got children all over the world so I've got a son who lives in Dubai,
02:31I've got a son who lives in Perth but he's moving back to America
02:34and then I've got a son who lives here and my grandchildren as well.
02:38So I was trying to tie it up to seeing as many games as what I possibly can.
02:42And of course it was great going to the game the other day
02:45to see them get to the Europa final.
02:48So a long time since we got to the European final.
02:52Well it's a must-have read for anyone who loves Midlands sport.
02:56Gentlemen, thank you both for your time today.
02:58It's a pleasure.
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