Linekers Uno - a book. Can you help?

[Linekers Uno]

Hello. Long time lurker here. 

 

I'm a writer from Leicester, currently working on a book with the working title "Lineker's Uno".

 

Inspired by that photo of Gary posing awkwardly with a Fiat Uno stickered up with Kilby Bridge, it's the story of football clubs and their car sponsorship deals, c.1970 to 1999. As a bit of background info, I have written a few books, they're usually about shonky motoring cack, written in a self-deprecating style. I also write for a few car mags. My first city match was the 1997 league cup final, versus Middlesbrough, at Wembley. I remember accidentally running my uncle over with our van on the way home. It was an eventful day. I'm not arsed about Ronaldo's Lamborghini (or whatever) but stuff like Ipswich's Sergei Baltacha driving a Lada, and Shearer posing with his stickered-up Rover. I wish I had the budget to pay Getty £300 a pop for pics, but I don't, and I'm more interested in lower league clubs, less fashionable players, and (being brutally honest), crap cars. I'm currently waiting for a call back to hopefully interview the chap who handed Lineker the Uno keys, but it looks like he's busy trying to stop getting his pub pulled down, or something. I have about 70 (!) other player/sponsorship stories to finish off, but the Lineker one is the unicorn. Am in touch with the LCFC archivist already, by the way. Slow progress on that front. I have an address for Lineker (no reply from his agent) but am a bit reluctant to contact him until the book is ready for print. Maybe he'll give an interview if I get lucky. Writing is easy, the research is the challenging (and fun) part...

 

So - If you ever saw a Derby player in his sponsored Saab, or can share some unprintable anecdote about some Forest player putting his car in the Trent, or something, then I'd like to hear about it. Above all - did you ever see Gary in that Uno? 

 

Not sure of the posting rules on here but I can share more on the book if this of interest, and/or when it goes to print (if that's permitted). Aiming for Christmas, rather optimistically. 

 

Cheers.

Edited 22 September by Linekers Uno

[boots60]

The chap who ran Fiat, Kilby bridge, back then was Frank Melrose, brother of City's , Jim Melrose if thats any help.

Other notable footballers with 'normal' cars

were our own N'golo Kante who drove a mini & Jurgen Klinnsman who had a VW beetle.

[SkidsFox]

You may be onto something with this subject. Try other fans forums as there may be other car related gems.

Also try contacting other writers in football (may have to restrict yourself to Leicester links).  Here's an example, Andy Wells at  https://www.conkereditions.co.uk/product/getshirty/  (a great read btw)

[CosbehFox]

Have you reached out to his old agent Jon Holmes?

[Linekers Uno]

11 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Have you reached out to his old agent Jon Holmes?

15 hours ago, Linekers Uno said:

Lineker (no reply from his agent)

[Linekers Uno]

Thanks for the replies so far. Am trying to get hold of a chap called Mortimer who ran Kilby Bridge garage and is still a Director of Protheroes, and a pub called Nautical WIlliam which, I think, is about to be demolished according to the news. Mortimer is the chap who gave Lineker the keys on the pitch. 

 

Thanks to @boots60 for the tip on Melrose. I did not know that.

 

Just to say - I'm interested in sponsorship deals, not just players own personal cars, cheers

 

PS - The image which prompted this book. 

 

 

Edited 23 September by Linekers Uno

[Linekers Uno]

This is nearing fruition now. Jimmy Hill’s Talbot Tagora is an unlikely highlight.

[Linekers Uno]

This book is getting heftier by the day. Am waiting for a response from Mr Lineker on his possible contribution to this book, Cloughies Forest team once each got a Toyota Celica for free, and a disturbing amount of lower league clubs in the '80s gave their players Ladas. I had also not appreciated what a character Frank Worthington was. Still happy to hear of anyone's memories of players and their cars. Have a pic of Peter Beardsley posing with his Renault 11 while I type away here....