Tony Norman News Page

News Gallery

Ransom Publishing score with GOAL!

Goalkeeper David James reads one of his GOAL! books with a young fan.

Tony thoroughly enjoyed his work as creative consultant and writer on GOAL! an excellent new series of high/low reading books
for schools. Ransom Publishing combined closely with Portsmouth FC on this innovative project. England’s David James,
Nigeria’s John Utaka and England women’s international Rachel Yankey all wrote books for GOAL! and former England star
Gary Stevens supervised all the coaching books in the series.

To see David James talking about GOAL! link here… http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7587047.stm

To read more about GOAL! link here… GOAL! Football Reading Series

Arsenal & England Legend Rachel Yankey

Tony is delighted to be working with England Women’s soccer star Rachel Yankey.

Rachel has played over 80 times for her country and has won every major domestic honour with the Arsenal Ladies team.
She is also an excellent coach who enjoys passing her soccer skills on to young people.
In 2006 Rachel was awarded an MBE for her services to football.

“Rachel is a very exciting player,” says Tony. “She plays with style and grace and always gives 100% for her team.
She has achieved so much already and is the perfect role model for young people. I will be helping Rachel to develop
new projects in 2009, away from her playing career, and I’m really pleased to be working with such a talented young star.”

To book a personal appearance by Rachel Yankey please link here. Rachel Yankey

Young Ambassadors in South Africa

Tony’s really enjoyed his involvement with the exciting Young Ambassadors South Africa youth project, organised by the
British Council and Youth Sport Trust. Tony flew to Johannesburg to produce a CD celebrating the hugely successful
worldwide youth programme Dreams + Teams.

“I worked on the backing track for the Dreams + Teams song with Sy Ntuli, a South African record producer and some
fine musicians from Johannesburg. The lead vocals were provided by six Young Ambassadors from the UK and six from South Africa. None of them had been in a recording studio before, but they were brilliant and the record turned out really well and
will now be played at Dreams + Teams events all around the world, which is great.”

Tony also travelled out to Durban on South Africa’s east coast and visited several schools, where he saw the success of the
Young Ambassadors event at first hand. Since returning to the UK he has edited a book of text, poems, photographs and illustrations,
all provided by the students who took part.

“I’m very happy with the book,’ says Tony. ‘It truly reflects the spirit of this very special event”

Hear Teams + Dreams Rap

Tony’s own feelings about South Africa and the people he met there are expressed in the poem below:

The Stranger

I came here as a stranger.
A little nervous?
You could say that.
Uncertain? Yes, that too.
But I found smiling faces,
As warm and open as the endless plains,
Where zebra graze free beneath the African sky.
I found hands that held my hand in friendship.
As strong as the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
As deep as the cool, calm waters,
Where lion and elephant gather,
In the light of a brand new day.
In South Africa I found people
With warmth in their hearts
And eyes on the future.
When the time comes to leave them,
I’m sure to be sad.
But I know I’ll return
To the special land
That called a stranger
Friend.

Written on a bus journey from Johannesburg to Durban.

Tony with South African musician and record producer Sy Ntuli at the
‘Dreams + Teams’ recording session they co-produced in Johannesburg.

Alan Mullery Autobiography

Alan Mullery scores against West Germany in the 1970 World Cup Finals in Mexico

‘Alan Mullery – The Autobiography’ by Alan Mullery & Tony Norman, published by Headline, has been winning rave reviews.

Tony says, ‘Alan has an exceptional memory for detail. He paints pictures in words.
Whether he is talking about his childhood in war-torn London, winning the FA Cup with Spurs,
or scoring in the 1970 World Cup Finals for England, he brings it all brilliantly to life.
I’ve really enjoyed working with Alan on his life story and I’m very proud of our book.’

Reviewers have been quick to praise the book.

'Book of The Week… boils off the pages.'
THE SUNDAY TIMES

‘A lively, pacy read. It’s a shame that more ex-footballers’ memoirs aren’t like this.’
FOUR FOUR TWO, UK’s TOP FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

'A remarkable story.'
GLORIA HONEYFORD, HEAVEN & EARTH SHOW, BBC 1

'This one is a proper book.'
CHRIS EVANS, BBC RADIO 2, COMPARING ALAN’S BOOK TO OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS

'A fine book… a really good read.'
PAUL COYTE, CAPITAL GOLD RADIO

You can read the Sunday Times & Four Four Two reviews at the links below:

Sunday Times… www.timesonline.co.uk

Official Alan Mullery Website… www.alanmullery.com

Alan and Tony are developing new projects they can work on in the future.

New 2009 Album for Nicola Stevens

Tony is teaming up with South Coast record producer Michael Baldry to write songs for outstanding new singer, Nicola Stevens.
“Michael has signed Nicola to his record label,” says Tony. “She is very talented. Her first album will be something special.”

Tony's interview with Marc Bolan on new CD

Tony Norman’s work as a rock journalist is featured on the new Marc Bolan ‘Born to Boogie’ CD, which features music from Ringo Starr’s movie of T. Rex in their heyday. The double CD also includes a 12 minute interview from 1971, when Marc spoke to Tony about his
life and music. The interview was originally recorded for the Radio One show ‘Scene & Heard’. Tony says: “I knew Marc well.
The things I remember best about him are his bright mind, his humour and his love of life. I’m happy to be part of the new CD.
Hearing the interview again brought back good memories.

Van Gogh - A Modern Opera

Andrew Charity (left) and Paul Lynton (right) with soprano Sarah Moule and tenor James Dooley
after a recent successful concert at RSO St Luke's in London.

Tony is delighted to be developing his major work, Van Gogh – A Modern Opera,
with the help of classical conductor and pianist Andrew Charity.
Andrew has been a teacher at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London for over 20 years.

‘I was introduced to Andrew by my manager Paul Lynton,’ Tony explains. ‘I was very impressed when I saw
Andrew conduct a 30-piece orchestra at a concert Paul produced and directed at LSO St Luke’s in London.
Working with a musician of Andrew’s calibre on Van Gogh is brilliant from my point of view.
He is encouraging me to improve and enhance the work. Andrew sets the highest standards.’

‘Van Gogh - A Modern Opera is brilliant,’ says Paul Lynton. ‘We’ll see it on the British stage very soon.’

An exciting prospect.. watch this space!

A Christmas Carol By Candlelight

John Warwick as Scrooge in the Reduced Opera Company production.

Tony Norman's stage Musical, A Christmas Carol By Candlelight, is based on Dickens' classic story.
The show features nine new songs by Tony, plus a selection of traditional Christmas Carols.
The Reduced Opera Company have enjoyed two successful UK tours with the show.

'The Best of... Mobiles' CD Released

It’s 25 years since Eastbourne band The Mobiles hit the UK Top Ten with their song, ‘Drowning In Berlin’.
Now they are back with a superb ‘Best of…’ album.

‘I started out writing songs with the band,’ says Tony Norman, ‘ and ended up managing them with my good friend
Paul Lynton. It was exciting when their first single went to number nine in the national charts. I felt proud of them when
they went on ‘Top of The Pops’ and gave a superb performance, but it didn’t take me long to decide
I wasn’t cut out to be a pop group manager. Still, we all have happy memories of that amazing time.’

Tony co-wrote five of the tracks on the new ‘Best of…’ album. The sleeve notes, by former Mobiles’ bass guitarist David Blundell,
give interesting background stories to all 19 tracks on the excellent CD.
It’s out now on Cherry Red Records. Catalogue number CDM RED 309.

Tony writes for Stone Arch Books, USA

Nervous, Terror World, The Race of A Lifetime and Sky Bikers have all found success in the USA.
All four titles were first published in the UK by Badger Publishing

Stone Arch Books of Minneapolis will now be promoting these four titles to the school
and school library markets in the USA as part of an exciting new initiative.

Tony has also signed direct with Stone Arch Books to write a new ghost story.

Tony says: "It is very exciting to think of my stories being read by children across the USA."

Give Us Back Our Planet

Pictured at the Give Us Back Our Planet Poetry Workshops in Madrid (left to right) :
Pilar Medrano, Bilingual Projects Manager, Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport;
Tony Norman; Teresa Reilly, Bilingual Projects Manager, British Council, Spain;
David Blundell, Communications Manager, British Council Spain.

Give Us Back Our Planet is a new collection of children's poems and illustrations, edited by Tony Norman. Sponsored by the British Council in Spain and the Spanish Ministry of Education, the book covers major ecological themes including Wildlife in Danger, Climate Change and Water Pollution. The book has been produced by Richmond Publishing in Madrid. Tony opened this innovative project by heading two days of poetry workshops in Madrid for teachers from Spain and the UK. Pupils from 17 primary schools in
Spain and England then produced the poems and drawings that fill the book.

To read more about Give Us Back Our Planet visit Poetry

Tony’s Album released Worldwide on Internet

Tony Norman's latest album ' in BLUE ' is now released worldwide on the Internet.
"There are nine of my own songs on the album, plus another I wrote with Michael Baldry of Bluewave Records," says Tony.
" Michael has been the driving force behind the release of the album and I appreciate his belief in my music."
To hear tracks and buy your copy of ' in BLUE ' visit New Album

To read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s review of ' in BLUE ' visit USA Review

Georgie

The game is over now
The fans long gone
Taking home their memories
Of how you made them smile
With the thrill of it all

Knowing they had seen something special
As you danced through the mud and slashing studs
Future memories drawn on the frosty breath
Of a Winters afternoon

Now some stop at street corners
Stand on soapboxes and preach
About your weakness
About the wicked path that brought you down
As they always knew it would

You saw them long ago in a Bob Dylan song
And knew they’d never taste a single day
As sweet as those you knew so well
When the world was at your feet

And later – when that time was past
You sat and talked to strangers
In endless faceless bars
Wisdom and humour
In your clear blue eyes
Pretty girls still melting
To the warmth of your easy smile

Did they ever look past the mask
To see the truth inside?
Did you care anyway? Probably not
You always knew you’d be alone
Just beyond the reach
Of the ones who loved you

The game is over now
But they’ll remember you Georgie
Running free forever
On the stage you were born to grace