I had the immense pleasure to spend an afternoon and evening with these two incredible men.
Their forthright, considered and moving interviews helped make the opening chapter of 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 an absolute honour to write
t.co/QvnwtWOMmf

The pair put Racing ahead v Elche but at half-time they were met by armed police in the dressing room.

Repercussions were swift: they were fined, socially vilified and faced credible death threats.

Aitor sent his family back to Bilbao, Sergio slept with a gun by his bed.

Troubled by the morning's events as they prepared for their game the following day, two Racing Santander players – Aitor Aguirre and Sergio Manzanera - decided to make a humble gesture of protest. They would take the field at El Sardinero wearing black armbands.

As Franco ailed and Spain nervously awaited change, the regime grew ever more repressive, ramping up tariffs for crimes deemed 'against the state'.

Despite international protests and even pleas from the Vatican for clemency, the executions went ahead.

Gracias amigo!

Available in all good shops — and even some bad ones.

It’s lived in my head for so long but now it’s out there. My biggest hope is that people read it and enjoy it. So to anyone who takes the time and effort to do so, I hope you like it. Let me know what you think!

Never thought there would come a day when I released a book — even at many points while writing it!

So, an absolutely huge thank you to all of the people who so generously shared their stories. Too many to mention in a tweet — I hope I’ve done them justice.

These are the stories Spanish football forgot — political, personal, bizarre and deeply human.

𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 is out September 8th and available to pre-order now 📘

www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Ti...

Plus:
- The boardroom heroes who defied ETA and Galicia's drug cartels
- Cruyff’s surreal stint at Levante
- The Blackpool lad who became Spain’s voice of football
- The Cádiz carnival icon who gave the city's football club it's anthem

Among other stories, you'll find:
- The team-mates persecuted by Franco for a humble protest.
- The fastest winger in the land who became a Nazi spy
- A boy abandoned at an orphanage who became a rebellious star
- Two talents caught in a deadly hotel fire

A massive thank you to all the people who shared their stories and memories with me.

Also thanks to some very nice people that have said some very nice things about it.