James Riordan
Encyclopedia
James Riordan is a retired English
novelist, broadcaster, association football player and Russian scholar.
Well known for his work Sport in Soviet Society, the first academic look at sport in the Soviet Union, and for his children's novels.
He claims to have been the first Briton
to play football in the former USSR, playing for FC Spartak Moscow
in 1963.
in 1955–57. In 1960, he graduated in Russian Studies at the University of Birmingham
, before qualifying as a teacher at the London Institute of Education.
In 1963, Riordan studied at the Communist higher party school in Moscow
; he was an avowed Communist, and was one of the few English students at the school. The foreign community there included English defectors Kim Philby
and Guy Burgess
, formerly of the Cambridge Spy ring.
It has to be noted that unfortunately Riordan's claim that he played for Spartak Moscow in 1963 does not actually stand up to any scrutiny. The games he describes do not bear any resemblance to any of Spartak's matches that season.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
novelist, broadcaster, association football player and Russian scholar.
Well known for his work Sport in Soviet Society, the first academic look at sport in the Soviet Union, and for his children's novels.
He claims to have been the first Briton
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to play football in the former USSR, playing for FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
in 1963.
Life and career
James Riordan learned to speak Russian during National Service training in the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1955–57. In 1960, he graduated in Russian Studies at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, before qualifying as a teacher at the London Institute of Education.
In 1963, Riordan studied at the Communist higher party school in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
; he was an avowed Communist, and was one of the few English students at the school. The foreign community there included English defectors Kim Philby
Kim Philby
Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby was a high-ranking member of British intelligence who worked as a spy for and later defected to the Soviet Union...
and Guy Burgess
Guy Burgess
Guy Francis De Moncy Burgess was a British-born intelligence officer and double agent, who worked for the Soviet Union. He was part of the Cambridge Five spy ring that betrayed Western secrets to the Soviets before and during the Cold War...
, formerly of the Cambridge Spy ring.
It has to be noted that unfortunately Riordan's claim that he played for Spartak Moscow in 1963 does not actually stand up to any scrutiny. The games he describes do not bear any resemblance to any of Spartak's matches that season.
Non-fiction
- Sport in Soviet Society (1977)
- Sport under Communism (1981)
- Sport in European Cultures (2002)
Children's novels
- Sweet Clarinet
- The Prisoner
- When the Guns Fell Silent
- Mistress of the Copper Mountain
- War Song
- The Match of Death
- The Gift
- The Sniper
- An Illustrated treasury of Fairy and Folk Tales
- Rebel Cargo
- The Woman in the Moon and Other Tales of Forgotten Heroines 1985 Dial ISBN 0-8037-0194-2
- The Twelve Labours Of Hercules