Martin Knight
Encyclopedia
Martin Knight is a British author born in Epsom
in Surrey in 1957 mainly associated with working class culture and football literature. In 1999 "Hoolifan" and "The Naughty Nineties" were released; both books dealing with the subject, culture and history of football hooliganism. Knight was co-author with Martin King whose hooligan memoirs form the core of the books. As partners, Knight and King produced "On the Cobbles" the story of Jimmy Stockin a renowned gypsy prize fighter, "Ossie - King of The Bridge" - the autobiography of Chelsea
footballing legend Peter Osgood
and "Grass" covering the exploits of major drug smuggler and Howard Marks
' cohort Phil Sparrowhawk.
In 2000 Knight produced his first novel "Common People" being a thinly disguised autobiography. In 2003 he collaborated with George Best
on his final memoirs before his death, "Scoring At Half Time". In 2004 "The Real Mackay" was released being the autobiography of Spurs, Derby and Scotland football hard man Dave Mackay. During 2006 saw the launch of "Battersea Girl" a partly fictionalised account of Knight's grandmother and an autobiography of Chelsea, Dundee
and Aberdeen
maestro Charlie Cooke
.
In partnership with author John King
, London Books was launched in 2006. King and Knight edited the company's first title "The Special Ones", a collection of memories and opinions of Chelsea fans and in 2007 books by vintage authors Gerald Kersh
, James Curtis and Alan Sillitoe
were republished. In 2009 "Gypsy Joe: Bareknuckle Fighter and Professional Golfer" was selected by The Observer
as their Sports Book of the Year.
His next book, We Are Not Manslaughterers (2010), deals with the events surrounding the Epsom Riot
of 1919.
Knight also had a long business career starting as a library assistant at the Financial Times
and then working for Arab Banking Corporation in Bahrain before founding Presswatch Media now part of TNS
and co-founding Precise Media which was sold to 3i
in 2005.
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
in Surrey in 1957 mainly associated with working class culture and football literature. In 1999 "Hoolifan" and "The Naughty Nineties" were released; both books dealing with the subject, culture and history of football hooliganism. Knight was co-author with Martin King whose hooligan memoirs form the core of the books. As partners, Knight and King produced "On the Cobbles" the story of Jimmy Stockin a renowned gypsy prize fighter, "Ossie - King of The Bridge" - the autobiography of Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
footballing legend Peter Osgood
Peter Osgood
Peter Leslie Osgood was an English footballer who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best remembered for representing Chelsea and Southampton at club level, and was also capped four times by England in the early 1970s.-Chelsea:Born in a small road named Kentons Lane in Windsor, Osgood...
and "Grass" covering the exploits of major drug smuggler and Howard Marks
Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks is a Welsh author and former drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug...
' cohort Phil Sparrowhawk.
In 2000 Knight produced his first novel "Common People" being a thinly disguised autobiography. In 2003 he collaborated with George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
on his final memoirs before his death, "Scoring At Half Time". In 2004 "The Real Mackay" was released being the autobiography of Spurs, Derby and Scotland football hard man Dave Mackay. During 2006 saw the launch of "Battersea Girl" a partly fictionalised account of Knight's grandmother and an autobiography of Chelsea, Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
and Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
maestro Charlie Cooke
Charlie Cooke (footballer)
Charles 'Charlie' Cooke is a former Scottish footballer. He was a talented and skilful winger who played for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace before ending his career in the United States....
.
In partnership with author John King
John King (author)
John King is an English novelist who has written a number of books which, for the most part, deal in the more rebellious elements driving the country’s culture. His stories carry strong social and political undercurrents, and his debut The Football Factory was an instant word-of-mouth success. It...
, London Books was launched in 2006. King and Knight edited the company's first title "The Special Ones", a collection of memories and opinions of Chelsea fans and in 2007 books by vintage authors Gerald Kersh
Gerald Kersh
Gerald Kersh was a British writer. Born in 1911, he began to write at the age of 8. After leaving school he worked as, amongst other things, a cinema manager, bodyguard, debt collector, fish & chip cook, travelling salesman, French teacher and all-in-wrestler whilst attempting to 'make it' as a...
, James Curtis and Alan Sillitoe
Alan Sillitoe
Alan Sillitoe was an English writer and one of the "Angry Young Men" of the 1950s.. He disliked the label, as did most of the other writers to whom it was applied.- Biography :...
were republished. In 2009 "Gypsy Joe: Bareknuckle Fighter and Professional Golfer" was selected by The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
as their Sports Book of the Year.
His next book, We Are Not Manslaughterers (2010), deals with the events surrounding the Epsom Riot
Epsom Riot
The Epsom Riot occurred when about 400 Canadian soldiers rioted and attacked the police station at Epsom, England on June 17, 1919 resulting in the death of Station-Sergeant Green, a British police officer, who died of his injuries the following day....
of 1919.
Knight also had a long business career starting as a library assistant at the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
and then working for Arab Banking Corporation in Bahrain before founding Presswatch Media now part of TNS
TNS
TNS can stand for:* Taylor Nelson Sofres, a market research company* Tao Nan School, a primary school in Singapore* Taran Noah Smith, an American actor* Temporal noise shaping, an audio encoding technique* The Natural Step, a sustainability framework...
and co-founding Precise Media which was sold to 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
in 2005.