File 21 - Paul Fitzpatrick

1 minidisc, cd, 1 file, 8 AIFF files (414.5 MB)

Interview with Paul Fitzpatrick, sports journalist for the Guardian. Conducted by Andy Wilson on 30 October 2001. Also includes a data sheet containf biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.

Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):

Disc 1:
Track 1
00.40 Started at the Guardian in May 1966 (at the age of 24)
01.00 Previously worked for the cooperative wholesale society in the PR department
02.25 Always wanted to work for the sports desk
04.07 Description of 'stone subbing'
04.59 Example of a normal working day
06.00 First match covered was Rochdale vs. Brentford at Spotland Stadium

Track 2
00.10 Refers to the paper as 'part of the fabric of Manchester life'
00.46 Locals in Manchester felt the paper had been 'stolen' when it moved to London in 1976

Track 3
00.12 Not long after joining, the Guardian faced a financial crisis - possibility of a takeover by the Times
00.43 Moved to news subs for a brief time before returning to sports desk
02.20 Happy as a sports sub-editor earning £24 a week
03.19 Unsure whether to move to London with the paper in 1976, but failed to get a job elsewhere
03.38 Moved to London and within two years was covering England's cricket tour of Australia
05.50 Discusses previous cricket correspondents (Neville Cardus, Denys Rowbotham, John Arlott)
07.48 Sportsman who particularly stood out - Frank Hayes, Lancashire cricketer

Track 4
00.13 Northern soccer writer for the paper between 1976-1978
00.53 Offered to cover ruby league to escape from soccer (1977)
01.57 Never watched or played rugby before
02.50 4-5 years later wrote a book about rugby league (rugby league review 1982-83)
04.46 The only reporter at the time covering both cricket and rugby league
05.07 Talks about poor condition of the sports grounds, press boxes and facilities
07.06 1988 new technology and the Tandy (battery operated portable computer)

Track 5
00.07 Most memorable moment in cricket - 1981 Ashes series at Headingley

Track 6
Test

Track 7
00.03 Most memorable moments in rugby league - various
00.41 Discusses 1974 Guardian cricket team tour of India and 1978 tour to LA
02.24 Now 60 and still playing club cricket
04.31 Further details about the 1981 Headingley cricket match

Track 8
00.37 Appointed cricket correspondent in 1980
01.53 Resigned as cricket correspondent in 1982 - family commitments
03.11 Concentrated on the county cricket scene
03.19 Experience of covering overseas tours - Australia, West Indies
04.47 No regrets but grateful to take early retirement
05.05 In final years little satisfaction covering rugby league
05.55 How sports reporting has changed - emphasis now on speculative stories

Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository

Copyright: Guardian News & Media Ltd and Paul Fitzpatrick