July 2022
ARTS DIARY
“Fields of Wonder is a well researched book that captures the heart of a team that dared to dream...” EDITED BY KELLIE BURCH EDIT@ULSTERTATLER.COM
Fields of Wonder book launch Guests were welcomed pitch-side at 2 Royal Avenue as Fields of Wonder, the latest publication from Blackstaff Press, was launched in style. Written by Belfast author and film director Evan Marshall, the book, which features a foreword by former international captain Martin O’Neill, tells the incredible untold story of Northern Ireland’s 1982 journey to the World Cup. Based on new interviews with many of the players, including Pat Jennings, Billy Hamilton, Sammy McIlroy, Gerry Armstrong, Jimmy Nicholl, John McClelland and Norman Whiteside as well as with manager Billy Bingham, who has sadly since passed away, this book is a vivid account of the team’s glory days. Fields of Wonder, which has been released on the 40th anniversary of the epic ‘82 World Cup odyssey, took years of research to complete and will be complemented with a film release later in the year. At the launch, Evan Marshall, who also wrote Spirit of 58 chartering Northern Ireland’s journey to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, was joined by guests including, Michael Cockcroft, a tour guide for the Irish FA Tours, and artist and curator of Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive’s Sinead Bhreathnach Cashell. The evening saw 2 Royal Avenue filled with memorabilia such as original football jerseys, scarves, posters and even a replica of the World Cup trophy, and featured a fascinating Q&A with Hugh Odling-Smee who probed Evan Marshall on the motivation behind writing the book and delved into the author’s obvious passion for the beautiful game. Fields of Wonder is a well researched book that captures the heart of a team that dared to dream and it even manages to bring a little bit of that magic from ‘82 to life on the page 40 years later. Available now in all good bookshops. The launch of Fields of Wonder took place on 30th May.
Evan Marshall.
Ian Lees and John Mills.
Lester Woof, Cate Turner, Michael Cockcroft, David Hand and Lee Purcell.
Evan and Dylan Marshall. 172
Sinead Bhreathnach Cashell, Hannah Gallagher, Paul McClintock, Bronagh McAtasney and Lisa Duggan.
Lee Egerton, Michael Conaghan, Jane Hardy and Christine Lees.
Evelyn Johnston, Gail Moore and Marie Vance.
