Some authors wait years to get a book published, but a retired Kent journalist managed it at the first attempt.

“Hopefully, I spotted a gap in the market,” said Tony Rickson, whose book, Gooaal! The Joy of Football Celebrations, was released on Monday.

“The clue as to what it’s about is in the title,” he added. “Football books are a fiercely competitive field, but I think I’ve hit on something that hasn’t been tackled before and lends itself to a fairly light-hearted and fun treatment.

“After all, celebrations are such an important part of a game’s entertainment.

"Everyone remembers Peter Crouch and his robot celebration after scoring for England.

"But what was the goal like that he’d just scored? Did England even win the game? When we forget the match but remember just that one moment that’s what makes for a great celebration.”

The book features well over 200 celebrations, the majority English but also with a strong international flavour.

Most are funny, many tell a story, while others are controversial, poignant or even painful when the celebrations go over the top.

Tony spent his whole working life as a journalist with regional and local newspapers.

He has been editor of the Dover Express, Folkestone Herald, and Whitstable and Herne Bay Times, but also spent much of his time in sports journalism, ending his career as group sports editor of 21 titles with Kent Regional Newspapers.

He said: “I was very lucky to do a job I loved and was only half looking forward to retirement as I thought I would miss the buzz of daily deadlines and working alongside like-minded people.

“So I was determined to keep busy and stay as fit as possible, and writing a book seemed a good way to challenge myself.

"Budding authors are advised to pick a subject they know about, and as I’ve always loved football and seen thousands of matches during my life that seemed an obvious choice.

“Once a publisher offered me a contract I’ve enjoyed the whole process.

"Finishing the actual writing, choosing the pictures, approving their imaginative cover design, working with an editor, typesetter, and a proofreader, setting up a twitter account for the book, and then moving on to the publicity and marketing. I’ve recorded a video for promoting the book in the USA, the sort of thing I would just never have envisaged doing in retirement.”

The book, Gooaal! The Joy of Football Celebrations, is published by Pitch Publishing.

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