Harry Glasper

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harry Glasper (born June 12, 1946 in Middlesbrough, England), is the author of several books on Middlesbrough Football Club. Glasper's father - Ernest - was a keen collector of Middlesbrough statistics and after his death in 1963, Harry found a small black notebook in his father's possessions, and decided to continue and expand his work as his personal tribute to his father.

In 1976 Middlesbrough F.C. published a souvenir handbook to coincide with their centenary year, and he assisted in the collection and collation of statistical data for the book. This venture gave Glasper the idea to write his own three-volume history of Middlesbrough F.C.

After many years of writing, editing and attempting to secure a publishing deal (which was difficult, as Middlesbrough were for many years an unfashionable club), in 1988 he signed a contract with Breedon Books to write a one-volume history of the club following Breedon's established format. This was published the following year as Middlesbrough: A Complete Record 1876-1989 and soon sold out completely. Breedon Books published an updated version of the book, (which Glasper again wrote, and which again sold out), four years later.

In conjunction with Middlesbrough and other contributors, Glasper has gone on to write more books about the history and players of Middlesbrough Football Club. One such is The Boro Bible (1998), which was followed by an updated version three years later. This was followed by The Boro Alphabet, which contains a biography and playing record of every Middlesbrough player from 1876 to the present day.

Harry Glasper is Middlesbrough F.C.'s official historian and has been a regular contributor to Middlesbrough's matchday programme for over 30 years. He continues to attend every home game.