A NEW fanzine has been launched by football fans who want to make a difference while making people laugh on matchdays.
Eyup and Down takes over from West Stand Bogs (WSB) as the latest Barnsley FC fanzine made entirely by fans to raise money for charity.
Creator Gaz Lovett, 45, said: “This came from being involved with WSB. Six of us set that up about five years ago and we must have raised about £90,000 in total.
“We decided to finish that, but I realised I wanted to carry on doing good. It’s still 100 per cent for charity.
“It’s something I really enjoyed doing and when we saw there was still a market for the paper copy, we decided to do it.”
Eyup and Down has already sold around 700 copies.
It is available from sellers on matchdays, and a number of town centre pubs, including the Manx Arms on Sheffield Road.
Gaz said the team wanted it to look ‘totally different’ to WSB ‘otherwise it would just be a WSB mark two’.
“We made it look a bit like the 1990s’ fanzine South Ridings, and we actually got permission from the lads who did that to use bits and pieces from it,” Gaz said.
“There’s no politics or music. It’s a - hopefully - humorous alternative to the matchday programme, something to read with a pie and a pint at half time.”
The first issue of the fanzine will raise money for the Liam Jones Legacy, which was set up in remembrance of 24-year-old fan Liam Jones, who took his own life in May, having told no-one about his mental health worries.
The legacy now works to raise awareness of mental health issues, and a fundraiser will take place on Bank Holiday Sunday at the Manx Arms.
Copies of the fanzine will be on sale, and the pub is also running a recycling scheme whereby people can return copies to be sold again.
Landlord Lyndsey Smith is chief writer for the fanzine and helped put it together.
Lyndsey, 40, said: “Liam was a very good friend to my brothers, they all grew up together. We have got a big flag up in the pub and they take it to games so that he’s always there.
“They went out and sold the new fanzine as well.
“It’s close to me because of my brothers, and we’re just trying to raise awareness that it’s okay not to be okay.”
Each issue of the fanzine will raise money for a different local charity.
Gaz said: “We’re just trying to help as many people as we can.
“I don’t put my name in the mag, I don’t want my name up in lights, we just want to contribute and enjoy raising money for charity.”
The fundraiser for the Liam Jones Legacy will take place at the Manx Arms from 2pm, and will include a barbeque, live music and a number of competitions.
