'The Seadog Bites
Back!' was started in August 1995 following the demise of 'Singing in the
Shed!' at the end of the
93-94 season.
It became not only my
hobby and something to do in my free time, it became my life. Indeed I spent
literally thousands of hours at my old computer, using Microsoft Publisher,
producing the templates from typed up sheets, hand written contributions,
and even dictated musings (Andy Borrie!). I was a little bit anal with it as
everything had to be right! Lined up, straight, centred, spelt correctly
(yea right - that happened!) and just basically as perfect as I could get
it.
That is why it took me so
long to do it! I don't mind admitting I didn't have a proper girlfriend
until after I stopped producing the fanzine! Throughout my teenage years I
missed out on the joys of underage drinking, illegal visits to Boleyns
Niteclub, drug use, shoplifting, smoking
on street corners, joy riding on the beach, smashing up phone boxes and
other activities due to the workload of the fanzine. Oh well!
I aimed to have one issue
every six to eight weeks of the season and that is more or less how it turned out.
The first issue appeared in August 1995 for a game against Fulham and
with the backing of many, many excellent contributors it ran for 20 (and a
half) issues over three seasons. Following the demise of the fanzine due to
college and latterly gaining a full-time job, I took
over the editing of the Matchday Programme at Boro for two years. In the
latter season I designed and produced the entire publication from scratch,
and compiled and edited the magazine for each
Conference Match.
I missed the fanzine when
it stopped it, and still do. I missed the buzz of putting it all together to
send to the printers, the thrill of getting them in the post
on matchday, the dismay of checking through for spelling mistakes (there
were lots!) and the pleasure of selling them to hundreds of Boro fans who needed cheering
up most of the time!
That is why I have immortalised it in website
form here for you all to view! ENJOY!
James Hunter,
May 2006