Blue was the Colour: A Tale of Tarnished Love

by Andy Hamilton

Blue was the Colour is a witty, wise and charming assessment of modern football by Chelsea FC fan Andy Hamilton, one of the country' s leading comedy writers and stand-ups, and a novelist to boot.

Andy grew up in the streets surrounding Stamford Bridge and fell in love with Chelsea and football as a six-year-old taken to his first match by his older brother. That love endured as an obsession until the modern game' s money and machinations took over and left him questioning its, and his, priorities.

Taking as a starting point his first game against Newcastle United and comparing it with a match now between two teams owned by an American – via a Russian – and a Saudi Arabian government arm, the inimitable Hamilton relates how he came to question his passion for his club and football itself.

Blue was the Colour will have fans and readers laughing out loud and nodding in agreement.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

This profile may contain books by different authors.

For the music/philosophy author, see Andy Hamilton
For the comedian, game show panellist, television director, comedy screenwriter, radio dramatist, and novelist, see Andy Hamilton
For the beer/foraging author, see Andy Hamilton

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A British colleague recommended this to me following an exchange about the football (yes, for Americans, soccer) teams we follow, used to follow, and grew up with. The topic and the timing were perfect - since it's about Chelsea, a London team (and, yes, I'm a long-time fan - during the highs and the lows), and I was en route to Heathrow, where I am now.

It was a quick, light, fun, rambling and rollicking read. I'd say it's a must for (the peculiar, but potentially large universe of) Baby Boomer Chelsea fans. And, even if you aren't a Chelsea fan (or, equally likely, if you despise the Blues), it's still pretty entertaining stuff about the difference between the modern/current game (money - including money from sources we don't want to think or talk about - driven) and the more simple (but by no means perfect) game we grew up with.

I'd never heard of Hamilton, but my sense is his name is pretty familiar in the UK (and on BBC). If David Sedaris were a lifelong soccer (and Chelsea) fan, I'm guessing you'd get something similar.

[James Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful look into the life of an avid football fan and a connective account of what happens when that lifelong passion becomes tarnished. As a fellow Blues supporter, I could not echo the sentiments expressed here more. A beautiful story with some wonderful humour.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Andy Hamilton's work from TV and radio and I could hear his voice in this. We're a similar age and I too grew up in South London. There the similarities might tail off as I wasn't into football and I'm not now really. I keep up with it as my husband follows his home team of Sheffield United. But this isn't a book purely about football it's about life, the universe and everything. It made me nod frequently in agreement and frequently laugh out loud . Thank you Andy. Definitely one in the back of the net for me.

[Thomas Keogh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential for any true Chelsea fan.