LS65

by Billy Morris

It's Spring 1965, and young Alan Connolly is a man with a plan. Out of jail and out
of Glasgow, leaving old wars behind and hoping that the voices in his head allow
him to forget the past.

New start, new city. Smart suit, the best scooter and the right connections.
LS1 is swinging - Coffee bars and clubs,pills and protection rackets. And at
Elland Road, Revie's United are chasing a league and cup double in their first
season back in the top flight.

It's the right place and the perfect time to build his empire and the only thing
that can stop him is his own dangerous ambition and the dark memories
that torment him.

You won't be scared of the monsters if you become one yourself.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2023

About the author

Billy Morris was born in Leeds, Yorkshire in 1966. He left Leeds in the late 1990's and has lived and worked in Europe and USA. He now lives mainly in South East Asia with regular visits back to Yorkshire.

Four of Morris's books form the 'Eighties Leeds' series, LS65, Paris75, Bournemouth90 and LS92 span the period from 1965 to 1992, a period which saw profound changes for the city of Leeds, its football team and its fashion and cultures. The books are all standalone stories but are linked by people and places and the common themes of a gritty Northern English underworld, pubs, music and football.

'Birdsong on Holbeck Moor' is Morris's first standalone story, set during the tumultuous period at the end of World War 1. The Leeds Pals have been decimated at the Somme and the soldiers who survived return to find a city in the grip of a global pandemic, with food rationing, unemployment and a football team facing expulsion from the league due to financial irregularities during the war years. Throw in an unhealthy dose of corruption, inter-city gang wars and witchcraft and you have the makings of a dark, gritty, Edwardian thriller.

Morris's 6th book, Spotter, published in April 2025, moves into the new millenium, but follows the same gritty fact-meets-fiction formula of his previous work. It's April 2001. The city of Leeds is reinventing itself as an economic powerhouse, and David O'Leary's young United side are conquering Europe in the champions league. For PC Charlie Mills it couldn't be better time to return to his home town as Leeds' football intelligence 'spotter.' But Charlie and the city have a dark history and when a local gang leader is released from prison to unleash a reign of terror, Charlie is forced to revisit his past and question whose side he's on… and try to remember who he really is.

Nineteen85 was released in Nov 2025. The latest story is set against the usual football background with Leeds United languishing in the second division, in a decaying stadium plagued by the worst hooligans in the country. Adversity represents opportunity for 3 men - a politician, a tabloid reporter and a local crime boss who wants to own a football club. 3 men trying to manage a situation which is spiralling out of control in an era of greed, power and corruption.

Morris's latest book 4-56 was released in June 2026. t's April 1956. Ronnie Clegg is living his life in two worlds. A teenage existence of rock and roll music, juke boxes and dance halls, drape jackets and brothel creeper shoes, collides with his day-job in a vicious Leeds underworld being fuelled by a ready supply of post-war weaponry.
At Elland Road, a United team led by inspirational captain John Charles, are making an unexpected late surge for promotion which looked impossible just a month ago, and must now be prevented.Ronnie Clegg is in the eye of a storm of his own making, and survival becomes a deadly test of loyalty to his gangland bosses, his own family and the football team he loves.

"If you like dark, urban fiction with a terrace twist, you'll enjoy the journey Billy Morris's books take you on."

Reviews

[Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have not read the final book of this series, LS65 has easily been my favorite. It’s an excellent look into the events that shaped one of the main characters of the books set in the 90s. I really like the way that Billy Morris ties the story to real life events, making the reader wonder if a character was actually present for historic moments. I have gone down extensive trails after reading these books just to make sure parts of them are fiction.

This book was a bit different for me as it was not quite as focused on the sporting side of things, but rather the rise to power that coincided with it. This is not a bad thing, even though I loved reading about the classic soccer matches as Morris presented them previously. Throughout this book, you will recognize a few of the characters, but it is definitely important to read the first two in the series to tie everything together. One of my favorite parts in this book occurs in the epilogue, with a revelation about one character that left me shocked by the real life connection.

It may be premature as I have one more book to go, but I hope this book finds its way into the hands of many readers. I’d love to have discussions to tie up some of the loose ends I still have questions about.

[Luke White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prequel to Billy Morris's best selling book Bournemouth 90 - this is set 25 years earlier than the first book in 1965. Alan Connolly, the 'baddie' from Bournemouth is a young mod arriving in Leeds to escape a dark past in Glasgow. The book charts his attempts to break into the gangland scene in Yorkshire, set against a backdrop of mod sounds, scooters, dance halls and pills. It's all very atmospheric and a lot of research has obviously gone into getting the background just right. As usual the style is fast moving, gritty and violent. Will appeal to people who read the first book but that isnt necessary as this is a standalone story. Also good for anyone into the 60s and mod scenes.

[Karl Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent crime thriller, especially of interest ti anyone with an interest in the sixties -football, mods, dance halls etc. If you're familiar with the city of Leeds it will be of particular interest.