BACKSTREET MISCHIEF: Tales of a Yorkshire Lad

by Tye Gardner

BACKSTREET MISCHIEF is funny, heartfelt memoir of growing up in 1970s Yorkshire - a time when life was lived outdoors, mates were for life and the streetlights told the time. Full of scraped knees, secret hideouts, and unforgettable childhood adventures.
Tye Gardner brings back the chaos, charm, and cheek of life in the backstreets. In a collection of true-ish tales told with warmth, wit and a proper Yorkshire voice. From Cub scout capers and school coach disasters to seaside trips, fish 'n' chips, and fairground flings - it's all here, served up with a side of nostalgia and a generous helping of laughs.

For fans of real-life humour, working-class childhoods, and the kind of stories that make you laugh, nod, and maybe shed a quiet tear.

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 3, 2025

About the author

Ey up! I’m Tye Gardner — a proud Yorkshire lad with a head full of stories and a heart rooted deep in the backstreets of Bradford. I grew up in the 1970s, where the lamplight told us when it were time to head home, and life was all about mischief, mates, and making the best of what little we had.

I write real-life memoirs — funny, heartfelt, and as honest as a mug of builder’s tea. My debut book Backstreet Mischief: Tales of a Yorkshire Lad is a collection of short stories straight from my childhood — the kind of tales that’ll make you laugh, maybe shed a tear, but always feel like you’ve just had a proper natter with an old mate.

I started writing to keep those memories alive — not just for me, but for anyone who grew up in that same golden era of bonfire nights, corner shops, undercrackers on the washing line, and sky-rats nicking your chips. My stories are for the dreamers, the doers, and the ones who just want a break from today’s chaos. If I can put a smile on your face or light a little fire in your heart, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

I’m a family man with a soft spot for ska music, a passion for bonsai trees, and a lifelong love of all things retro. I write because it matters. I write because it heals. I write because someone’s got to remember what it were really like.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. Written in the vernacular, it brought back some happy memories for me. Yes, we had dinner at lunchtime and tea at dinner time in Yorkshire. And chips and scraps from the chippie (fish and chip shop). Oh, the halcyon days of a 70s (or 60s) childhood, when you could go out after breakfast and spend the day with your friends, returning home for tea. Tye brings it all back with this fabulous memoir. And I loved the footnotes at the end of some of the chapters. This is a heartwarming and amusing tale of a lad's childhood. I'm looking forward to the next installment, and I hope there's a lot more to come.

[Victoria Marie Lees · Rating 5 out of 5]

IWhat is not to like of Backstreet Mischief: Tales of a Yorkshire Lad by Tye Gardner? I loved every memory, every simile or metaphor. Gardner’s descriptions took me to England, a place I’ve never been. They permitted me to be a part of him and his mates’ antics. I personally met each character and believed in them wholeheartedly. And I listened to the heartfelt lessons learned and shared.

Vivid. Crisp. Original. Backstreet Mischief: Tales of a Yorkshire Lad by Tye Gardner is a solid memoir to be enjoyed by many. Give it a read. You’ll be glad you did. Thank you, Tye!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I didn’t grow up in England but lived there for several years with the USAF so I know a lot of the slang—it was fun reading it. My absolutely favorite was Flippin Eck! Daddy Pig’s making bacon—that is hilarious. At the fair Tye gets a free kiss. If you grew up during this timeframe in England be sure to read this book as it is very funny.

[John MacLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well told

I felt like I was experiencing the story. The story kindled memories of my own development at the age of ten. That alone is valuable when one's memories are fading at the age of 73.

[Lesley Chipperfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved reading this book 😁

[Ronald Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t have to be a Yorkshireman to love this book. You don’t even have to be a man. To enjoy this book, all you need is to have been a youngster in the UK around the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Each short chapters will bring smiles and memories of your own childhood.

Tye’s misadventures brought me bitter-sweet memories and many laughs. His appreciation for family and friends and how we learn to relate to one another as we grow, are particularly tender and touching.

Tye’s well-told stories may each be short, but each captures the essence of an era and the texture of life as it was for most of us at that time.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading backstreet mischief, and all I can say is what an amazing read, Tye does really well at painting a picture with his words, making you feel like you are experiencing the years of the 80s all over again. If you are looking for a descriptive book to relive your childhood I would strongly recommend. Well done Tye.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories about Tye’s childhood were a delight to read, full of humor and charm. The profound connection I felt as Tye tried to please his dad struck me most. I was also in my forties when my dad first told me he loved me. I couldn’t stop laughing, recalling all the silly things that happened to most of us as kids.