SPORTS writer John Riddle left Huddersfield aged six months, but the lifelong Town supporter has never forgotten his roots.

Now, Almondbury-born John, 60, is offering Examiner readers a first look at his two new sports books.

John, a sports editor for Canary Islands newspaper The Paper, has released The Life of Brian and The King of Cappielow.

The Life of Brian – with a foreword by former England and Liverpool ace Peter Beardsley – tells the story of footballer Brian Honour of Hartlepool United.

The King of Cappielow charts the career of ex-Celtic and Greenock Morton player Andy Ritchie (not the HTFC manager!).

A longstanding Town fan, John travelled from his former home in Tenerife to the McAlpine Stadium to interview Steve Bruce – only to find he’d been sacked. Instead, he interviewed new manager Lou Macari.

John, who now lives in Hartlepool, said: “I always check Town’s results first. I’ve thousands of books on them.

“I still have family in Bradley. I even miss going to the Superbowl on Leeds Road where I trained as a bowling alley manager. In think the Yorkshire folk are the best in the world.”

John’s books can be pre-ordered from www.apexpublishing.co.uk