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Football Fanzine Pioneer Dies Aged 59
17 Mar
Summary
- Journalist Julie Pritchard, fanzine founder, died aged 59.
- She pioneered women in football journalism with her fanzine 'Brian'.
- Pritchard balanced passions for music, football, and fan culture.
Julie Pritchard, a pioneering journalist and the founder of the Nottingham Forest fanzine 'Brian', passed away at the age of 59 following a battle with bowel cancer. Pritchard's life was marked by a deep devotion to both music and football. Her journalism career began at 15 with a fanzine for The Jam. Later, in her 20s, she co-founded 'Balls', a football magazine specifically targeting women, challenging male-dominated perceptions of the game.
In the 1980s, Pritchard was deeply involved in the music scene, touring with bands and managing fan clubs. Through her partner, Darryl Hunt of The Pogues, she became a dedicated Nottingham Forest fan. In 1988, she launched 'Brian', a fanzine named in honour of Brian Clough, making her the first female football fanzine editor and a significant figure in the genre's history. 'Brian' ran for 50 issues, documenting a vibrant period for Forest.
Pritchard also contributed to various publications, including I-D and When Saturday Comes. More recently, she collaborated on a project to digitally archive 'Brian' and co-created a short film about her fanzine. She also penned a regular column for the magazine LeftLion. Her partner, Rob Akers, and parents survive her.
