About Swinging Balls

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// About Swinging Balls

Swinging Balls is that very rarest of concepts, that which made it from a discussion in the pub and notes on a beermat, all the way through to inception. As editor, mine has been a life surrounded in sport, and I have always been happy to saturate any conversation with it! I am fortunate that many of those around me feel similarly.

I was 15 years old when I first put together a Sports Magazine – it was a piece of coursework for my English Language GCSE. Amongst the topics covered were a tour by ‘English’ Rebels to South Africa, The Hillsborough Disaster and the amazing feat of man in breaking the 10 second barrier for 100 metres. How things have progressed, and I am not simply referring to the sport …

The 7 page production was my pride and joy … for at least a few months anyway, handwritten in my best joined up calligraphic efforts and carefully put together with pristine, lined, A4 Paper, with the pages bound together by those little green page ties which went through the 2 holes in the margin. The binding and the elaborate care remind me, in many ways, of how I used to keep my collection of ‘Cricketer’ Magazines, carefully kept together in a binder by 12 metal sticks which seemed to resemble a skewer!

However, there was something special about waiting for the next edition of a magazine, an anticipation of sorts. As I have grown, and technology has likewise, I often find myself reflecting on the type of writing in such publications. There was a sublime quality of writing, full of character and individuality, deliberate and thought out, and ultimately informative and thought provoking.

I have nothing against blogs, I write 2 of them myself. However, the function of most blogs is instant update and news, which often does not give the writer the opportunity to freely express themselves within various editorial or time constraints.

I had a burning desire to put together a publication which would allow writers to truly extend and test themselves, one bereft of constraint and offering freedom of opinion and expression. However, modern technology means that this does not have to be handwritten or skewer-bound! That is the rationale behind Swinging Balls. It is a magazine and a forum for free expression and sharing of thoughts on sport – obviously rules of decorum will apply.

I have long wanted and wondered how to be able to write in the public sphere. I started blogging in the months directly after the death of my fiancée, Danielle, in November 2009. During the period since that time, I have seen that blog grow, due to the support of some wonderful people, but inevitably due to the quality of content. It was the belief from this, and the constant pushing, cajoling and support from a great friend, Dan Morfitt, that has given me the foresight to develop this project.

Of course, I would not have gotten very far without the dedication and support of a wonderfully talented crew of contributors, all of whom are doing this without any financial reward. For some, it is an opportunity to promote their work and develop their portfolio. For all it is an opportunity to share their passion for sport. Below are those who have contributed content to this launch edition. I particularly want to thank these guys and girls for jumping into the unknown with me. Many put their hands up, but many disappeared when they had to invest of their time:-

Andy Ha (Football)
Andy Hollis (Motorsport)
Aron Gamble (Design)
Dee Montague (Football)
Guy Jones (Football)
James Herd (Football, NFL, Cricket)
Jim Milnes (Football)
Jessica Blanck (Rugby)
Julian Lee (Football, Cricket)
Laura Jane Jones (Rugby)
Matthew Appleby (Cricket)
Richard Aucock (Motorsport)
Spencer Gower (Football, Tennis)
Steve Russell (Motorsport, Cricket)

They will be joined by other writers for Issue 2 on April 1 – and that’s no April Fool’s joke!! If you share our love of sport and the desire to express your opinions, please contact us.

We all hope that you will enjoy Swinging Balls. We are not as yet SI, World Soccer, or even Horse and Hound, but we promise to be informative, interesting, passionate and thought provoking. What we ask in response is that you interact with us via Readers’ Views, The Livefyre Chat & Comment System, and any other appropriate avenue!

Other than that, welcome aboard, and Let’s Start Swinging!

Rohan Kallicharan
Editor, Swinging Balls Magazine