Wow.
That is one word that sums up Dean Walton’s Born to Be a Baggie: A West Bromwich Albion Supporter’s 50-Year Odyssey. Walton proves to be a symbol of devotion and dedication, rarely missing a West Brom home match over a 50-year period. This text is a fascinating journey from start to finish, a journey that covers 150 different grounds and 18 different countries.
Dean Walton’s life as an Albion supporter is absolutely incredible stuff; the title is fitting as Dean’s parents and older brother were avid supporters, special supporters that were deeply dedicated to the club. Simply put, the author got his love of the Baggies honestly. Part travel diary and part biography, this book is a life story told through football. The big events in Walton’s life often coincide with the highs and lows of his beloved club. And what a life he has had, something you could be easily be quite jealous of.
The book starts off strong with three forewords. Former WBA standouts Tony “Bomber” Brown and “Super” Bob Taylor join TV and radio personality Adrian Chiles in introducing this incredible text. The forewords lead up to a year-by-year account of West Brom lore, 50 years of great stories to be specific.
You’ll hear about wild journeys, good times and bad, hooliganism, and “dull football.” You’ll hear about Cyrille Regis, meeting the Queen, relegation, and promotion. You’ll even hear about a chance encounter with Pelé, a game delayed by thrown sausages, a loss to lowly Woking in the FA Cup, and so much more.
Walton is a man that clearly loved to travel, visiting 125 countries in his life. Football and a love of Albion went with him everywhere he went. Whether it was America or Cape Verde, South Africa or Italy, or somewhere in between, people always knew who Walton supported.
This was a really fun read, something that was easy to digest and appreciate. The style was very much like a conversation with a good friend, great storytelling and a love of football wrapped in one. The pages flew by effortlessly. It was easily our favorite title of 2016, an absolutely brilliant piece of football literature.
Born to Be a Baggie is an absolute must-have for anyone football supporter, whether you support West Brom or someone else. It is the story of the ideal supporter, a person that any club would love to have in their ranks. It comes from a better time in football history, a time before billionaire owners and stadiums bearing the names of billionaire sponsors. It was the time of West Bromwich Albion, in good times and in bad.
