Dean Walton has followed his beloved West Bromwich Albion all of his life, rarely missing a home game in the past fifty years. Walton is also a West Bromwich Albion shareholder and a member of the Albion Assembly. He is married with two grown-up children who, in keeping with the family tradition, are both Baggies’ season ticket holders.
Sounds like the perfect person to write about the club’s fans, right?
Proud to be a Baggie: A Pictorial History of West Bromwich Albion Fans is a perfect blend of Walton’s storytelling and decades worth of photography, a tremendous read in every regard. Most importantly, Walton’s dedication and passion for the club comes through loud and clear.
It’s also an easy and enjoyable read at 128 pages. It covers a lot of ground in those pages, sharing stories and photos from 70+ years of West Brom fandom. This is truly a story for fans and about fans, a tribute to those who have supported the club without pause.
The launch of the book is quite timely as it coincides with the club’s 140th anniversary.
Walton’s a great writer and storyteller, but he’ll be remembered as one of the most devoted fans of West Bromwich Albion. Simply put, Amberley Publishing has a real winner in this new title.
