Photographer and ‘West Ham Utd legend’ releases book about career

Archant London photographer Stevie Bacon has written a book about his career covering local club West Ham.

In a press release the company said:

He has never scored a goal, lifted a trophy, worn the captain’s armband or even played for the club – but Archant London photographer Stevie Bacon is considered a genuine West Ham United legend.

As the fans have repeatedly chanted for the last three decades, ‘There’s only one Stevie Bacon”.

As West Ham United’s popular official photographer for more than 30 years, Steve Bacon has become a cult hero at Upton Park – to the extent that he has appeared on Sky’s Soccer AM, starred in a comical YouTube clip, been parodied in a fanzine comic strip and even had a burger named after him.

And now, with the help of Archant London sports reporter colleague Kirk Blows, Steve has gone into print with his new book There’s Only One Stevie Bacon: My Life Watching West Ham Through a Camera Lens.

From his privileged position, Steve has enjoyed unlimited access behind the scenes – forming part of the club’s backroom team and travelling with the squad. He has established close relationships with many of the club’s managers and players, allowing him to reflect on an undulating period of Hammers history from a unique perspective.

Billy Bonds, Harry Redknapp, Alan Pardew, Gianfranco Zola and Avram Grant have all worked under the focus of Steve’s candid camera, while Trevor Brooking, Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Julian Dicks, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Paolo Di Canio and Scott Parker are just a few of the star players who have embraced him into their fold.

Reviewing the book, Archant London West Ham correspondent, Dave Evans, wrote: ‘From the inside track on the bust up between Billy Bonds and Harry Redknapp; the bizarre antics of Lou Macari; the flying fears of Paolo Di Canio, right through to the arrogance of Alan Pardew and the ignorance of Avram Grant, it is all in this new autobiography of a man who has been described by many as a ‘legend’ of the club.

‘Taken on by John Lyall as the club photographer in 1980, Steve met footballers who have become lifelong friends, others who he took an instant dislike to and he has the inside track on every boss since Lyall to take the West Ham hot-seat.

‘Think of those bizarre fly-on-the-wall football documentaries, most recently on QPR and the revelations that they unveiled and you will get some idea of what is revealed over 30 years down at the Hammers.

‘It is simply a must-read for all West Ham fans and I am not saying that just because Steve sits next to me in the office!”

Packed with terrific tales, amusing anecdotes and controversial characters, plus a foreword by Hammers hero Sir Trevor Brooking, There’s Only One Stevie Bacon (Biteback Publishing) is available in bookshops and at Amazon.co.uk – Hardcover £11.19 or on Kindle at £10.07