Julie Pritchard, Pioneering Football Fanzine Editor, Dies at 59
Julie Pritchard, the groundbreaking journalist who founded the legendary Nottingham Forest fanzine Brian, has died at the age of 59 following a battle with bowel cancer. Her life was defined by an extraordinary dual passion for music and football, which she channeled into pioneering work that challenged gender norms in sports media.
From Music Fanzines to Football Journalism
Growing up in Bristol, Pritchard's journey into journalism began remarkably early. At just 15 years old, she launched Dreams of Children, a fanzine dedicated to the iconic band The Jam. This early venture showcased her entrepreneurial spirit and deep connection to music culture.
In her twenties, Pritchard discovered football and, together with her then-partner Darryl Hunt (bassist for The Pogues), she co-founded Balls magazine. This publication was specifically aimed at women football fans and represented one of the first serious attempts to address female perspectives in a predominantly male-dominated sport. In a 1988 Guardian interview, music journalist Lucy O'Brien praised Pritchard as part of "an increasing number of female fans taking aim at male myths about women and the game."
The Birth of Brian Fanzine
Through her relationship with Hunt, Pritchard became a devoted Nottingham Forest supporter and eventually settled in Nottingham. In 1988, she launched what would become her most famous creation: the Forest fanzine Brian, named in honor of legendary manager Brian Clough. She explained her motivation simply: "no one else had done it."
Pritchard made history as the first female football fanzine editor, though she deliberately wrote under the gender-neutral byline "J Pritchard" in Brian to ensure her work would be judged on its merits rather than her gender in what was then overwhelmingly a man's world.
A Legacy in Print and Beyond
Brian ran for an impressive 50 issues from 1988 to 1996, documenting a remarkable period in Forest's history that included regular Wembley appearances, four trophy victories, and the tragic Hillsborough disaster in 1988. The fanzine became an institution among Forest supporters, known for its sharp wit and authentic fan perspective.
Clough himself was aware of Pritchard and her work, with the legendary manager once describing her as a "little minx" after they were photographed together. Beyond Brian, Pritchard contributed to numerous other publications including I-D, When Saturday Comes, and Bandy and Shinty.
Musical Heritage and European Adventures
Pritchard carried a fascinating musical secret known only to close friends. At age 10, she stood backstage in The Hague watching her father, Lee Sheriden of Brotherhood of Man (who performed under the name Roger Pritchard), win the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with Save Your Kisses for Me. The following year, the family relocated from Bristol to Buckinghamshire, where Pritchard attended Beaconsfield High School and studied art at Amersham College.
In recent years, Pritchard worked on preserving her legacy through a National Lottery-backed project that created a complete digital archive of Brian fanzine (available at www.brianfanzine.com) and produced a short film about her work. She also contributed a monthly column about Forest to the magazine LeftLion.
A Lifelong Football Passion
Together with her long-term partner Rob Akers, Pritchard held Nottingham Forest season tickets for several decades. This season, they traveled together to away matches across Europe, demonstrating her enduring commitment to the club.
Pritchard's football interests extended beyond Forest. She developed particular affection for underdog teams, adopting Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise when they were in the lower leagues and following the Gibraltar national team. She famously planned her holidays around their fixtures, collecting football-loving friends throughout her travels. For Pritchard, the result of any game was secondary to the journey and the friendships forged along the way.
Julie Pritchard is survived by her partner Rob Akers, her parents, and her sister Karen. Her pioneering work in football journalism and her passionate advocacy for women in sports media leave an enduring legacy that continues to inspire new generations of football fans and writers.
