Lynn journalist shortlisted for national award

A football fanzine edited by a King’s Lynn-based TV journalist has been shortlisted for a top national award.

David Blackmore’s West Ham United fanzine Blowing Bubbles is up for Fanzine of the Year at the 2023 Football Supporters’ Association Awards.

Blackmore’s monthly magazine has been in print since August 2012 and Blowing Bubbles has previously made the shortlist in 2015 and 2021.

The publication again faces tough competition for the crown with a strong list of fanzines including A Love Supreme (Sunderland), Alternative Wales (Welsh football), Dogma (Brighton & Hove Albion), My Only Desire (Charlton Athletic), & The Blue & White (Chester FC).

“I’m absolutely delighted that Blowing Bubbles has been shortlisted for Fanzine of the Year for a third time,” said the 37-year-old. “To be in such an elite group of fantastic football publications is a massive pat on the back and recognition of not only the huge amount of time and effort we put into producing every issue but also to the continued support we’ve had from the West Ham family.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without our team of writers whose brilliant articles beautifully capture the rollercoaster of life as a West Ham fan each month.

“A special thanks also to designer Kelvin Farrell who helps bring our copy to life in every edition.”

The FSA awards will be handed out at an awards ceremony at Nobu in Portman Square, London, on Monday, December 4.

The awards ceremony will be presented by Victoria Derbyshire.

In total there are 84 candidates battling it out across 14 categories in the largest supporter-led awards in the country, recognising everything from the best players of the past year to the best podcasts.

The Fanzine of the Year category will be decided by an FSA panel along with four other categories: Climate Action, Fans for Diversity, the Non-League Award and the Supporter Liaison Officer of the Year.

Blowing Bubbles launched digitally and in print form in summer 2012, and clocked up its 100th issue in February 2020.

Over the past 11 years, it has grown into a publication with thousands of dedicated readers online and in print, giving Irons fans a platform to air their views, positive and negative, as well as speaking to many of the biggest names in Hammers history to create a significant archive of West Ham moments and memories.

Initially envisaged as a digital-only offering, Blackmore decided to produce a print edition as well, and launched the first issue at the first game of the 2012-13 season, with the pages being filled by content produced by himself and a team of journalists, initially recruited via Twitter.

Since then, the magazine has continued to grow.

“What I think has always helped Blowing Bubbles stand out from the crowd is the variation of content every month,” Blackmore continued.

“I’ve read many fanzines over the years from different football clubs and I always got frustrated at reading the same opinions on the same topic page after page so I’ve always strived for our team to cover a wide range of topics each month and that has been a huge factor in our success.

“But we will always strive to change and evolve as we look to maintain our place as the biggest and best West Ham fanzine.”