Overview

Ali Yassine has one of the most well-known voices in south Wales as having spent a decade as the announcer for Cardiff City FC and the Welsh national football team. An English version of the Welsh book Llais yr Adar Gleision, with an extra chapter on the 2009-10 season and play-offs.

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9781847712332

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What is it about Welsh football announcers? They must be a very special breed of person. First, in 2008, we were treated to Oh yes, it is!, the autobiography of the colourful Kevin Johns pantomime dame, radio broadcaster, chaplain and stadium announcer at the Liberty, home of Swansea City. Not to be outdone by his team's bitter rivals, the somewhat more controversial announcer at Cardiff City, Ali Yassine, has now put pen to paper in an equally entertaining volume. Yassine is a well-known and talented character. Born of Egyptian and Somali descent and raised in Cardiff's docklands, he managed to learn Welsh in his twenties and has acted in several drama programmes on S4C. As recalled in this book, he was appointed as the tannoy announcer at Cardiff City in somewhat bizarre circumstances during Sam Hammam's ownership of the club. Both owner and announcer immediately hit it off well, as both were expert in the ultimate wind-ups intended to infuriate their opponents, such as playing the Steptoe and Son theme to welcome the West Ham supporters, or the Wurzels song 'I am a cider drinker' to greet the sometimes volatile Bristol City fans. Yassine's and Hammam's joint brand of Arabian humour was not always appreciated by the stewards or the police, as their work was often made more difficult by some of the more daring verbal and musical pre-match warm-ups. Ali was largely granted the freedom of the old Ninian Park, and he obviously relished the intimidating atmosphere which that famous old ground created for all visiting fans and teams. Many of the chants are recalled, as are the playlists of records aimed at 'entertaining' the opposition, which on some occasions led to official complaints by the press and visiting officials, and even to calls for his dismissal. However, life at the new Cardiff City Stadium, used from August 2009, seems a little more sedate, and the announcer's playlist and freedom of expression appear to be rather more rigidly controlled, as the nature of football, with its growing emphasis on corporate hospitality and attracting a family audience, has changed. Ali has some interesting things to say about several aspects of the modern game, and regrets that the 'edgy' nature of the announcer's proclamations have now been diluted and the breed largely 'cloned' into conformity. He also has some very revealing things to say about other issues, including some surprising comments on the reaction of fans to the use of the Welsh language on the public address system comments I found rather difficult to comprehend. More predictably, he is very happy to take a few entertaining swipes at Swansea City and its fans, but strangely, in a book published as late as November 2011, no mention is made of their Premiership status! All football fans will enjoy Ali's reminiscences. Even the good-humoured fans of the dreaded neighbour down the M4 will be thoroughly entertained by the voice of Cardiff City, and will enjoy the endless banter. Public address announcers are in a privileged position, and they can bring an interesting perspective to the game. Ali and Kevin Johns have both succeeded in their tasks, and it is gratifying to know that they remain the best of friends. Richard E. Huws It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council

What is it about Welsh football announcers? They must be a very special breed of person. First, in 2008, we were treated to Oh yes, it is!, the autobiography of the colourful Kevin Johns - pantomime dame, radio broadcaster, chaplain and stadium announcer at the Liberty, home of Swansea City. Not to be outdone by his team's bitter rivals, the somewhat more controversial announcer at Cardiff City, Ali Yassine, has now put pen to paper in an equally entertaining volume. Yassine is a well-known and talented character. Born of Egyptian and Somali descent and raised in Cardiff's docklands, he managed to learn Welsh in his twenties and has acted in several drama programmes on S4C. As recalled in this book, he was appointed as the tannoy announcer at Cardiff City in somewhat bizarre circumstances during Sam Hammam's ownership of the club. Both owner and announcer immediately hit it off well, as both were expert in the ultimate wind-ups intended to infuriate their opponents, such as playing the Steptoe and Son theme to welcome the West Ham supporters, or the Wurzels' song 'I am a cider drinker' to greet the sometimes volatile Bristol City fans. Yassine's and Hammam's joint brand of Arabian humour was not always appreciated by the stewards or the police, as their work was often made more difficult by some of the more daring verbal and musical pre-match warm-ups. Ali was largely granted the freedom of the old Ninian Park, and he obviously relished the intimidating atmosphere which that famous old ground created for all visiting fans and teams. Many of the chants are recalled, as are the playlists of records aimed at 'entertaining' the opposition, which on some occasions led to official complaints by the press and visiting officials, and even to calls for his dismissal. However, life at the new Cardiff City Stadium, used from August 2009, seems a little more sedate, and the announcer's playlist and freedom of expression appear to be rather more rigidly controlled, as the nature of football, with its growing emphasis on corporate hospitality and attracting a family audience, has changed. Ali has some interesting things to say about several aspects of the modern game, and regrets that the 'edgy' nature of the announcer's proclamations have now been diluted and the breed largely 'cloned' into conformity. He also has some very revealing things to say about other issues, including some surprising comments on the reaction of fans to the use of the Welsh language on the public address system - comments I found rather difficult to comprehend. More predictably, he is very happy to take a few entertaining swipes at Swansea City and its fans, but strangely, in a book published as late as November 2011, no mention is made of their Premiership status! All football fans will enjoy Ali's reminiscences. Even the good-humoured fans of the dreaded neighbour down the M4 will be thoroughly entertained by 'the voice of Cardiff City', and will enjoy the endless banter. Public address announcers are in a privileged position, and they can bring an interesting perspective to the game. Ali and Kevin Johns have both succeeded in their tasks, and it is gratifying to know that they remain the best of friends. Richard E. Huws It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council

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