Richard Purden

Richard Purden is a freelance writer based in Scotland contributing to FourFourTwo since 2003 as well as wide variety of newspapers and magazines around Europe. He has written three books on Celtic including We Are Celtic Supporters. Among his favourite interviews are Oasis duo Noel and Liam Gallagher, Rod Stewart and Henrik Larsson.

Latest articles by Richard Purden

26/05/67.SEASON 1966/1967.The delighted Celtic players show off the European Cup to their fans. (Photo by SNS Group via Getty Images)
‘The Lisbon Lions never knew they were beaten. We were on top of the world and could take on anybody on our day – it was a glorious era for us all’ Celtic legend Jim Craig on the club’s iconic European triumph

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Craig was part of the side that saw off Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup final

EXCLUSIVE
Crystal Palace v Manchester UnitedThe FA Cup Final 1990. Crystal Palace 3, Manchester United 3 - Draw Picture Shows Ian Wright for Crystal Palace and Steve Bruce for Manchester United, playing in the away colours. (Photo by Walker Howard Albert Cooper/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) Billy Wyman Rolling Stones lead guitarist
‘We were in Amsterdam, so I faked a toothache to go and see Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. I couldn’t make the replay, though – the Stones worked it out’: Rolling Stones guitarist Bill Wyman feigned injury to watch 3-3 draw with Manchester United

By Ryan Dabbs Published

Rolling Stones were rehearsing for a tour in Amsterdam when guitarist Bill Wyman purposely faked an injury in order to watch Crystal Palace play Manchester United in the 1990 FA Cup final

Stories
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Sir Alex Ferguson with the European Cup the morning after the victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Bayern Munich v Manchester United at the Nou camp Stadium on 26 May, 1999 in Barcelona, Spain. Bayern Munich 1 Manchester United 2. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
'I told Fergie before the 1999 Champions League final, "They’ll suffer for the rest of their lives if they lose". He said, "F**k, I can’t tell them that… but he did"': How Sir Alex Ferguson motivated his Manchester United side in an unusual way

By Ryan Dabbs Published

Sir Alex Ferguson let his Manchester United players know they'd never forget losing the Champions League, in an unusual way to inspire his squad

Stories
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 28: The three stars of F.C. Barcelona, Diego Armando Maradona, Allan Simonsen and Bernd Schuster, at the presentation of the squad for the 1982-1983 season, held at the Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain, on July 28, 1982. (Photo by Sigfrid Casals/Getty Images)
‘I had it in my contract when I joined Barcelona from Spurs that I’d wear the No.8 shirt – Bernd Schuster said no, so I took Diego Maradona’s No.10 instead’: Scotland hero recalls replacing Argentinian legend at Barca in 1984

By Ryan Dabbs Published

Steve Archibald had the unenviable task of replacing Diego Maradona at Barcelona when arriving from Tottenham

Stories
Oasis on stage at Manchester City's football ground, Maine Road. Photo of OASIS and Noel GALLAGHER, Noel Gallagher performing on stage, Union Jack Epiphone guitar. Liam Gallagher performing on stage. Inset picture of Photo passes and laminates for shows by Oasis at Maine Road (1996)
How Oasis changed the Manchester City brand

By Richard Purden Published

LONG READ Liam and Noel Gallagher's support for Manchester City is essential to their story and identity as a band, it might just have helped save the club as well

LONG READ
Liam Gallagher performs a homecoming show at Manchester Arena on December 16, 2017 in Manchester, England.
Oasis star Liam Gallagher exclusive: 'Every time Oasis were doing really well, Manchester City were doing really s***! When we split up, City started doing really good...'

By Richard Purden Published

Sing When You're Winning Has Oasis getting back together cursed Manchester City? Liam Gallagher's exclusive interview with FourFourTwo about Maine Road, watching from a box and how hates 'any of them Nevilles'

Sing When You're Winning
Oasis guitarist and Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher
Oasis star Noel Gallagher exclusive: 'I should be a Manchester United fan! The greatest player of all time played for United: my dad's brothers and our cousins are United fans, too'

By Richard Purden Published

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher on Manchester City, Maine Road, Celtic and why the Scottish leagues should merge with England

Interviews
John Barnes (centre) in the recording studio alongside Peter Beardsley and Des Walker for the recording of England's World Cup song with New Order in 1990.
Peter Hook opens up on recording World In Motion and his classic Gazza encounter

By Joe Mewis Published

Peter Hook's New Order recorded the classic World In Motion as England's official World Cup '90 song

Stories
Manchester United player Gordon Strachan of Manchester United in action during the Canon League Division One match between Ipswich Town and Manchester United at Portman Road on September 1, 1984 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Duncan Raban/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Gordon Strachan reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson stood apart from football booze culture

By Richard Purden Published

Gordon Strachan played under Sir Alex Ferguson for Aberdeen and Manchester United and says he learned nothing about professionalism beforehand

Stories
Arsenal FC and Brentford FC at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2023 in London, England.
Arsenal fan and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey says going to The Emirates can be ‘a bit like going to work’

By Mark White Published

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium still doesn't feel like home to Who singer Roger Daltrey

Interviews
Everton midfielder Dwight McNeil in action against Celtic.
It’s not just Liverpool: Everton have a strong bond with Celtic according to one famous supporter

By Matthew Holt Published

It's not just the red side of Merseyside that shares a close affiliation with the Scottish giants...

Stories
Arsenal
How The Who’s Roger Daltrey became an Arsenal fan during the school run

By Richard Purden Published

The Who frontman shares possibly the least cool story ever about how he became a die-hard Gunner

Interviews

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