Caryl Phillips: Writing about being a Football Fan

Renowned novelist Caryl Phillips spent his childhood in Leeds and remains a committed Leeds United fan. While known around the world for his powerful fiction, he’s also frequently written about being a football fan, including the complexities of being a Black fan of Leeds United in the 1960s and 70s.

In conversation with Professor Andrew Warnes, Phillips discusses his experience as a fan, of writing about football and what Leeds United means to the city he grew up in.

Part of Voice of the Fans, an exhibition co-produced by us and Leeds Libraries, which explores over 60 years of fan-made media from our collections that has defined the beautiful game.