Phil Vasili

Phil Vasili was born in London but grew up in Cambridge, Kent and Essex (with a brief spell in Cyprus as a 9 year old). He now lives back in Kentish Town, London very close to where he began life. As a boy he dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. His mum wanted him to be a dentist (like her father) while his father wanted him to work alongside in an electronics factory. Though he played at representative and semi-professional level he never achieved his ambition of becoming a full-time pro. After playing he coached at professional clubs and scouted for Birmingham City, Manchester United, Coventry City and Blackpool.

Writing, like football, is a passion he has had since childhood. He wrote his first book length manuscript in his late teens. 'A load of pretentious tosh' it is browning at the edges and hidden in a cupboard. However, it was good practice. Unable to separate the dual obsessions of politics and sport he has had published three biographies, a social history and a novel. The BBC has made two documentaries and one drama based upon them, all aired on BBC4. He is currently working on a biography of ex-Manchester United, Manchester City and Rochdale footballer, Tony Whelan. His play, Tull, directed by David Thacker, had a successful three week run at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton. The play was later produced by the Tottenham Theatre Company and performed at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre. He has had two other plays produced for London theatres. He was executive producer of 'Antonio's Breakfast' which won the 2006 short film (drama) BAFTA. In 2011 he wrote and directed his first feature film 'The Crack'. He is also one of the few White recipients of a Football Blacklist award.

Phil has four children, Andrea, Fionnulla, Alex and Louisa and nine grandchildren with one on the way. Writing is a punishing self-indulgence that hardens you: 'you're constantly broke and have a cabbie's knowledge of local charity shops and poundsaver locations but what else are you going to do? However, sitting on your backside for hours on end does make the attraction of marching against neo-liberal capitalism and authoritarian globalism more attractive'.

He supports Spurs and Cambridge United.