The write stuff! Hat-trick chance for Leeds United fanzine The Square Ball

The magazine has been nominated for the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) fanzine of the year award for the SEVENTH time.

It has won the annual award twice before, in 2011 and 2014, and is now hoping to make it a hat-trick when the winner is announced at a ceremony in London next month.

Manchester United’s United We Stand, Arsenal’s The Gooner and Doncaster Rovers’ Popular Stand are among the other five nominees.

The Square Ball co-editor Daniel Chapman said: “Being shortlisted again means a lot to all of us at TSB – being named among the top six fanzines in the country is like qualifying for Europe.

“It’s all down to the talented writers and artists who contribute to every issue and make it such a great magazine, the people that stand outside Elland Road and sell it, and the discerning folk who buy and read it.”

The Square Ball was first published during United’s legendary promotion-winning campaign of 1989-90 and this season’s latest issue will be on sale at the home game against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Today it was also announced that the magazine has raised £350 for the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal through sales of its branded mugs.

The amount donated to the appeal represents 100 per cent of the profits from sales of the mugs, made by Leeds company Awesome Merchandise.

David Welch, chief executive of the Leeds Hospital Charitable Foundation, said: “We would like to extend our most genuine thanks for the ongoing support of The Square Ball and the generosity of those who choose to support them and the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal. Every donation makes an incredible impact.”