We have many historic Meet the Editor interviews lined up but I recently came across an almost new print fanzine in Scotland when editor David Martin got in touch and started to tell me the fantastic story of Allez Les Blues.

Let’s get a few stats in before we start properly. During a recent update we found that there have been 188 senior Scottish senior team fanzines and 38 Scottish junior team zines. There have been 15 that appear to be devoted to all Scottish football and 8 dedicated to the national team alone.

The Scottish Premier League of fanzines per club shows what you might expect with Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee leading the way but Edinburgh is way ahead of Glasgow in terms of the “big” clubs. Perhaps fittingly based on current circumstances, St Johnstone sit just outside the top 10 on 5 fanzines equal with Motherwell, Morton and the sadly departed Meadowbank Thistle

Until recently we thought Celtic had the only print zines left in Scotland (and they still have FOUR!) They might have five but we’re unsure if one is still going, one of the joys of chasing fanzines is that there are many Schoedinger’s fanzines out there, they sort of exist but sort of not at the same time. Motherwell, Montrose and Celtic all have fanzines that were around until the very recent past and might sprout again but are down as inactive at present.

The St Johnstone fanzines that we’ve traced in the past are Blue Heaven, Old McDairmid Had A Farm, True Faith and Wendy Who. If you know of more let us know and the Saints can get an early lift back to the premier league.

Allez is a great little fanzine based on a model that many have adopted in the past, fundraising. This used to be for club/player/kit sponsorship but has moved more to local charities nowadays. You can get a copy of Allez for a cash or physical donation to local cause ‘Saints fans supporting Foodbanks’ (@fsfperthsaints) a very worthy cause but you have to question why is this necessary in this day and age. Ah well, a labour government will fix all t…oh.

This questionnaire includes a great answer to “Is that the programme mate?”, poetry and a new entry on our Spotify list. Plus, issue 4 also happens to have one of my favourite fanzine cover photos of all time. If you want to buy Allez there are various ways around the ground or slide into the DMs at @ALB1884 on twitter or https://www.instagram.com/allezlesblues1884/  .. and here is David to tell you more.

Why did you start your fanzine?

We have only been going since summer 2023. A combination of factors came together. I was having some health issues so couldn’t play sports much which felt like it was pushing me a little towards depression. I recognised an ‘art’ project might give me something to focus on and I had previously written professionally for the cycling media, so I thought I might have it in me to produce something cool and had fallen deeply in love with St Johnstone since moving to Perth.

The final push came from Mundial magazine’s podcast talking about current fanzines and them being the lifeblood of print. At that point I had a will and set about figuring out the way. Previous editors of St Johnstone fanzines Wendy Who and Blue Heaven were supportive, as were the guys from St Johnstone fans foodbank and the FCU fan group who help distribute the zine on matchdays. Then we just got on with it. A few pals sent in drawings and photos and articles and poems and before we knew it issue 1 was ready to go. We had two poems about our star striker cutting his long hair off in that issue. I think we set a good precedent.

What’s the story behind the name?

It is taken from a Los Campesinos song title. I like the idea of spelling blue the English way and the implication of celebrating sadness, a key part of supporting St Johnstone. We also wanted a ‘new’ feel so went with something that had no previous link to the club. Plus, French is the coolest language! (It’s on an album with a GREAT cover, I think it might be a tribute to Tom Finney – Ed)

What was the most important thing to the fanzine and its team at the time? (humour, camaraderie, the need for a voice?) 

 I think if I’m honest it was quite a personal thing, celebrating the things I like about football and I guess seeing the funny side of things. I like to feel there is a sense of camaraderie to it too. It probably sounds a bit pretentious, but I just enjoyed trying to create a bit of a vibe.

What was your favourite article/campaign?

I love getting a poem in there (about Stevie May’s hair no less!) just because it is so at odds with most of the football media you see online today.

What sort of criticism did you get/ what’s the oddest complaint you ever had?

I was expecting to get slagged off for being a bit of a happy clapper, which would have been entirely justified, but so far, no negative feedback I’m aware of, which is pretty mad. We keep circulation small, and people have to seek out the zine so perhaps it is already our kind of people that are reading the zine.

What is your funniest recollection?

We spoke to fans about the friendship between Eskisehirspor in Turkey and St Johnstone. It was class to be put in touch with fans in Turkey through fans’ friendships and speaking to them was fantastic. The article grew legs a bit and ended up in Nutmeg magazine Issue 35, (buy it here https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/issue-35/  it includes the immortal line, “my dad’s dentures came flying out of his mouth, never to be seen again” – Ed)  and then on the Guardian website which was fantastic. Interviewing the new club owner was a laugh as well.

Still going? How have you persevered for so long? Or why did you stop?

Putting issue 6 together for the start of next season so we will have done 6 issues in 2 years. Not prolific but it feels sustainable. I think the key is not trying to force anything and keeping the plans loose. It’s A laugh at the end of the day so trying to avoid making it stressful in any way. Hopefully we keep going for a while yet. (another GREAT cover – Ed)

What role do you see fanzines as having today?

I think there is something valuable in the permeance of print compared to the internet. I’d like to think a few people who buy it appreciate the counter to knee jerk online reactionism. I really like the idea that there are copies just floating around in Perth hopefully, and in however many years someone might have a flick through and a laugh. It is nice to have something that documents the fan culture at that point in time, that is actually real and physically exists.

Do you still have old copies in the loft somewhere? Go on, admit it!

Got a few, but we keep runs small and try and sell out. In my head that creates some hype, although that probably doesn’t play out in reality

How many times a week did you get asked “Is that the programme mate?”

Many, standard response is ‘no, it’s like the programme but more of a vibe’. I think this probably confuses people more.