Post by QPR Report on Feb 17, 2009 14:05:55 GMT
Nice - 
Football League - IN THE CLUB: DENNIS SIGNY
Dennis Signy spent more than 50 years reporting on the biggest names in football.
He has written for some of Fleet Street's most illustrious titles, been Chief Executive at Queens Park Rangers, and PR adviser to The Football League.
But the veteran journalist always knew that one day he would return to his first love - Barnet FC.
Now, at 82, Signy still writes copy for the League 2 club's website and matchday programme, and as the club's Public Relations Consultant he provides media advice to Chairman Tony Kleanthous.
It caps a remarkable journey for Signy that started when he was a teenager on the Hendon & Finchley Times and covering Bees' exploits in the Athenian League.
Signy said: "The first time I saw Barnet play was at the end of the Second World War, when I was on the local paper.
"Barnet were a big club then, with crowds about three times what we get now!
"I went off to work as a freelance reporter, but I kept living in North-West London. I was always keen on the idea of going back to Barnet.
"I got to know Tony Kleanthous during my time working with The Football League. I was a big admirer of his plans for the club.
"After they were relegated from the League in 2001, Tony was devastated and thinking about packing it in.
"I told him he should draw up a list of pros and cons.
"He said: 'My wife doesn't want me to stay, my bank manager doesn't want me to stay, my kids don't want me to stay.
"We came to about 10 cons, so I said: 'Maybe you should jack it in, Tony?'
"He replied: 'I can't. I promised I would leave the club in a better state than when I arrived.'
"That's what kept him there! And working for Barnet has turned into a labour of love for both of us."
Signy has been immersed in football since those early days as a cub reporter.
He spent 17 years with The News of the World, five years with The Times and also wrote extensively for the Sunday Express.
He dabbled in behind-the-scenes roles, working as a press adviser to former QPR Chairman, Jim Gregory, and then spent a year as the Loftus Road club's Chief Executive in the 1970s.
Signy has put his experience to good use since Barnet returned to The Football League in 2005.
Signy helped the club make national headlines in 2007 when it decided to only allow the team captain to speak to referees.
That policy went on to become a key principle of the Football Association's Respect campaign.
Signy added: "That's probably the PR coup I'm most proud about.
"It's not easy to get Barnet into the news because there are so many other clubs with bigger resources. But that story made headlines all over the world.
"I remember a colleague of mine seeing a newspaper in a cafe in Australia and Barnet were one of the lead stories on the sports pages!
"I'm getting on now but I still get the same thrill at seeing a Barnet story make the papers.
"I produce about 80 per cent of what appears on the club's website. I also do 1,500 words for every home match programme.
"When I stop getting that thrill I will pack it in but I can't see that happening any time soon
www.football-league.co.uk/page/News/LeagueTwoNewsDetail/0,,10794~1559963,00.html
Football League - IN THE CLUB: DENNIS SIGNY
Dennis Signy spent more than 50 years reporting on the biggest names in football.
He has written for some of Fleet Street's most illustrious titles, been Chief Executive at Queens Park Rangers, and PR adviser to The Football League.
But the veteran journalist always knew that one day he would return to his first love - Barnet FC.
Now, at 82, Signy still writes copy for the League 2 club's website and matchday programme, and as the club's Public Relations Consultant he provides media advice to Chairman Tony Kleanthous.
It caps a remarkable journey for Signy that started when he was a teenager on the Hendon & Finchley Times and covering Bees' exploits in the Athenian League.
Signy said: "The first time I saw Barnet play was at the end of the Second World War, when I was on the local paper.
"Barnet were a big club then, with crowds about three times what we get now!
"I went off to work as a freelance reporter, but I kept living in North-West London. I was always keen on the idea of going back to Barnet.
"I got to know Tony Kleanthous during my time working with The Football League. I was a big admirer of his plans for the club.
"After they were relegated from the League in 2001, Tony was devastated and thinking about packing it in.
"I told him he should draw up a list of pros and cons.
"He said: 'My wife doesn't want me to stay, my bank manager doesn't want me to stay, my kids don't want me to stay.
"We came to about 10 cons, so I said: 'Maybe you should jack it in, Tony?'
"He replied: 'I can't. I promised I would leave the club in a better state than when I arrived.'
"That's what kept him there! And working for Barnet has turned into a labour of love for both of us."
Signy has been immersed in football since those early days as a cub reporter.
He spent 17 years with The News of the World, five years with The Times and also wrote extensively for the Sunday Express.
He dabbled in behind-the-scenes roles, working as a press adviser to former QPR Chairman, Jim Gregory, and then spent a year as the Loftus Road club's Chief Executive in the 1970s.
Signy has put his experience to good use since Barnet returned to The Football League in 2005.
Signy helped the club make national headlines in 2007 when it decided to only allow the team captain to speak to referees.
That policy went on to become a key principle of the Football Association's Respect campaign.
Signy added: "That's probably the PR coup I'm most proud about.
"It's not easy to get Barnet into the news because there are so many other clubs with bigger resources. But that story made headlines all over the world.
"I remember a colleague of mine seeing a newspaper in a cafe in Australia and Barnet were one of the lead stories on the sports pages!
"I'm getting on now but I still get the same thrill at seeing a Barnet story make the papers.
"I produce about 80 per cent of what appears on the club's website. I also do 1,500 words for every home match programme.
"When I stop getting that thrill I will pack it in but I can't see that happening any time soon
www.football-league.co.uk/page/News/LeagueTwoNewsDetail/0,,10794~1559963,00.html