ME sufferer enjoys football writing success

Paul Tomkins (pic courtesy Myspace) has written several books about LFC and runs a subscription blog

Paul Tomkins has overcome long-term health problems to become such a successful writer that he can charge subscribers to read his blog.

An increasingly familiar name to Liverpool supporters, Tomkins has become a respected and reliable football writer in recent years, publishing several books and writing regularly for the internet.

His success has been achieved despite suffering from M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Encephalopathy), since being diagnosed with the illness in 1999.

After taking up writing as a hobby shortly after his diagnosis, Paul began
publishing articles for free on the internet before deciding to write a book,
Golden Past, Red Future, which was released in 2005.

He recalls: “I wasn’t well enough to take up a regular job, and I had no
writing experience or qualifications. I learned my ‘art’ in the process and
built up a following by writing hundreds of free pieces for the net over the
next five years.

“That led to a decision to write a book on LFC, and even then I decided to
publish it myself. It was far more successful than I expected and that got
me noticed a little more.”

Indeed Paul’s writing had been noticed by the official Liverpool FC
website, which asked him to contribute articles on a regular basis.

He said: “It was a real honour to be asked, when they approached me
to write a weekly column in 2005. It can be a difficult job at times, given
the limitations placed on what I can say by the press office – who
obviously have to be careful what appears on an official site – but it’s
helped me reach a wide audience.”

With Paul’s illness affecting his income, due to his inability to work a
regular job, the idea of a subscription-based blog, The Tomkins Times,
was formed.

He explains: “It was the only available outlet for me. It’s certainly a qualified success. I only want sensible, intelligent and/or open-minded people subscribing, so I’m not trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

“I’m also not ‘selling’ inside information (or inventing supposed inside information), even though I could trade on some club connections.”

Subscribers pay £3.50 each month to access Paul’s articles and engage in debates with other members of the site. It is an alternative idea given the abundant amount of free content available on the internet.

“It’s exceeded my expectations with regard to sign-up rate. And including the free-to-read pieces that I make available from time to time, the site is closing in on a million hits in just four months.”

Tomkins at Anfield in 1996