We're lucky to count among TLR's friends author Jim Riordan, who has kindly allowed us to reproduce extracts from his fascinating book, "Comrade Jim".
When Garry O'Connor joined Lokomotiv Moscow in 2006, it was widely reported that he was the first Brit ever to play for a Russian team - but this isn't true.
Taught Russian and trained as a spy during the Cold War, Jim Riordan was posted to Berlin as part of his National Service to listen in on Soviet Communiques. Here, unbeknownst to his seniors, he began mixing with Russian servicemen, mostly through informal kickabouts, and the passion of these idealistic young men would cultivate his interest in Russian culture and Communism. It was only a short while before he found himself in Moscow, attending parties with the likes Kruschchev and Gagarin and rubbing shoulders with Cold War travellers and spies.
