A freelancer and former regional press reporter is looking for backers for his new magazine.

Mike Berry launched football nostalgia publication BACKPASS last year and is now hoping to expand its sales and reach.

He publishes the quarterly magazine himself with third issue due out in April.

It is written and produced by Mike and a team of sports journalists which includes former Notts County and Nottingham Evening Post writer David McVay.

Also on the team are Alan Poole, from the Coventry Evening Telegraph, and the Express and Star's former Wolverhampton Wanderers reporter David Instone.

It is currently only available on subscription and at a few selected outlets such as football grounds and the national museum, in Preston.

Although Mike has managed to sell copies at a shop in Perth, Australia, he is hoping to establish the magazine closer to home.

He told holdthefrontpage: "I sent it around to evening newspapers and got a fantastic response as well as a great response from the game.

"Some managers subscribe and I've had meetings with the PFA.

"I am looking into advertising. We did a deal with a replica shirt firm and ran a competition and I've got some DVDs for issue three.

"In an ideal world we want some in outlets but we cannot run before we can walk. We're looking for sponsors, backers and investors."

Mike, who has worked as a sports freelancer for 28 years, said that space on shelves in high street stores was not only competitive but also very expensive.

BACKPASS covers all aspects of football in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and features interviews, season reviews, classic matches and obituaries.

Mike started his career in the late 1970s with the Daventry Weekly Express and then later the Rugby Advertiser before becoming a freelance journalist.

For more information about BACKPASS and to subscribe visit the website.

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