New book on Raith Rovers legend’s time in South Korea

Ian Porterfield (left) on the bench in South Korea

A new book chronicles Raith Rovers legend Ian Porterfield’s spell as a football manager in the unlikeliest of places – South Korea.

The Lochgelly-bred Hall of Famer joined Raith Rovers in 1964 as a bulldozing midfielder.

His last full season at Stark’s Park in 1966/67 saw the club promoted to the old Division One and lift the Fife Cup.

Porterfield, who passed away at the age of just 61 in 2007, then moved to Sunderland, where he scored the only goal in the 1973 FA Cup Final.

After managing Sheffield United, Aberdeen and Chelsea, the famous Fife footballer enjoyed a cosmopolitan coaching career that spanned from the Middle East to Africa, and from the Caribbean to Eastern Europe.

But it was Porterfield’s time in North East Asia that serves as the focus of the recently-published book, ‘Who Ate All the Squid?: Football Adventures in South Korea’.

Author Devon Rowcliffe says he was inspired to write the book after having witnessed first hand Porterfield’s spell with the K League side, Busan IPark.

“I moved to the city of Busan in early 2003, when by coincidence Porterfield was unveiled as Busan IPark’s new manager,” he said.

“He was the first British football manager in the K League, and after hearing about Porterfield’s plans to sign players from the UK, I was intrigued how his ambitious project would fare.”

Rowcliffe said he was initially surprised at some cultural differences from UK football.

"Fans could drink alcohol, and even bring their own bottles.

"It was common to see flares in the stands, as young men fulfilling military service would smuggle them out of the bases.”

He says the side that Porterfield took over were former giant who down on their luck at the time.

“Busan were once behemoths, including Asian Champions League and Afro-Asian Club Championship winners, but became minnows when their funding was slashed.

"Porterfield was not awarded a transfer budget and could only sign unattached players.

"His team managed to lift the Korean FA Cup and went on a Champions League tear, but eventually it all unraveled spectacularly.”

Who Ate All the Squid?: Football Adventures in South Korea can be ordered from Topping & Company (St Andrews), Inkspot & Silverleaf (Bo’ness), Far From The Madding Crowd (Linlithgow) and Edinburgh Bookshop.

It can be purchased from online booksellers, including Bookshop UK and Hive. Ebook format is also available.