Introducing The Fable Guy
including how to subscribe and receive content
Welcome to The Fable Guy, the home of short stories by author, broadcaster and journalist Lee Wellings.
This is the place to subscribe to at least one original new story per month. Starting with Football Fables, a collection of stories involving the world’s favourite game.
After keeping all releases free for as long as possible, The Man Who Murdered Football on March 1 will launch content for paying subscribers. Full details of how to subscribe/upgrade below.
WHY FABLES?
“Fable is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man, and fables tell us about a million men.” GK Chesterton
Lee has been a storyteller from his early days on Fleet Street, through the BBC, ITN, Sky and many years as a global correspondent. Always looking to tell the hidden story, finding the emotion, humanity and humour.
The original column on Substack (Why Sport Matters) used his specialism of sports ethics to explore wider societal issues, but Lee has found fiction, specifically fables, is the perfect fit to find the truth within sports and life. The style of The Fable Guy is intended to be warm and engaging, subversive and witty. But there is light and darkness in the game.
WHAT FABLES ARE AVAILABLE?
Four of the original collection of ‘Football Fables’ were released ‘free to read’:
1.The Football Who Kicked a Tortoise attacks elite football, media and social media
2.Lazy Susan a teenage girl footballer needs help being pulled out of the mire
3.The Check a subversive farce on the shambles of VAR
4. Ref! how a young referee and his peers fight back against the abuse of fans
New fables are being released for paid subscribers on the first Friday of every month, with bonus fables too:
5. The Man Who Murdered Football A prolific Norwegian striker is blamed for football’s meltdown - but who really murdered our game?
6. A Tale of Two Clubs two old adversaries, a legendary Scottish manager and his grumpy Irish ex-captain, resume their beef over a merger of two clubs.
7. Superstition A lighthearted tale of the little rituals and habits we hope bring our team luck on matchdays.
8 Golden Eras Nostalgia gets a bad rap, there’s nothing wrong with missing things, and often they were better. But what if we could bring them back?
9. A Fable of New York Satirises the rivalry and egos of TV football commentators. Who will get the 2026 World Cup final?
10. Tie a Yellow Scarf A football club is never allowed to be promoted because of a tree. When Harry’s patience snaps, is the chainsaw really the answer?
11. I Wear Eleven (released Sept 6) The most personal of the fables, using football as a metaphor for life. When we find a voice, we must use it.
A second collection of fables is being written, with the first to be released in October.
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE FOR A NEW STORY EVERY MONTH?
You can access them now at leewellings.substack.com
Lee has undertaken a long period of careful consultation and advice with the key aim to keep access to The Fable Guy costing as little as possible. The monthly subscription is the Substack minimum of £3.50 per month. The annual subscription is better value at £25.00 p/a
WHAT DO I GET WITH A SUBSCRIPTION?
At least one new fable every month is what you are signing for, but extra fables/content will be provided as much as possible.
WHAT IF I’M ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER TO LEE?
New fables now have to be for paid subscribers. But I hope you’ve seen enough to want to sign up/upgrade to The Fable Guy! Your support and engagement has been precious and has been hugely appreciated.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRST COLLECTION IS COMPLETE?
A new collection on a range of subjects is already being written to follow the first ten, and the new collection goes beyond football and sport.
WILL THERE BE AUDIO VERSIONS?
The original focus is on the writing, but audio versions are being explored along with video excerpts on social media. Wherever Lee can provide a bonus for subscribing he will.
Why change the name to THE FABLE GUY?
“I want to try and breathe new life into the genre of fables, starting with my specialism of sport. As an author I’ve found fables work perfectly for my style and content, and I’ve started to find my long-term readership. It’s the stories that are important, not the author. That’s why I wanted a new title that is memorable and easy to find. There will be so much you recognise and relate to in my writing and stories. The readers’ responses I’ve had these past few months have reassured me that they are making you laugh, and cry. Long may that continue! So please do sign up for original fables.”
Lee