Phill "wrote the book after corresponding with a few fans in America. Someone left a message on Morrissey-solo around 2000 requesting information on places mentioned in songs. I blew up a map of the city centre and highlighted a few places such as Strangeways Prison, The Ritz and other gig venues and sent it by post." After being contacted by more fans eager to get their grubby mitts on Phill's map, Phill decided to write a guide because he "discovered that there was actually 31 points of references / venues / relevant places and decided to go for it. One website, www.cemetrygates.com, listed a few sites but the site owner admitted to never having set foot in the city and some directions where inaccurate so that was my cue." Now Cemetry Gates recommends Phill's book as the best way for a Smiths fan to tour Manchester.

With irony that Morrissey would no doubt appreciate, Phill wrote his guide to Manchester in a week spent on sunny Crete, but "I didn't see any sights, only leaving my room to go to the supermarket for food and particularly beers! I returned with probably 96% of the book written." To get the book printed, Phill decided to self-publish it, but couldn't find any local businesses who would support it, so he "sent off the introduction to two local publishers. One knocked it back, the other asked me to come and see them and I walked away with a deal!"

The book doesn't just tell you where the shop was that Johnny Marr worked in before he formed The Smiths, or what bus route takes you to the Salford Lads Club. So Morrissey's Manchester has "survival tips and local information. Some people said it was merely filler, but as a regular traveller abroad in the past, it is always vital to have that knowledge in advance and know where you are going. I thought that fans would then have to buy another book to seek that information if I didn't include it. Also, Smiths fans have pretty much similar tastes so I was able to identify obvious places of interest that may not necessarily be included in general guides."

In 2003, Phill went to a Smiths/Morrissey convention in LA in 2003 "to promote the book, and without a doubt a large number of buyers will never get to the places. However, the book has bought them closer to each site and, I hope, a greater understanding of the city that helped form the lyrics and history of the band." Going to Manchester to see the 'sights' is different for British and overseas fans. "For many of the overseas fans it is more of a pilgrimage. With local fans, I don't think we appreciate the sites as passionately because they are there and always will be and we can visit anytime. During the lifetime of The Smiths I lived in Sale, two stops down on the train line from Stretford, and each day I would pass along underneath The Iron Bridge and St Mary's School, yet although I knew about both of them in relation to the band, I did not know that I was actually passing them ten times a week on my way to and from work! I have seen the ecstatic response from overseas fans when arriving at each site and it is quite funny to see the reaction of local people wondering why others are jumping off a coach to climb the steps on the Iron Bridge and taking photos......"

The feedback Phill has had has been "very good feedback, I get emails from people who have done the tour on their own and have thanked me for giving them correct information and some have said the book inspired them to visit as they would not have had the courage to have planned it on their own." Even Linder Sterling was impressed: "I gave a copy to Linder outside the Royal Albert Hall in 2002, and I saw her at a later gig and she said the book was 'very accurate' which was very pleasing to hear. And I then gave her another copy to give to Morrissey!"

Phill is a bit embarrassed about the one mistake in the book. "I state that Rank, with the inside cover shot from G-Mex, was recorded at Brixton and it was of course recorded at Kilburn. I gave Simon Goddard, author of Songs That Saved Your Life, an advance copy to review in a magazine and he pointed it out to me and I was gutted. I had done the tour with different friends, both on foot and by car, to ensure everything, every direction and bus number was accurate but never checked something like that. It was very annoying!" But with so many other facts spot on, it's a mild mistake to confuse a couple of venues in London.

The cover of Morrissey's Manchester is of The Smiths "outside the derelict Central Station, which became the G-Mex centre where the band once played." However, the initial plan was quite different. "My original idea was to have my two girls and their friends posing as the band outside The Lads Club, but it was vetoed on two accounts. Firstly, my eldest daughter was wearing a Manchester City shirt and Ashley from Empire Publications is a red (United fan) so he wasn't going to allow that to happen. Secondly, Empire stated that people seeing the book may not see the connection. It simply had to be the band or Morrissey on the front cover to grab the eye." Although it has to be said that the image is adorable, from 'Morrissey's' grumpy face ("I want my dolly!") to 'Johnny' being aged about four, and all of two feet high. The girls practiced the poses at home before setting out for Salford, and 'Johnny' got upset as she didn't want to be at the back where no one could see her. Then when she was shown the original photo, 'Johnny' cheered up a bit. Tantrum on the streets of Salford....

And what about sequels: Morrissey's LA? Morrissey's Rome? "I have often been asked to do a Morrissey's London. There is certainly scope for it, but at the moment I just don't have the time. I am involved with a few writing projects, one of which, if successful, will enable me to be a full time writer - then I will have time. As it stands, there is the day job to do that pays the rent. Besides, I would have to spend a few days in London researching the sites. I'm not sure if I could last that long down there. However, there is a danger that you become a 'Professional Smiths Fan' and also some people accuse you of making money through Morrissey's efforts, both of which I would want to avoid. Strangely, most of my previous writing was all football related, so most friends were shocked when my first book was not about football. Now I feel my second book should be away from Morrissey!"

Phill has run four bus tours around Manchester, "two for the MEN Arena gig, one at the Move Festival, and one for the Conference in 2005. Recently I have been working closely with Craig Gill from the band Inspiral Carpets, as he has set up Manchester Music Tours. There simply is not the demand for tours in a manner that exists in Liverpool with The Beatles, but there are fans who come to Manchester throughout the year for whatever reason and wish to be taken around. There is another one planned for this year on Manchester music in general."

His favourite site, when he does the tour, is going to the Salford Lads Club. "I get a buzz out of taking fans there, especially as we have been made so welcome by the club itself - a big thanks to Leslie Holmes in particular - but for me, my favourite site is Southern Cemetery." Phill has a personal connection with the cemetery as some of his family were laid to rest there. "My mother's father was cremated there in the early 1970's and her mother in 1981, so I was quite chuffed when hearing Morrissey used to wander through there reading the stones. My mother's brother was sadly cremated there too in 2003, so when I did the bus tours prior to the MEN Arena gig and the Move Festival, I had a few quiet moments to myself whilst everyone was off wandering around the place." He also loves the mosaic outside Affleck's Palace. "I work in the city centre and go out of my way to walk past it. My kids hate shopping with me as they know when we are nearby, they always realise which route I have taken and ask 'do we have to come this way again'. And of course I reply that 'yes, we do'!"

One of the places that appears in the book is Morrissey's childhood home on Kings Road in Stretford. "To be honest, out of all the places this is the one I feared the most. I mean, technically you are invading someone's privacy whereas at other sites you are not. Though the cemetery could also cause problems if mourners feel aggrieved at sightseers around the place." Phill thought about "knocking on the door a week before just to be polite and say this is what I would like to do, but then that may have given the owner a chance to object. Also, the first visit was around 8pm on a Friday night. This is a time when local youths are out on the streets with a bit of alcohol inside them. Fortunately everything passed off without incidence. There was a flitch of the curtains and a head looked round and then looked away again." Phill asks people on the tours not to go into the garden, and luckily they all stay on the pavement instead. And, "since the tours, the owner has appeared on National Radio regarding living in the ex house of a famous person, so there is not a problem now."

But for Phill there's more to Manchester than just The Smiths. "Music and football have always been a great passion and Manchester City FC is indeed that passion." He also loves the history which is reflected in the city's Victorian architecture, "all built up via the wealthy cotton industry. I'm very passionate about the history and when decisions are taken to knock down for example The Free Trade Hall or Tommy Ducks pub opposite G-Mex -the council ordered it to be demolished at 3am without notice - you cannot help but get involved in campaigning to ensure that the history is kept alive and free from council vandalism and neglect." And then Manchester evolved after the devastation wrecked by the IRA bomb. "The past ten years has seen a great transformation, climaxing with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2002. I felt very proud to hear the silence of the city's detractors, mainly from the London direction, who laughed at our Olympic Bids and hosting the Commonwealth Games. We stuck two fingers up at them and showed them how to do it. Ironically our success paved the way for the London Olympic bid."

With Morrissey playing so many venues in Manchester and Salford this year, Phill would "love him to play The Ritz - not only because it was the venue of The Smiths first gig, but because it is a great venue with a 'spring heeled' floor which is fantastic with a full crowd bouncing up and down. As a City fan, I suppose a huge gig at the City of Manchester Stadium would be a treat. I am not a lover of stadium gigs, but at least we can all get in and not line the pockets of the touts!"

However, the only thing Phill can't advise you on for your trip to Manchester is where you can get a decent cup of tea. "I do not and have not ever drunk tea. There is no real reason for not doing so; I have just never bothered with it, or coffee for that matter. When friends visit me they bring their own teabags with them as they know I have none in the house!"

Interviewed by Helen.

Visit the Morrissey's Manchester site with details on tours round Manchester here.

Visit the Affleck's Palace website here.