New book gives the inside story on life of well-known Hartlepool doorman Mick Sorby

Hartlepool Born and Bred by local author Jamie Boyle tells the story of Mick Sorby who worked on the doors of the town’s nightspots for more than 50 years.

It goes from his brutal upbringing at the hands of his father and fights while on the doors, to the biggest fight of his life now battling terminal cancer.

Mick, now 73, who has lived in Hartlepool all of his life, started work as a doorman aged 17 in the 1960s.

He said: “I started when I left school and finished about two years ago.

"There’s been a lot of violence in my life but that goes with the job.

"I could make more money in 20 hours [on the doors] than a man going to work for 40 hours.”

Mick ended up providing security for a host of Hartlepool bars and clubs and was once in charge of over 50 doormen.

He worked at venues such as Caspers nightclub in Church Street which became notorious for trouble before it closed in the 1980s.

Mick told author Jamie: “Every night there was fighting.”

The book also tells of the time he mingled with celebrities such as actor and singer Robson Green.

Mick sold his business to Dave Garside when received a seven-year prison sentence in 1998 after being implicated in a shooting.

But he continued to work on the doors upon his release.

Jamie was introduced to Mick by former Hartlepool boxer turned author Richy Horsley.

"I read a little bit about Mick and it just went from there,” said Jamie, who has written numerous local true crime books.

He added: "He became head doorman and took on most of the doors in Hartlepool.

“It’s quite a sad book. Mick said if he could do it all again he would choose a trade.

"What he did was just to provide for his family and put food on the table."

And despite Mick’s violent past Jamie said he remains well liked.

“People told me he’s a legend,” said Jamie. “Pre sales have gone crazy.”

Hartlepool Born and Bred, by Warcry Publishing, is out on March 12 priced £12.95 in paperback and £4.95 on Kindle.

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