Dan Jackson will tell the story of Newcastle United's origins in a distinctive time and place, and locate the enduring support for the club within the wider context of North East culture and history, exploring themes of solidarity, hard work, and hedonism. He will also explore how football in the North East came to be so popular, both as a pastime and a mass spectator sport, and how the traditions of athleticism and teamwork in the coalfields transferred naturally to the football field. As well as recording the ebb and flow of the club's successes since the 1880s, the book will tell the stories of the great players that became so iconic in Geordie culture, from the great polymath Colin Veitch, to Jackie Milburn and Alan Shearer.