Funny and poignant coming-of-age story about a life spent following one of England's most brilliantly chaotic football clubs – Newcastle United.

Debut book by Andrew Nagy, journalist for GQ, Esquire and Men's Health.

Andrew was only 16 in 1992 and, as the UK stormed into its most hedonistic decade since the '60s, he was on a swashbuckling adventure of his own, supporting the new Premier League's most exciting football team.

A must-read for all Magpies fans, The Battle for Newcastle United includes:

• A riveting dual timeline narrative – encompassing both the 1990s and modern day football – packed with warm nostalgia and current crisis points
• Tales of fake sheikhs and foul-mouthed gaffers, superstar signings and downright shady dealings, gun-toting Colombians and mysterious Uruguayans, relegation and promotion
• Various laugh-out-loud moments – not least the author's account of a dodgy B&B on semi-final weekend that gave rise to an elderly lady honeypot situation
• A frank look at negligent ownership, state control and football obsession

Starring the unadulterated joy of Kevin Keegan's Entertainers and the soulless trudge of Mike Ashley's zombified Magpies, this book is about why we fall in love with football … and a warning about what can happen when that love is pushed to the very limit.

"Fever Pitch for Geordies."

"Nostalgic and funny."

"As enjoyable as putting five past Manchester United."

"Loved it to the Toon and back."

"There are moments of laugh-out-loud comedy in this beautifully written book, but also raw honesty about what it means to love a club that so often seems intent on breaking your heart."

Andrew Nagy is a journalist who currently lives in Amsterdam, and has spent the last ten years working for GQ, Esquire and Men's Health. He was launch editor for the UK's first football business title in 2004, and has supported Newcastle United for more than 40 years, often wondering what he did to deserve it. The Battle for Newcastle United is his first book.