Two former employees of Middlesbrough football club have won a second contract to work on a book after the success of the first one which celebrated the region’s last cup success. Dave Allan, who set up award-winning Teesside PR firm Dave Allan Communications three years ago, worked with his former colleague Martin Walker, of Aycliffe-based Mantis Media, to produce ‘One Giant Leap’, a book to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Boro’s Carling Cup triumph in 2004.
The pair have won a contract to work on a follow-up publication, chronicling the Teesside club’s memorable UEFA Cup campaigns which culminated in Boro reaching a European final in 2006.
Boro supporter Dave led the club’s in-house PR team for 17 years before setting up his own business in 2011, while fellow fan Martin was part of his team for five years before spending four years in Sunderland’s PR department.
The 200-page hardback includes interviews with chairman Steve Gibson and then chief executive Keith Lamb and manager Steve McClaren as well as players including Juninho, Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu, Gaizka Mendieta, Bolo Zenden, George Boateng, Franck Queudrue and Mark Schwarzer.
Dave said: “Working on One Giant Leap was a labour of love and, having being involved in that memorable era, it was great to take a trip down Memory Lane.
One Giant Leap is available from MFC stores, priced £15. Small Town In Europe, another 200-page hardback, will be available later in the year.