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We sat down with Dan to ask him about this writing project and get some insights into his NUFC-supporting life: 

What did you hope to achieve by writing "Howay.."?

I have long been fascinated by the history of this very distinctive region of England (see my previous book The Northumbrians for more details), and I was always interested in the idea that NUFC's fortunes closely tracked moments of confidence and optimism in the North East.

So, for example, the dynamism of the Edwardian period - when Tyneside led the world in electrical power generation (hence the Metro) and built the fastest and most lethally armed ships in the world – was matched by NUFC's dominance of the Football League.

Or in the post WW2 period, when the region felt good about nationalisation, full employment and the Welfare State, NUFC were busy winning three Wembley finals (and the FA Cup really was the Champions League of its day).

And finally in the 1990s, when the region was emerging from the miseries of the long 1980s, and becoming famous as this great party city, Kevin Keegan gave us the most entertaining team in England.

So basically, my motivation was about trying to tell the history of region through the football club.

Favourite nugget of club knowledge you uncovered?

That we had a Scottish centre forward in the 1890s called Dick Smellie.

First game / earliest recollections of SJP?

My old man took me sporadically in the 1980s but we only started going religiously when Keegan came back in 1991/2.

My most vivid memory is standing in the Strawberry corner for that Portsmouth game. If I close my eyes I can still see Ned Kelly falling backwards after he took the shot and Alan Knight's outstretched hand.

I think I can still smell the Gallowgate bogs too ..

Player from NUFC history you wish you had seen?

I wish I'd met Colin Veitch, possibly the most fascinating player in our history. Morrissey look-alike, amateur thespian and friend of Bernard Shaw, trade union leader and commissioned officer on the Western Front – oh and he captained title winning NUFC sides and played for England.

Where were you at full time in the 2025 Carabao Cup final – and how did you feel?

In the posh seats of Club Wembley hugging a complete stranger and drying my eyes.

Favourite ever NUFC kit?

Believe it or not I still fit into the 91-93 blue star barcode shirt that I got when I was 12 – so very fond of that one.

But I also love the figure-hugging 1924 FA Cup final shirt - as worn by Frank Hudspeth, Neil Harris and Stan Seymour - with its massive baroque city arms on the chest.

SJP future - move or rebuild?

Heart says rebuild – SJP is a sacred space to me – but head probably says move to Leazes Park. It's not too far from the city centre pubs that make Newcastle matchdays so special, and the setting by the lake (and opening up the view of Leazes Terrace) would be spectacular.

Did any nufc related moment come to mind when you heard of KK’s passing? Player or manager era?

I was a ball boy for the Derby County home game in January 1993 (after which Tommy Johnson got filled in down the Bigg Market), and as I hung around in the tunnel KK came up to me and patted my cheek – in the way that Eric used to do to Ern on the Morecambe and Wise Show.

Are you optimistic about this season?

I am now! Jaissle, we can boogie …

Next writing project?

I'm having a breather first, but suggestions welcome!

You can follow my various sporting and historical musings on X at @northumbriana and online here