Coming with endorsements from one of the most unlikely trios you’ll ever happen upon – Bertie Ahern, Delia Smith and ex-Man Utd manager Tommy Docherty – and co-written with former Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher, Alastair Campbell’s novel Saturday Bloody Saturday explores the social and political landscape of mid-’70s Britain.

The story focuses on hard-bitten football manager Charlie Gordon, the under-presure manager of an unnamed club, whose side have a must-win, away cup tie against Chelsea on the horizon. Meanwhile, as the UK prepares for an election, the IRA are plotting an attack on London. It all makes for a compelling yarn that should find considerable favour with those who like their social history intermingled with regular football allusions.

Notably, Gordon is a hard-bitten left wing Scot, characteristics that make me wonder if he’s based on Man Utd’s legendary former manager Alex Ferguson – an acquaintaince of one-time Labour spin doctor Campbell.