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Ex-football employees win second book contract

Two former employees of a North-East football club have won a second contract to work on a sequel 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 Middlesbrough FC colleague Martin Walker, of Newton Aycliffe-based Mantis Media, to produce One Giant Leap, a book to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Boro’s Carling Cup triumph in 2004.

With the anniversary this weekend, as Sunderland prepare to take on Manchester City in the final of the same competition at Wembley on Sunday, the pair have won a new 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, who is designing the books, was part of his team for five years before spending four years in Sunderland’s PR department.

One Giant Leap was the first book produced by Dave Allan Communications, a Middlesbrough-based company which provides a public relations, media and communications service to businesses across Teesside and was a winner in last week’s Tees Valley Best New Business awards.

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.

“Media and PR is the core element of our service, but working on projects like this enables us to enjoy a bit of football nostalgia and what was a special time for Middlesbrough.”

Martin set up Mantis Media in 2009, and is the only specialist provider of PR services on Aycliffe Business Park, the North-East’s second largest business park.

He said: “I couldn’t resist the opportunity to work on some memorable Boro moments that will always live long in the memory.

“Reminiscing over the Carling Cup win was a great experience, and I’m sure as we look back on memorable wins over Lazio and Roma - as well as the dramatic knockout wins against Basel and Steaua Bucharest - it will bring it all back to us.

“It’s disappointing that it has taken the North-East’s three big clubs 10 years to reach a major final, so let’s hope Sunderland can celebrate Boro’s anniversary with a Wembley win this weekend.”

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.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mantis Media .