New book exploring Portsmouth's fall and rise out for Christmas

Pompey: The Island City With A Football Club For A Heart follows the 2019-20 League One campaign with unparalleled behind-the-scenes access.

Written by The News’ chief sports writer Neil Allen, it closely examines Pompey’s fall and rise, using accounts from 57 different people who have been at the very heart of it.

Candid, emotional, and, at times, absolutely heartbreaking, it offers a fascinating insight into the Pompey family and a truly special football club.

Pompey: The Island City With A Football Club For A Heart contains former chairmen Milan Mandaric and Iain McInnes, ex-managers Michael Appleton and Guy Whittingham, and former playing favourites Conor Chaplin, Christian Burgess, Gareth Evans, Benjani, Brett Pitman, Michael Doyle, Alan Knight and Carl Baker.

In the present, there are Mark Catlin, Kenny Jackett, Ronan Curtis, Jack Whatmough, Andy Cannon, Sean Raggett, Craig MacGillivray, Ben Close, Lee Brown, James Bolton, Alex Bass, Mark Kelly, Pompey Women boss Jay Sadler, Barry Harris and Kev McCormack.

Not forgetting former SOS Pompey pair Bob Beech and Carl Paddon, ex-Pompey directors and Supporters’ Trust figureheads Ashley Brown, Mick Williams and John Kimbell, Abdul ‘The Steward’ Khalique and TalkSPORT and ITV’s Sam Matterface, with a foreword by Ian Darke.

There are also interviews with John Jenkins and Basher Benfield, who have since sadly passed away during the last year.

Pompey: The Island City With A Football Club For A Heart is currently available for pre-order with Amazon and comes out on December 14.

Priced £19.99, the hardback book contains 35 chapters and 352 pages, offering a comprehensive read.

Once published, it will also be available from the Pompey Store and Waterstones, while publishers Icon Books will be distributing the book to outlets across the world.

Overall, those in the book include John Jenkins (RIP), Milan Mandaric, Michael Appleton, Kenny Jackett, Mark Catlin, Sam Matterface, Jack Whatmough, Ronan Curtis, Conor Chaplin, Gareth Evans, Benjani, Michael Doyle, Craig MacGillivray, Ian Chiverton, Mark Kelly, Christian Burgess, Kev McCormack, Carl Baker, Ben Close, Basher Benfield (RIP), Guy Whittingham, Iain McInnes, John Westwood, Kenny Jackett, Andy Moon, Alan Knight, Jay Sadler, Ashley Brown, Sarah Merrix, Andy Cannon, Lee Smith, Sean Raggett, Barry Harris, Lee Brown, Abdul ‘The Steward’ Khalique, Paul Banks, Neil Sillett, Brett Pitman, Simon Milne, Marie & Dave Curtis, James Bolton, Ashleigh Emberson, Eric Coleborn, Rog McFarlane, Bob Beech, Mick Williams, Ian Burrell, Alex Bass, Simon Colebook, John Keeley, Clare Martin, John Kimbell, Carl Paddon, Mick Hogan and Debbie Knight.

Meanwhile, Played Up Pompey Three remains on sale following its September release.

It is priced £18.99 and available from Amazon, Waterstones, the Pompey Store and the Petersfield Bookshop.

For copies autographed by one of Richard Hughes, Sammy Igoe, Martin Kuhl, Lee Bradbury or Dave Munks, contact [email protected]

In addition, there is a special offer at present, with Played Up Pompey Three and Played Up Pompey Too available in a bundle, priced at just £30 plus £3.87 P&P.

Again, contact [email protected]

Alternatively, you can order Played Up Pompey Too on its own from Amazon.