The noise grew. Everywhere you looked Newcastle fans were on their feet, United, at last, in song. St James' Park was rocking, a noise that carried down from the cathedral at the top of the hill, down through the city. It felt like a celebration. It wasn't.

Newcastle - facing Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the 2015/16 Premier League season - had already been relegated. The fervent atmosphere was instead a final call of support for the manager, Rafa Benitez.

It was only his tenth game in charge - not enough time for him to steer Newcastle clear of relegation - yet the St James' crowd were imploring him to stay. The Spaniard had fallen into the hearts of the people of Tyneside. Spurs - second in the league before kick-off - were beaten 5-1. A club was stirring back to life.

Product Information:
• ISBN: 9781909245662
• Author: Martin Hardy
• Publisher: DeCoubertin Books
• Format: Hardback
• Pages: 237
• Dimensions: 24 x 16.5 x 2.5cm