Kirk Blows: 5 books

The past dozen years have provided an unprecedented rollercoaster ride for West Ham United, both on and off the pitch. Since 2001, the Hammers have recruited six managers, had four different owners, played in three winner-takes-all play-off finals, enjoyed two promotions (having endured two relegations)...

Features exclusive stories and encounters with some of the biggest names in rock and metal, including Guns N'Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss, Metallica, Motörhead, Queen, Sepultura, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Pearl Jam, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fleetwood Mac & Iron Maiden. As one-time editor of Metal Hammer,...

West Ham United last won a major trophy in 1980, but the roller-coaster ride of the past three decades has produced enough twists and turns, heroes and villains and contrasting emotions to grace the script of the most thrilling TV soap opera. Since Trevor Brooking headed home the FA Cup final...

From the World Cup-winning days of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters to highly acclaimed modern-day heroes such as Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe, West Ham United supporters have always had the greatest affection for homegrown Hammers. Since the 1960s, talents such as Trevor...

Little did anybody anticipate that West Ham's play-off final victory against Preston in 2005 would provide the launch pad for one of their most successful seasons ever, with the club securing a top-half Premiership finish and qualifying for Europe thanks to its first FA Cup final appearance in 26...