Jackie Milburn is portrayed as more than Newcastle United’s great goalscorer: “Wor Jackie” was a deeply local figure whose identity was rooted in Ashington, the Northumberland mining town that shaped his character and appeal. A new book examines his shy manner, strong self-discipline and extraordinary work ethic, explaining why he came to embody both sporting excellence and the values of the north-east’s pit communities.

Ashington was a prolific footballing hotbed, with Milburn growing up amid a large sporting family and recalling dozens of local boys who reached the First Division. He avoided the drinking that, he believed, had limited his father’s career, while his stamina, speed, relentless pressing and tenacity reflected the demands and culture of mining life; his cousin Bobby Charlton later praised his control at pace as among the best he had seen.