THE GEORDIE JACKALA novel by Derek Platten

Newcastle has had enough. After years of lies, penny-pinching, and humiliation, the fans finally rise --and the man they call The Fat Controller feels the ground shift beneath him.But as the protests swell, Dodge, an ordinary fan who'd had enough, finds himself in charge of a bandwagon he can no longer control, and The Geordie Jackal will not let him escape.As the terraces roar, the streets ignite.

He ruled the club with arrogance, contempt, and a belief that the fans would never fight back.He was wrong.From late‑night rumours to viral posts, from pub whispers to city‑wide mobilisation, a grassroots uprising explodes across Tyneside — digital, relentless, and impossible to silence.A story of modern fan power, online rebellion, and the moment a football club’s supporters brought down the man who underestimated them.

A debut novel spawned by real-life events

CHAPTER 2 - THE THREE BULLS' HEADS

Newcastle had just lost. Again.
To a relegation rival. Again.
At home. Again.Barry slammed his pint down and announced, with the solemnity of a man making a will, “If somebody could organise a hitman to kill that fat bastard, I’d gladly pay a hundred quid towards it.”Tiger didn’t even look up. “Aye. You and twenty thousand others.”Dodge leaned back in his chair.“Twenty thousand hundred quids is two million quid.
I reckon someone would top the fat bastard for less than that.”They talked about crowdfunding, anonymity, crime novels, online fundraising, and whether “incitement to murder” applied even if you were only thinking about it while pissed.By closing time, they’d solved nothing except the number of pints they could drink before losing the ability to pronounce consonants.A week passed."What if we divvent actually need to do anything?
What if we just make the Fat Controller believe someone could?”Chris leaned in. “How?”“I write a novel.”The others blinked.“A novel?” Tiger said.“Aye. A thriller.
About exactly this.
About us. About the idea.
About the assassin.I post it on Toon Army social media. Let the fans react.
Let the rumours spread.
Let the Fat Controller see what he’s driven people to.”“And you think you can write it?” Chris asked.Dodge nodded. “I think I can give it a go.”And so, he did.And THIS was the result!

Meet the author

Derek Platten

A lifelong Toon fan, I, went to my first match in 1963 and have very rarely missed one since then.
I live and breathe my beloved Newcastle United and have followed them home and away the length and breadth of the land and the continent - from Exeter to Dundee and from Cardiff to Norwich. From Oslo to Barcelona and from Bilbao to Dortmund.
I was a nightshift taxi-driver in Newcastle for more than 25 years and my nickname was Dodge.
Chapter 2 is completely autobiographical and Barry, Tiger, my son, Chris, and I were all there that night in the Three Bulls' Heads.
Whilst what follows is pure fiction, it truly demonstrates the depths of despair to which the Toon Army were driven in the not too distant past.
Here's hoping that our future will be a lot brighter than that saddest-of-sad past.
HOWAY THE LADS

REVIEWS

Send me your review and, good or bad, it'll be shown here.

Roj in Seghill
Very unusually for me, I finished The Geordie Jackal in less than a day and a half because I couldn't put it down.
The fast-paced, staccato writing style and short, cliffhanger chapters kept me hooked throughout.
Although some repetition in the first part stood out, it makes perfect sense as the story develops.
A gripping thriller that's a must-read for Toon fans, Geordies, and all thriller lovers.Graham in Nantwich, Cheshire
I read it in two sessions and stayed up long after my bedtime to finish it.
The writer's use of dialogue and short, staccato sentences moves the action along at a pace.
This is an assured debut thriller by a new Geordie author whose love of both his football club and his city shines through the narrative.Jo in Oxford
Brilliant book. Lots of gripping passages when you just can't put book down!
Lovely recognising all the familiar street names in Newcastle.
Well done!Andrew Boak in Blyth
Wow - what a roller coaster of a book, more twists and turns than Ginola on the left wing. A storyline so gritty and close to what was in every Geordies heart at the time. It makes you laugh and makes you cry, but in the end it is a love story, a love of a community, a fan base, a city, THE GEORDIES for their football club.Amrit Singh in Newcastle
Finished the book already! 6 hours disintegrated like it was 5 minutes.Amazing!!!!!
Captured me visualising the trip from Strawberry to the RVI. Captured brilliantly.
Love the chasing all around Newcastle, the cinema, The George, the streets, the thriller. Mate you are a special one.Gary in Rugby
You’ve done a fantastic job with this. The Geordie tone is incredibly strong. You’ve nailed the voice, the camaraderie, and the high-stakes feel of the supporter group.
The story moves at a really great clip. The tension builds nicely around the "Jackal" element, keeping me turning the pages. You should be seriously proud of this.Colin Parker in Northumberland
I've known Derek for nigh on 60 years and his passion for the Toon is matched by his intellect, memory, and astounding general knowledge.What I didn't know is that he had yet another string to his Stradivarius - that of a thriller writer.Being loathe to part with a penny never mind £10 , it was with some scepticism that I handed over the dosh and had the book been a let down I'd have been first in the queue for a refund. Mate or no mate.But, it was a revelation. It was one those 'can't put it down' books and not only was the plot and story line a gem, but Derek's style of writing is unique. Seriously, it's a great read and also an ideal Xmas or birthday present for any Toon fan. Grab a copy before it goes out of print.