If you're looking for an enyclopedia-style reference book or a Hornbyesque autobiography, this isn't it. Mick Mitchell's book is something that falls inbetween - combining a relatively brief history of the club with profiles of leading players and memories of famous matches with the really interesting bit for me which is the behind-the-scenes look at the Championship-winning side, containing unprecedented access to the players and coaches.

Mick's distinctive writing style was developed through his regular articles in the matchday programme, which began at the start of the Knighton era in 1992, and having built a rapport with the fans, he went for broke with the book, which was heavily plugged in the programme in the months leading up to its publication, but hey - I'd have done the same! The 308-page tome reveals a lot about the players who won the 3rd Division title in season 1994-95 and also went to Wembley for the first time in club history. There is a section devoted to inspirational skipper David Reeves, for instance. When asked what are his football-related superstitions, Reeves replies: I always take my tooth out last thing before running out onto the pitch.

Mick travelled with the Carlisle squad to Wembley for the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield against Birmingham City. This chapter recalls the greatest day out in United's history. Mick spent the weekend in the company of the players, chatting to them in the hotel, sharing the ride on the coach to the famous Twin Towers. The thing that stands out was how relaxed the players seemed. It's true the FA Cup wasn't at stake, but this was a good-natured group of players, led by practical joker Reeves and it wasn't perhaps surprising that they had such a formidable record that season under Mick Wadsworth. Wadsworth's persona is considered to be somewhat flat and very typical of a gruff Yorkshireman. Mick Mitchell tells it otherwise on the night before the big match:

Maybe I assumed that the coaching staff would have an early night like the players, but it had been a long season, Wembley was tomorrow, and so we sat up until the early hours taking it all in. Actually the chairman was the first to retire but the boss had a couple of gin and lemonades and proceeded to fire off joke after joke. It was amazing really, the so-called dour Yorkshireman, with one gag after another. In fact on reflection the talk was about anything but football which was understandable in a way. I drifted off to bed and have to say, apart from Wembley itself, those few hours on the Saturday evening were the best bit of the weekend for me.

The journey to Wembley sees the players relaxed but evidently fired up for the big occasion. Mick is clearly moved by the attitude of the lads as they near the stadium with the streets full of supporters as the coach moves slowly through them:

'One night in heaven' sings Heather from M People over the coach speakers. Reevesy tries another 'Blue Army', only this time there's a massive response and for me, it's totally brilliant to be among the players as they shout it out as committed as any group of supporters. "The light of my life.. I feel so alive" adds Heather. We spot the stadium for the first time and there's another more intense chorus of Blue Army. We pass a big group of Birmingham fans and the players take the rise with their best attempts at a dumb Brummie accent. It's funny to hear Tony Elliott doing it because he's a Birmingham lad. We approach the entrance and there's a mass of Cumbrians who just look SO delighted to see the Carlisle players, very moving really. The lads applaud the fans and now it's just total noise as the players bang on the windows while yelling, whooping , and cheering. Then the doors close behind us and we are inside the tunnel at Wembley. We've arrived!

Of course, we were all there too. We all felt the pain of that Paul Tait extra-time header that won it for Birmingham but it WAS a great day out - a never to be forgotten experience for any United fan. Mick shared it with the players and to put it in to print in the way he did makes it very special.

Mick doesn't try to pretend that he is an expert and that's what makes this book come over as something that really is written by a true fan. Its unassuming style is rather touching and makes for a fascinating read. The access he was given to Carlisle United seems almost too good to be true nowadays with their relationship with both fans and media soured. The behind the scenes look at Carlisle v Bury, which turned out to be the very pinnacle of the promotion season, with over 12,000 inside the stadium and hundreds locked out, gives every fan what he (or she) wants - the inside view from the players, manager and coaches. It was a time when United were winning everywhere and everybody wanted to be on the bandwagon. Mick himself knew fine well he'd be hitching a ride, but this book is certainly no cheap attempt at cashing in. It's sympathetic to, not critical of, a regime that, at the time, was looked upon by nearly everyone as a success story. It summed up a mood perfectly - a mood that everything was well with the world. How quickly times can change.

What was your main motivation for writing your book?

Well as I earn my living as a writer covering mostly Premiership football thought it would be nice to do one about my team. I wanted to do a book I felt would be a worthy book for the Cumbrians because in my opinion that had certainly not been the case until then.

What were the main obstacles to overcome in order to get the book written and/or published?

Time - took me two years in the end - double to what I'd planned. Oh yeah and the price of paper tripled playing havoc with my costs - and hand on heart I didn't want to put the price up to hit Blues fans pockets. The biggest hurdle was to win the confidence of Knighton and Mick Wadsworth and the players. When you think how Knighton has been with journos over the years it was no easy task.

Certainly Paul Harrison's approach when he met Knighton of "Right I'm going to write the official history of Carlisle United " had him quickly on his way with the flea in said ear. That's why it was never in the club shop in case you were wondering.

Wadsworth was very suspicious also at first. But having won his confidence he was great allowing me total access. And Knighton - to this day I still don't know if I caught him at the right time or he trusted me - but he opened up in a way he never has before or since. Not just about Carlisle - but some amazing stuff about Man United that's never come out. So much so that I thought I better let him read it before printing in case of libel problems.

He did decide to take some Man U stuff out but for the most part the CUFC stuff was okay.

Would you go through it all again (a book about CUFC I mean) ?

Yep - I did wonder - but have got one in the pipeline.

Is there a fortune to be earned by writing about CUFC ?

No - you could not retire on it. Wasn't too bad in the end - my original aim was to get my investment back - so the wife would not kill me - but that was surpassed and a few bob rolled in - which was why I was glad I stuck to the price tag even though WH Smiths tried to get me to put it up to £15.

By the way I though Paul Harrison's book at £17 was shocking. They still trickle in - Sportspages in London ordered another 10 last week - odd eh!

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