An intro to a Northwest blog started by Jon Greenbank.

Blackpool Tower… Cilla Black… Kendal Mint Cake… George Formby… Jennifer Ellison… Meat & Potato Pies… Cockle Pickers… Les Dawson… Black Pudding… Eric Morecambe… Preston Guild… Potted Shrimps… The Sand Castle… Scouse… Willy Russell… Eddie Spotters… Hollyoaks… Stu Sutcliffe… Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls

If you’re not already familiar with this area of the country, read Stuart Maconie’s excellent ‘In Search of the North’ and you’ll understand what these mean.

I have the privilege of covering the West Coast Main line, for those of you familiar with Virgin trains and their quiet zones and hotline magazine (also a good read) which takes in Merseyside (the focus of my considered opinions / bitter drivel – you can decide by reading my preview here) as well as Lancashire and hopefully (if my flat mate’s reading) Carlisle. We’ve got the Capital of Culture, Four Thousand Holes, England’s newest city, the Golden Mile, the seaside town that they forgot to shut down, and the gateway to the Lakes plus lots more besides.

I am lucky that it’s a veritable hotbed of football, has been ever since the League’s formation (go the National Football Museum at Deepdale) and decided to name my section after the Hitchcock classic because a)it’s a weird place and b) this season could be a thriller for many teams…

Along the way I’ll just try to tell it like it is. Thanks to my dad my love of football started with PNE, I grew up on a diet of Elton Welsby and Shoot magazine, played for Lancaster City Youth, before arriving in Liverpool a wide eyed student with a season ticket in the Gwladys Street. The affection remains, even in these days of foreign investment and new stadia. I will attempt to get to the bottom of the particularly intriguing football culture that this region offers, whilst staying aware of the national and international trends and stories (we are in the UEFA Cup after all!)

And what a season to start writing… with so many questions to answer on the way. Will Liverpool win the league? Might Morecambe stay afloat? Could Blackpool continue their (golden miles of) progress? Can Chris Hutchings stay in a job? Will Blackburn to win any friends? Should Carlisle follow Gretna? Can Chester keep a manager? Are Tranmere to glow under the Friday night lights? Should Preston be proud? And most importantly, is this the year Everton actually win something?

Come with me as the Master of Suspense weaves one of his greatest tales…

Jon Greenbank - North By Northwest