A HAT trick of North-East football writers will be holding a discussion on the beautiful game and their writing ahead of this Saturday’s Middlesbrough match.

The trio of authors – Harry Pearson, John Nicholson and Daniel Gray – are taking part in the talk at the invitation of Boro fanzine Fly Me To The Moon, whose editor Robert Nichols will play host.

The Three Boro Writers event will take place in the Reference Library at Middlesbrough’s Central Library on Saturday, October 25, from noon-2pm before Boro take on Watford at the Riverside Stadium in a 3pm kick off.

The talk is part of the wider Discover Middlesbrough festival taking place in the town which includes open days, walks, talks, exhibitions and all manner of other activities until Saturday, November 1.

For those unfamiliar with their work, Great Ayton-born Boro fan Harry Pearson is best known as the author of The Far Corner, a book about North East football which has been named as one of the 50 Greatest Sports Books of all Time. He is also a former sports columnist with the Guardian and When Saturday Comes, and also pens a regular column in the Middlesbrough programme.

Football365 columnist John Nicholson, from Stockton, is the author of Who Ate All The Pies and also Teesside-based crime novels, the popular Nick Guymer series.

Daniel Gray's recent masterpiece Hatters, Railwaymen and Knitters is a travelogue through the football towns that make up the life blood of English football.

Robert Nichols said: “Although Harry, John and Daniel have given different takes on the game through their writing they all share a good sense of humour and the ability to tell a story.

“I’ll be posing a few questions and encouraging them to spout off about football and their take on the Boro.

“They are all local and big Boro fans so it should be the perfect start to a Saturday before the top of the table clash with Watford at the Riverside.”

Tickets to the Three Boro Writers event at Middlesbrough Reference Library on Saturday, October 25, from noon-2pm are available on 01642 729001 and cost £2.