Book excerpt: A look back on an era of unprecedented drama for West Ham UnitedThe past dozen years have provided an unprecedented rollercoaster ride for West Ham United, both on and off the pitch. Since 2001, the Hammers have recruited six managers, had four different owners, played in three winner-takes-all playoff finals, enjoyed two promotions (having endured two relegations), and starred in an all-time classic FA Cup final. After the club endured the collapse of the chairman's banking empire and the Carlos Tevez saga, it was saved from financial ruination and now looks set for the Olympic Stadium. Kirk Blows has been there at every step, offering hard-hitting, opinionated analysis of events, campaigning and complaining on all the topical issues with an obligatory gallows humor. And now he pulls no punches looking back on the club's fight for elite status, plus heroes and villains including Di Canio, Tevez, Zola, and Allardyce; Gudmundsson, Gold, and Sullivan.