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Once Upon a Toon: 18 Years Inside Newcastle United
Fascinating chronicles of an utterly unique life in football and 18 years at Newcastle United, with a foreword by Alan Shearer.
Life in Black and White offers a unique perspective on life behind the scenes at one of England's most famous football clubs. No other individual has had the immense privilege of working at Newcastle United in the capacity that Paul Ferris once as a player between 1981 and 1986, physiotherapist between 1993 and 2003, and finally as a key member of Alan Shearer's management team in 2009.
The book is a deliberately light-hearted, often hilarious retelling of endless, and sometimes unbelievable, stories of events Paul experienced, and characters he met. His numerous, otherwise forgotten tales from a bygone era in 1980s football include the likes of Kevin Keegan, Jack Charlton, Paul Gascoigne, George Best and more. Ferris' chronicles from 18 years at Newcastle United also feature managers such as Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Bobby Robson, the tumultuous 1993–2006 period and Alan Shearer's ill-fated short tenure.
If you are a Newcastle United supporter, football fan or loved The Boy on the Shed, this book is the ultimate way to revisit the club's precious glory days of football.
Life in Black and White offers a unique perspective on life behind the scenes at one of England's most famous football clubs. No other individual has had the immense privilege of working at Newcastle United in the capacity that Paul Ferris once as a player between 1981 and 1986, physiotherapist between 1993 and 2003, and finally as a key member of Alan Shearer's management team in 2009.
The book is a deliberately light-hearted, often hilarious retelling of endless, and sometimes unbelievable, stories of events Paul experienced, and characters he met. His numerous, otherwise forgotten tales from a bygone era in 1980s football include the likes of Kevin Keegan, Jack Charlton, Paul Gascoigne, George Best and more. Ferris' chronicles from 18 years at Newcastle United also feature managers such as Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Bobby Robson, the tumultuous 1993–2006 period and Alan Shearer's ill-fated short tenure.
If you are a Newcastle United supporter, football fan or loved The Boy on the Shed, this book is the ultimate way to revisit the club's precious glory days of football.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published August 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 23, 2025
Another cracker from Paul Ferris. Great insight and humour in his writing.
June 27, 2025
A really mixed bag of stories. There are some interesting insights - such as his time accompanying Shearer (who’s portrayed here as a generous and kind individual, given he’s one of Ferris’s best friends) to the USA and Paris for knee surgery - mixed with weird short stories about certain players signing for the club and Ferris just saying “they were lovely”. Those chapters come off as simple name drops, as there are no quotes or anecdotes provided.
His early career was interesting. And hearing about characters such as Cox and Charlton, and their differing approaches to man management, was insightful. But as it progresses you feel like he’s running out of stories he’s allowed to tell, especially when he doesn’t name players for the more scandalous anecdotes.
This reads more like a cash-in on his name and career than anything else.
His early career was interesting. And hearing about characters such as Cox and Charlton, and their differing approaches to man management, was insightful. But as it progresses you feel like he’s running out of stories he’s allowed to tell, especially when he doesn’t name players for the more scandalous anecdotes.
This reads more like a cash-in on his name and career than anything else.
July 8, 2025
Maybe not quite as good as The Boy on the Shed, but still a great read, if you are a Newcastle United supporter.
July 16, 2025
A fantastic collection of stories. Some will make you laugh out loud, others are laced with the author’s familiar and skilful poignancy. A must-read for football fans, no matter your club.
August 12, 2025
Interesting. Some insights and amusing stories about my favourite club, including days when I loved it the most, in the 90s.
October 13, 2025
Not a patch on Boy On The Shed - one of the most unusual and best football books I’ve read - this is more a collection of anecdotes. Still enjoyable though.
May 25, 2025
Paul Ferris writes really well and humorously, drawing readers in and leaving them wanting to know more! He tells some great stories which relate how football changed in the time he was involved in Newcastle United and how he changed too. While it doesn't have the originality of his previous books, it is still a great read and left me wanting to know names! I would say I wished he had revealed more, but throughout the book, he tells that he often revealed more than he should have!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews