Fascinating chronicles of an utterly unique life in football and 18 years at Newcastle United, with a foreword by Alan Shearer.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2026 – SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘Very entertaining… A lot fun.’
HAWKSBEE AND JACOBS, TalkSPORT

‘A must-read for any Newcastle fan.'
ALAN SHEARER

‘A triumph... Beautifully written.'
LES FERDINAND

FASCINATING CHRONICLES OF AN UTTERLY UNIQUE LIFE IN FOOTBALL AND 18 YEARS AT NEWCASTLE UNITED.

Once Upon a Toon 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 did: as a player between 1981 and 1986, as a physiotherapist between 1993 and 2006, and finally as a key member of Alan Shearer’s management team in 2009.

This is a light-hearted, often hilarious and sometimes unbelievable retelling of the events Paul experienced and characters he encountered. His numerous, otherwise forgotten, tales from the bygone era of 1980s football include the likes of Kevin Keegan, Jack Charlton, Arthur Cox, Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley, George Best and more. Ferris’s chronicles from 18 years at Newcastle United also feature managers such as Graeme Souness and Sir 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.

"Very entertaining… A lot fun." - Hawksbee and Jacobs, TalkSPORT

"Hilariously funny and a must for every member of the Toon army" - Chronicle Live

"A crowd-pleasing collection of anecdotes from inside United, but also a footballer's book with rare heart" - Matthew Philpotts, True Faith – Independent NUFC Fanzine

"A brilliant must-read… Once Upon a Toon as the ability to make you laugh and cry – a black and white roller-coaster that fans will enjoy." - Chronicle

"Unforgettable… laugh-out-loud funny. In Once Upon a Toon, Ferris has written more than a football memoir. It’s a love letter to the game, yes—but also to the people who make it what it is." - News Letter

"It’s just a great read, and if you love Newcastle United, you’ll love this." - The Journal

"Eye-opening" - The Times

"Laugh-out-loud funny ... and gut-punch poignant" - Irish News

"Fascinating chronicles of an utterly unique life" - The Bookseller