The Boy on the Shed cover art

The Boy on the Shed

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Shortlisted for the 2018 William Hill Sports Book of the Year

Today was his first climb to the top. He knew if he was there, watching, then she would never leave him. Her name was Bernadette, and he climbed the shed every day.

This is a not a football book, as such. Rather, it is a memoir by someone who happened to have superior ability at the sport during his formative years, which led him on a remarkable journey. Paul Ferris became a professional footballer and at the age of 16 was the youngest ever to play in Newcastle United's first team.

Coming from Northern Ireland and being a skilful winger with dancing feet, he was inevitably hailed as 'the new George Best'. But the story of his time in the game, particularly as a young player, is one of insecurity, injuries, uncertainty, fear and, ultimately, a failure to fulfil his hopes and dreams.

The book opens in Lisburn, near Belfast. The Ferris family are Catholics in a predominantly Protestant town at the height of The Troubles. Ferris relives his childhood and teens with brutal candour laced with black humour. The Boy on the Shed is a beautifully written account of a life, but it also lifts the lid on big personalities at Newcastle United.

©2018 Paul Ferris (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Football (American) Football (Soccer) Sports Celebrity Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant
This book had been on my Wishlist for months. Even when I actually bought it, it took me a while to get round to listening to it. I do try to keep up with what Newcastle United are doing but I'm not a big football fan so I wondered if this book might be too "footbally" for me. But I can honestly say I was hooked after the five minutes. Amazing story, wonderfully written.

You don't have to love football!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good audiobook which looked at an injured professional footballer and how he makes his way as part of the physiotherapy team at Newcastle United. Plenty of interesting 'inside' stories including the Ruud Gullit shambles.
Got fed up with the overlong sections about his mother though. His wife gets a couple of sentences of gratitude at the end despite being with him throughout whereas his mother seems to feature in every chapter!

Obsession with his Mother

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’ve never given a review before but had to when it came to this book… it had me from the first chapter. Loved it and so happy to have had it recommended to me. Well done Paul!

A wonderful read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent listen.
Every chapter had my full attention.
So many beautiful words for his mother and wife and his immediate family too. Many more happy and healthy years ahead for you..... Make sure you return to beautiful Donegal often to give you that good feeling again especially when it's the 4th place on Lonely Planets places to visit in 2024

Brilliant Story told from the Heart.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I only listened because Paul’s family background sounded interesting. Great narrator and inspiring how paul changed his career choice several times.

Different read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews