FERRIS WHEEL OF FORTUNE

PAUL FERRIS was labelled as “the new George Best” when he left his home in Northern Ireland to join Newcastle.

- By lan Murtagh

Within weeks Kevin Keegan hailed the teenager “the best young player I’ve ever seen”.

When Ferris became the Toon’s youngest debutant at 16 years and 294 days in 1981, the boy from Lisburn had the world at his feet.

Today his career is but a footnote in a roller-coaster journey of highs and lows.

Forced to quit with a knee injury within four years of writing his name in the history books, Ferris spent 13 years as a physio at Newcastle.

He then passed his law exams and became a barrister before packing it in to join Alan Shearer’s shortlived management team at St James’ Park.

Ferris is perhaps best known as the ex-pro who suffered a heart attack at 49, then survived prostate cancer to become an award-winning author.

His fourth book, Once Upon A Toon, above, is out now.

Ferris said: “The fact I'm a footballer with no schoolboy qualifications who can write is probably my greatest achievement.”