Former Newcastle United player is now banned from every football ground in England

A former Newcastle United academy graduate, who was given his first contract by Sir Bobby Robson, is now banned from all football stadiums in the country.

It's certainly not easy for players to break through from being academy graduates to playing football for senior teams, and there's many reasons it never really happens for a player.

Particularly at the top of the game it's tough, Manchester United have included graduates of their academy in every matchday squads for over 80 years, but it doesn't mean everyone makes it.

Even getting to the point of having a professional contract at a Premier League side means nothing to how life is going to go, as one former Newcastle player shows.

Andy Ferrell was handed his first professional deal at St James' Park by legendary manager Sir Bobby Robson back in December 2002, though never made a senior debut for the team.

Two years later, he was released from his contract in the north east, before being picked up by then Championship club Watford, where he made two senior appearances.

However, the 39-year-old's life has hit another bump in the road and, according to the Daily Star, following an incident outside of Newcastle's ground, ahead of a game against Chelsea, Ferrell found himself banned from football grounds.

It comes after he was trying to turn his life around, after being jailed for four years back in 2013, after being charged with conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.

Ferrell, right, playing for Hereford United. Image: Alamy

Speaking eight years ago, the former midfielder told the Chronicle, "I'm not a criminal, I'm just a normal lad. I got caught up in that and now it's something I have got to live with.

"I did throw everything away, but I'm not going to sit here and feel sorry for myself. I have made a mistake, there's no one else to blame, but I want to get my life back on track.

"Until the day I die, Newcastle United and football will be my life.

“I had always been a fan and a season ticket holder so I was living every Geordie’s dream.

"For me football was all I had ever known, and I was one of the fortunate ones who got to play professional. It was an absolute dream come true.

"I was a normal lad from a council estate in Newcastle who was training with Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy, and Bobby Robson was my boss."

Ferrell played lower down the football pyramid for the likes of Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, York City and Blyth Spartans.