My Story in Black and White

My Story in Black and White recounts the adventures of Newcastle head physio, Derek Wright, over nearly 40 years at the club. Behind-the-scenes experiences with players and managers are interwoven with the historical events of the Magpies, set against the backdrop of a city and Geordie region that is fiercely proud of its heritage.

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My Story in Black and White is the fascinating story of Newcastle United's head physio, Derek Wright, and his time at the club from the early 1980s to 2022.


Growing up on a tough council estate in a County Durham mining town, Derek's footballing ability was discovered by Arsenal, who signed him as an apprentice at 16. Injury ended his playing career but he remained in football, becoming the youngest physio in the Football League at Malcolm Macdonald's Fulham. Big Jack Charlton was on the lookout for a new physio at Newcastle and gave Derek a start at his hometown club. It was the beginning of almost 40 incredible years at the Toon.


Derek worked with more than 20 full-time managers and hundreds of players, and his stories provide an insight into the hidden life of a famous football club. Behind-the-scenes experiences with players and managers are interwoven with the historical events of the Magpies, set against the backdrop of a city and Geordie region that is fiercely proud of its heritage.