A01=Billy Kenny
A01=Jamie Fahey
Author_Billy Kenny
Author_Jamie Fahey
Category=DNBS1
Category=DNC
Category=SFBC
eq_bestseller
eq_biography-true-stories
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_sports-fitness
forthcoming
Product details
- ISBN 9781916811652
- Dimensions: 135 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 08 Oct 2026
- Publisher: Reach plc
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Back in 1992, Kenny earned the title of "man of the match" in his first Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool. He was being heralded as a boy wonder of the beautiful game, a once-in-a-generation talent.
The same would be said of fellow teen Evertonian Wayne Rooney nearly a decade later. But while Wayne navigated the pressure of fame to carve out a successful career (not without a few setbacks), Kenny was not so lucky.
In this frank memoir, The Goodison Gazza, Kenny - described by The Guardian as "the No1 lost talent in football" - opens up about his colourful life in a way he never has before. Raised in a deprived part of Liverpool, he had been grifting since he was a child and almost missed out on his big break after being caught stealing a goat from gypsies. So when his footballing career took off, he was desperate to make it a success.
However, post-match drinks with teammates soon led to cocaine-fuelled benders with his "million new mates" - and, after an injury left him needing an operation, his self-destructive behaviour only got worse. He stole a teammate's car for a joyride, gave match tickets to touts, went boozing with Gazza and fought with Vinnie Jones.
In 1994 he was sacked by Everton for professional misconduct, then axed by Oldham Athletic a year later. He spent the following two decades at rock bottom, strung out on drugs, suffering depression, serving time behind bars, and - for one particularly bad year - even going on the run from police in Spain.
The worst came when he tried to take his own life - and very nearly succeeded; a story he is sharing for the first time in this powerful no-holds-barred mea cupla of memoir.
The same would be said of fellow teen Evertonian Wayne Rooney nearly a decade later. But while Wayne navigated the pressure of fame to carve out a successful career (not without a few setbacks), Kenny was not so lucky.
In this frank memoir, The Goodison Gazza, Kenny - described by The Guardian as "the No1 lost talent in football" - opens up about his colourful life in a way he never has before. Raised in a deprived part of Liverpool, he had been grifting since he was a child and almost missed out on his big break after being caught stealing a goat from gypsies. So when his footballing career took off, he was desperate to make it a success.
However, post-match drinks with teammates soon led to cocaine-fuelled benders with his "million new mates" - and, after an injury left him needing an operation, his self-destructive behaviour only got worse. He stole a teammate's car for a joyride, gave match tickets to touts, went boozing with Gazza and fought with Vinnie Jones.
In 1994 he was sacked by Everton for professional misconduct, then axed by Oldham Athletic a year later. He spent the following two decades at rock bottom, strung out on drugs, suffering depression, serving time behind bars, and - for one particularly bad year - even going on the run from police in Spain.
The worst came when he tried to take his own life - and very nearly succeeded; a story he is sharing for the first time in this powerful no-holds-barred mea cupla of memoir.
