Andy Carroll has revealed in his new book 'Owning It' that former Newcastle United team-mates invaded his house wearing balaclavas, prompting him to exact revenge on two of them.
The 37-year-old ex-England and Liverpool striker detailed the incident during his first stint at St James' Park, naming Nile Ranger, Danny Simpson and Leon Best as the culprits behind the break-in at his home in Darras Hall.
Break-in at Darras Hall
Carroll wrote: "A load of us lived in Darras Hall, the kind of nice residential estate where you don't expect any trouble. One night, I was sitting in my living room with a few mates when three guys in balaclavas stormed the house and turned it upside down, before escaping through the back door."
He added: "I knew exactly who they were by the way they moved - Nile, Danny and Leon - but if you want to know why they did it, I can't help you. There was no rhyme or reason to any carnage they caused; it's just how they rolled."
Revenge on team-mates
Carroll targeted the homes of Simpson and Ranger to get back at them, using two different methods of retaliation, while Best was left unscathed because he lived with his family.
Carroll explained: "We couldn't get Leon back because he lived with his family, but we snuck into Danny's house while he was watching telly with his girlfriend, slammed doors and banged on surfaces and walls, which put the fear of God into them. Poor woman. We then went straight to Nile's house and egged it, before making our getaway in my little Fiat 500."
He continued: "When we turned up for training the next day, we were all called to a meeting and told that the police had been in, following reports that a gang had been targeting footballers' houses. Apparently, Danny had provided forensic detail, but they never found out it was us - until I wrote this book. Sorry, Danny. Not really ..."
Ranger's wasted talent
Carroll admitted that Ranger, who has navigated numerous legal issues during his career, wasted his talent and revealed a reunion could have occurred at Carroll's current club Dagenham & Redbridge.
He added: "Nile is a good guy beneath all that chaos and he really could play, so I always hoped he'd snap out of it. But I just think he was brought up around the wrong people and was unable to change, so all that talent went to waste. He recently asked if he could sign for Dagenham & Redbridge. We passed."
