Nile Ranger broke into team-mate’s home in balaclava and fought one other in rest room pre-match
Former Premier League bad boy Nile Ranger was unpredictable off the pitch and his former Newcastle United team-mates felt the full impact of it
Nile Ranger had a chaotic stint at Newcastle United(Image: Getty)
When it comes to ruthless pranks between team-mates, former Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger was right at the centre of the chaos.
Ex-England and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll looks back on his vibrant career and the mischief he got caught up in at St James’ Park in his new book Owning It – most notably a terrifying mock home invasion that Ranger, Danny Simpson and Leon Best partook in.
Carroll – who now plays for Dagenham & Redbridge while serving as the assistant manager – claimed Ranger couldn’t stay out of chaos at St James’ Park, which included starting a fight in a toilet with Best.
Andy Carroll had his house broken into by three of his former Newcastle team-mates (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
The 37-year-old wrote: “Nile was best friends with Danny Simpson, but that didn’t stop another of Nile’s mates – a non-footballing one – robbing Danny of his Rolex on a night out. He did the same a few weeks later.
“Before one game at St James’ Park, Nile turned up in one of those protective boots because of an injury, but that didn’t stop him challenging Leon Best to a fight in the toilets about an hour before kick-off. They weren’t allowed to punch each other in the face or below the belt – these people weren’t animals – but Leon still put Nile on the deck.
“There’s a video of it on YouTube – God knows how that got on there – which ends with someone asking Nile what they’re up to and Nile replying, ‘Banging each other…?” Carroll went on to describe the night he endured of his former team-mates wreaking havoc on him and his friends and admitted he was certain of one thing.
Nile Ranger had numerous legal battles during his career(Image: Getty Images)
Carroll explained: “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.
“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.”
Getting his own back was instantly on Carroll’s agenda as he set his sights on Simpson and Ranger’s homes to settle the score with them. He employed two distinct tactics to deliver a clear message to his team-mates, while Best escaped unharmed for a specific reason.
The former Liverpool and England striker released his new book ‘Owning It’(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Carroll revealed: “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. 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.
Carroll and Danny Simpson played with and against each other(Image: Steve Bardens)
“Apparently, Danny had provided forensic detail, but they never found out it was us – until I wrote this book. Sorry, Danny. Not really ..” Carroll confessed that Ranger – who has faced multiple legal troubles throughout his career – squandered his abilities and disclosed that a potential reunion between the duo could have taken place at the former England international’s present club Dagenham & Redbridge.
He continued: “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.”
