Steve Black is commonly regarded as one of the most inspirational fitness gurus in the world. He has worked with the finest sportsmen in both rugby and football, while his advice and motivational skills have been sought by many, including Kevin Keegan, Peter Reid and Paul Bracewell. It is in rugby, however, that he has really made his mark. His involvement in the game began when he took up his post with Newcastle Falcons at the inception of the 'rugby revolution', which catapulted him into a different sphere. He was then signed up by Graham Henry as the conditioning coach for the Welsh national side. Following this, he was selected for the British Lions tour of Australia in 2001, which was the pinnacle of his career. More recently, he has been named as one of the key factors behind Rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson's success. However, Black's story could have been very different. From the age of 16, he worked as a bouncer for a variety of rough pubs in Newcastle upon Tyne but differed from the herd in that he followed a strict religious and moral code. When the pub scene became increasingly violent, Black bowed out and went to college, where he attained an honours degree in sports science, then embarked upon a career in sport. This engaging autobiography documents Black's journey from life as a bouncer on the streets of Newcastle to the global sporting achievements that followed. Blackie is an inspirational read for anyone who seeks success, be it in sport or life in general.

Author Biography

Steve Black is a well-known conditioning coach throughout the world of professional sport, having had notable successes with Newcastle Falcons, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Fulham, the Welsh national rugby team and the British Lions. He lives in Newcastle. Arthur McKenzie is a former policeman and international athlete. Over the last 23 years, he has firmly established a wide and varied writing career for stage, radio and television.