I’m a Celeb favourite David Ginola reflects on his own Newcastle United training ground issues

The I’m a Celeb jungle isn’t the first time David Ginola has had to adjust to his surroundings.

Former Newcastle United star is currently slumming it in the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here castle, but it's not the first time he's had to adapt to not so luxurious surroundings.

The Frenchman has already proved a big hit with the public on the ITV show, romping to a lead in the polls to be the show's winner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ginola has won over viewers with his dry humour, father figure role and, of course, dashing looks.

David Ginola and Naughty Boy on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (Image: ITV)David Ginola and Naughty Boy on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (Image: ITV)
David Ginola and Naughty Boy on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (Image: ITV) | ITV

The 54-year-old has also had no problem adjusting to the harsh castle surroundings, despite having to spend his first few nights in the Castle Clink alongside Arlene Phillips, Naughty Boy, Danny Miller and Richard Madeley.

Ginola has been sleeping like a log, rocking the whole I'm a Celeb camp.

It's not the first time the tricky winger has had to adjust quickly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When he arrived on Tyneside in 1995 for a £2.5 million fee, but reality at Newcastle wasn't quite the modernised welcome he expected.

Speaking on Amazon Prime Video Sport with Gabby Logan, John Bishop and Peter Crouch, Ginola recalled how the Newcastle training facilities used to be shared with Durham University students.

He said: "I came from PSG and in Paris it was very secluded and private.

"When I was at Newcastle, I signed my contract at St. James' Park and the next day I went to the training ground in Durham, all the way down the A1.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"When I arrived there it was like a training ground, with all the facilities for students. We shared a dressing room with the students.

"It was professional and amateur in a good sense.

"The fans were there at training every day, hundreds of them, there was a great connection with the Geordies."

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice