Tonge joined Manchester United in 1987 at the age of 14, after being scouted by Ferguson. He progressed through the club’s youth system and secured a professional contract by 1990. However, just a year later, Ferguson informed Tonge that his contract would not be renewed and that he would be released. Tonge described feeling devastated by the news and struggling to come to terms with it, expressing a sense of shame and embarrassment at the thought of facing people in his community.
Unfortunately, Tonge’s playing career was cut short at the age of 22 due to a back injury. Despite this setback, he pursued academic qualifications in Sports Science, philosophy, and ultimately earned a PhD focusing on critical times in footballers’ careers. Today, at the age of 52, Tonge works as a lecturer at the University Campus of Football Business and provides commentary on Exeter matches for BBC Radio Devon. He has also written a book titled ‘From Red to Read’, which delves into his experiences at Manchester United.
Tonge describes writing the book as a cathartic experience, highlighting the challenging transition that many footballers face when their playing careers come to an end. Through his research, he found that many former footballers, even those dealing with mental health issues, often keep their struggles private due to fears of it affecting their opportunities for team selection.
