ST MIRREN legend Tony Fitzpatrick is preparing to lift the lid on his incredible life inside and outside of football.

For the first time, Fitzpatrick – who not only won a league title and Scottish Cup medal with the Saints but also had two spells as manager and is now the club’s chief executive – is telling his story.

The autobiography, titled 'Fitzy: The Story of My Life,' includes tales from the dressing room and behind-the-scenes boardroom battles.

But away from the football banter and bust-ups, there’s also an amazing story of being brought up in one of the poorest and most violent areas of Glasgow and how he used his football skills to escape that life.

While at the top of his football career, tragedy struck when his six-year-old son, Tony Jr, lost a brave battle against cancer.

And on the day of his funeral, callous thieves ransacked the family home, stealing anything and everything they could load on to a furniture van.

Sir Alex Ferguson, in only his second managerial job, made the teenage Fitzpatrick captain of St Mirren – but not before the player’s dad had to phone Fergie, pretending to be the family doctor, to assure him the young starlet was fit enough to play after suffering pleurisy.

The book, published by Macdonald Media, also tells how Fitzpatrick lost a fortune after he put money into Livingston FC, only for the club to go into administration.

However, Fitzy bounced back and, as part of a groundbreaking police initiative, worked with some of the most violent young men in Glasgow’s gangs, encouraging them to give up their blades and guns.

Co-writer of the book, Paisley-based journalist and author Norman Macdonald, said: “I was amazed at some of the stories Tony had to tell. This book will touch all your emotions.

“It’s a must-read heartwarming story of personal triumph over adversity.”

Fitzy: The Story of My Life, priced £11.99, will be published on Tuesday, November 6.

A triple bonus is on offer to those who pre-order the book before the publication date, as they will be among the first to receive a signed copy, entered into a prize draw to win two tickets for a VIP matchday experience at a Saints home game and have the chance to be one of three people chosen at random to have their copy personally delivered by Fitzpatrick.

For more information or to pre-order, log on to www.fitzybook.co.uk.