I'd met Kevin in the morning and then Sir Alex in the afternoon at David Platt's mother-in-law's house. Sir Alex's words were, am I seen you first or second? And I said, well, I'd met Kevin this morning. He goes, that's me. I was meant to be the final piece in the jigsaw. Didn't quite work out like that. You agree to sign for Newcastle in Manchester. Can you believe that? Do you believe that?

After singing, everything I do I do for you and me and Bex. so didn't quite work out like that. You agree to sign for Newcastle in Manchester?

Can you believe that?

After singing, everything I do I do for you and me and Bex.

And I had my medical there and everything.

Yeah, that was taking the piss.

The bastard, you know, goal scorer.

Correct. I'm Alan, welcome to the overlap. We're here in the Dotlands if you like of Newcastle. Just

talked us a little bit of what this city means to you and sort of growing up in this area.

Well I was born here as soon as I

could walk my old man chucked a ball at my feet and a Newcastle top and that was it. I'm not

different to any other kid that's just what happens here. Football means that much to everyone.

My dad went to watch Newcastle every single week and loved it as much as anyone else.

I did exactly the same with my son as soon as he could walk. There's a football. There's a Newcastle kit and he goes to all the games now home and away and he's a mad Newcastle fan just like I am. What impact does it have on the city of football? I know everybody up here is absolutely mad in terms of, you know, about football. What impact does it have when the team's down, particularly in the say last 10 years, which has been really difficult? The football club is their life. They go to work all week, Monday to Friday, 7 till 5 or 7 till 6 to earn money to spend on a weekend, to have a good time. And spending their money means going to watch their club, Newcastle, going to the pubs and restaurants on a on night, then they start all over again. So Newcastle is their life. I mean, I've been all over the country, and I've not quite seen anywhere that when you walk around the town, you see the nannas and grandads, the moms and dads, the brothers and sisters, all the kids wearing the black and white, wearing the shirt. So it is their life.

So for the last 14 years it's been really difficult because they've had no hope.

Cup competitions have been zero and it's just been about surviving.

So I can sort of understand and get why all of a sudden there's a little bit of excitement in the city.

Your dad grew up as a sheet metal worker. What sort of life did you have growing up? I lived in a three bedroom council house on an estate. We had the flats opposite where I used to go and kick a ball against the walls and get a bollocking every now and again to keep the noise down. They gave me what they had, which wasn't a lot. They went out and worked extremely hard. My dad worked in the factories. Used to come in at 5 o'clock. His tea was ready for him on the table. Probably still is, actually. And then they gave me the boots, they gave me whatever. They paid for the travel. And if it wasn't for them, I would never have been in the position I am now, because, yeah, I've would everything to them. What sort of advice would they give you as a sort of youngster in terms of football but generally around life? They would just tell me to do what I wanted to do so long as I worked hard. They didn't push me, they didn't force me, they just wanted me to go out and give it a right good go. And I'm like that now with my kids. If I didn't make it, it wouldn't have mattered, but they supported and pushed me all the way as much as they could. And I know if it hadn't it worked, then that wouldn't have been a problem for them. You look at sort of, you know, growing up in you, because how difficult was it when you sort of got to 15? Yeah, that was part and you've got to leave here well that was really difficult was I had a decision to make

do a assigned schoolboy forms at 14 which it was what it was then and then I got

offered the apprenticeship to go down to Southampton and leave everything behind

leave Newcastle behind leave my mom and dad leave all my pals and I still remember

getting on the train and I could see my mom standing on the side when the train's pulling away and the

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