There are matches that shine like beacons as tall as Grey’s Monument in the great history of a football club. Europe of course is the height of achievement where qualification can almost be as difficult as the blue riband event itself.
With Newcastle United, I have been privileged to pen their finest achievements over the last 56 years since they first set foot upon Continental soil.
And without question three epic victories take pride of place in my treasure trove of memories above all others. Naturally, the winning of United’s one and only European trophy, the Fairs Cup, on the banks of the Blue Danube that very first season when Ujpest Dozsa were downed a second time is right up there alongside a heady night at St James Park in 1997 which saw European royalty Barcelona reduced to Champions League rubble by a Tino Asprilla hat-trick.
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However, both are challenged – and dare I say probably topped – this very last season by United’s stunning 4-1 wrecking of Paris Saint-Germain, the latest rich aristocrats of Europe.
It was quite frankly stunning and a privilege to be there, as I am sure every Geordie packed within a throbbing SJP would agree. And just to prove it wasn’t a one-off fluke which can happen on days of
fairytale, United went to the French capital in the Champions League return and were only denied a second victory by the most outrageous of penalties given to a relieved PSG in the 98th minute.
Yet Kylian Mbappe and his compatriots possessed enough pedigree that, having escaped from the Group Of Death, they fought their way through as far as the semi-finals where, within smelling distance of a showpiece Wembley final, they were confronted with a defensive masterclass in Paris by Borussia Dortmund, who had also twice confronted Newcastle in battle. That was the quality of opposition we faced on a return to Champions League football after 20 years.
Nevertheless, the eventual demise of PSG takes nothing away from that memorable night of Wednesday, October 4 last year. Geordie legends had massed to witness the return of Champions League football to the cathedral on the hill... Alan Shearer, Rob Lee, David Ginola, Chris Waddle, Yohan Cabaye, Laurent Robert, Shay Given, Jermaine Jenas.
It was indeed to be a feast fit to place before such kings. Club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan had flown in and sat on a throne high above bedecked in black and white.
Of course, we all remember the goals and the glory. They are etched upon every Geordie heart. But let me test your memory just a little. Can you instantly recall that Jamaal Lascelles started, to become United’s first Champions League skipper in two decades? That Sandro Tonali played before going into permanent hibernation? And that Matt Targett got on at the knockings?
What became a current theme all season had already placed its icy hand upon Eddie Howe’s team sheet. Joelinton, Sven Botman, Callum Wilson and Joe Willock were all missing through injury. Oh the cruelty of sitting out a night of history.
Wor Flags set the mood as they have done so effectively all season. They are our decorators and they splashed paint across all four sides of the ground, including a mighty banner at the Gallowgate End depicting Monty Magpie making the Champions League draw.
United started like Max Verstappen when the lights go out and PSG’s certainly did. Within 17 minutes, Newcastle had scorched into the lead through smiling assassin Miggy Almiron. He had the privilege of opening the floodgates. Bruno was the initial supplier, heading on to Alexander Isak, whose usual elegantly rifled shot on the hoof was palmed away by a despairing Gianluigi Donnarumma, only for Almiron to gobble up the rebound like a hungry bear spotting a salmon in choppy waters.
Enter BDB, Big Dan Burn to the neutral football world. A centre-half built like the tower block that was Jack Charlton, playing at left-back. A local with a typical background turning out for New Hartley, Blyth Town and Blyth Spartans with his mates while aged 16 pushing a trolley round Asda. Has there ever been a more romantic story?
Five minutes or so before the interval Burn took off like an aeroplane, flattening all in his path. PSG were in total disarray following a free-kick, Bruno eventually picked out Burn at the back post amid the mayhem, and the big fella overpowered Milan Skriniar and companions to plant a header the visiting keeper clawed out the back of the net. Inevitably, VAR took a long check to see if the ball had crossed the line and that there was no unfair flooring of defenders or offside before Dan’s face broke into the biggest smile since Billy Bunter was let loose in the tuck shop.
It was getting distinctly messy for the group favourites, but it was to get even more alarming come the 50th minute. Another local lad, Sean Longstaff, took up the Geordie cause, powering in on the right to meet a measured Kieran Trippier pass and rattle the rigging.
Like Burn, his background is fascinating. The son of a renowned North East ice hockey star whose mam was a renowned netball player and the brother of Matty, who was good enough to also sign for United and be rated by some the better of the two brothers.
Lucas Hernandez with a header during a period of PSG pressure, which all pedigree sides must have at some stage, produced a tad of trepidation until, as time was taking us towards the promised land, Fabian Schar decided to put his cultured laces through the ball and all was right with the world.
If it was our finest moment, then it was certainly not an occasion for visiting dignitaries. Mbappe never got a kick – the nearest he got to a Newcastle player was when Trippier asked for his shirt to give to his little lad – while their chief coach Luis Enrique had been in the Barcelona side that was
Tino-ed on the same ground 26 years previously.
There have been many memorable Euro nights in Geordie black-and-white – from the very first excursion against Feyenoord at a welcoming St James’ Park through to the semi-final Battle Of Britain with Glasgow Rangers.
From Inter Milan here a couple of seasons later, where I watched dumb-struck as their keeper decked the referee, to a wonderful night in Antwerp when Rob Lee scored a hat-trick of headers.
From beating the mighty Juventus to Craig Bellamy’s 90th-minute winner in Rotterdam which brought about a dramatic Champions League group qualification. All are a treasure to the devoted but none, I would suggest, tops Newcastle 4 PSG 1, including Ujpest and Barca.
That is now the benchmark for glory.
May we go on and beat it in the very near future because to do so would bring about something historic in United’s 130-year existence.
