Source: Telegraph
Alan Shearer stirs emotional rescue on Tyneside
It was back in 2006, the night of Alan Shearer's testimonial, an evening heaving with emotion as Celtic helped the Geordie nation pay farewell to one of the game's greats.
All privileged to have worked with Shearer during his distinguished career, even some of those who chronicled his feats for clubs and country, congregated backstage at the footballing theatre he so famously graced.
As the guests began leaving in the small hours, hundreds of Newcastle fans waited outside, asking for any souvenir of a night of smiles and tears, for a glimpse of the Newcastle Brown Ale "Super Al'' tipple especially brewed for the occasion, even just a word of what the party had been like.
Shearer is a legend on Tyneside, the local "sheet metal worker's son'' and Gallowgate regular who had the skills, work ethic and humility to live the dream, to pull on that black-and-white shirt. He is so popular that Newcastle fans would gather just to watch him creosote his fence.
They revere idols here, strong-willed representatives to parade their fierce regional pride, a Jackie Milburn, Kevin Keegan (an adopted son from Armthorpe) and Shearer. They love their leaders, real men who assume super-human qualities when cloaked in that strip. They adore the chosen ones, charismatic figures who could fall in the Tyne and emerge with a salmon in their mouth.
Those who doubt Shearer's ability to rescue Newcastle in their hour of need, who highlight his lack of managerial experience must understand that different rules apply on Gallowgate. Do not employ usual logic.
Emotion rules here. Many locals would look no further for nirvana than the sight of Philippe Albert gliding through Manchester United's dishevelled defence, chipping Peter Schmeichel, making it 5-0 and last man down the Bigg Market gets the beers.
Football dominates people's lives here just as St James' hogs the skyline. During his final year at Gosforth High, Shearer was so driven by his dream of becoming a football apprentice that he ignored the school's career questionnaire, dismissively scribbling in "dustbin man''. It was football or bust.
Shearer made it, learning so much from playing under such outstanding managers as Dalglish, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle and Sir Bobby Robson.
A pundit who may appear bland on Match of the Day, the private Shearer is one of the most intelligent thinkers about the game. The Football Association even debated Shearer's management potential before appointing Sven-Goran Eriksson to the England post in 2001.
Newcastle will now be stirred by his thoughts on the game but it is Shearer's mere presence as the decision-maker, the ultimate authority at St James' that is most important.
From dressing room to terrace, Newcastle have cried out for a leader, someone who pushed his body through the pain barrier, through extensive surgery to play for his beloved home-town club. Gallowgate has been holding on for a local hero and now he returns.
So here is the human symbol of Geordie ambition, an Englishman who never let his country down, a welcome antidote to all the nonsense of the Mike Ashley regime. Shearer will bring some welcome passion to the cause.
Rallying calls will get Newcastle out of the relegation scrap. Such tactics may not work elsewhere but emotion has always been the fuel for the Geordie rocket. Michael Owen will come alive. Steven Taylor will stand taller. Jonas Gutierrez might even threaten the opposition goal.
It is too late in the season to organise Newcastle's players but they can be galvanised. As he surveys the remainder of the season, Shearer's rhetoric will be simple: "eight cup finals''.
A tidal wave of emotion may not sweep away opponents of the class of Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool or Aston Villa but Newcastle could take eight points from Stoke, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Fulham.
Newcastle players will respond to Shearer. The fans certainly will. The powerful emotions that swirled around St James' during Shearer's testimonial are about to be unleashed again.
