By Henry Winter

The Daily Telegraph
August 07 1996

It takes special people to reach for the sky while keeping their feet on the ground. Newcastle United, a rich club of the people, somehow managed this yesterday as Alan Shearer returned home amid extensive scenes of massed revelry. Newcastle do not need a tube strike to gridlock their town.

After what Kevin Keegan called “the signing for the people”, Newcastle laid on the press conference for the people. Each sensible answer Shearer emitted was followed by raucous applause from the hundreds of supporters allowed into St James’ Park, by limited ticket only, to watch from the Leazes End of the ground.

Outside, in an overflowing car park, 15,000 more roared their approval as Shearer’s simple words flowed out of giant speakers. There was black and white everywhere, chequered grand prix flags waved above a sea of painted faces. Imagine the scenes when he scores.

The city centre was awash with black-and-white shirts, a material reminder of how Newcastle are paying for their £15 million man. Some roads leading to St James’ Park were cordoned off, people on official and unofficial holidays gathering for a glimpse of the returning idol. Eager fans, many ambitiously clasping autograph books, weaved in and out of slow-moving cars in the charge up to the hi-tech mecca on the hill.

On they dashed, past the club shop which briefly ran out of Hs and Es for spelling out Shearer’s name on shirts. On they hurried, this tide of humanity diverted only by security officials past the main entrance until they reached the swelling throng at the back of the Leazes.

Silence stilled their merry hubbub only when Shearer’s voice filtered forth, talking of his pleasure at coming home, the joy at playing “in front of my mum and dad”, the privilege of wearing the fabled No 9 shirt. Despite the rain, despite the troubled employment situation that still besets this unique region, the thousands needed little encouraging to party. Shearer had come home; all problems could be forgotten.

Newcastle’s DJ did not need to intensify the fervour. “Did you hear that question?” he shouted to the swaying thousands. “That journalist said that Manchester United were champions . . . but that was last year.”

Cue Bedlam. He was spinning discs as well as twisting the knife. “This one’s for Manchester United.” And, blaring from every quarter, came: “We will, we will rock you.” There may not be much charity at Sunday’s Charity Shield, when Shearer can expect a less one-sided reception.

Shearer’s signing is a reward for all those loyalists who followed the club through thin and thinner.

Many of those short-sleeved thousands cavorting in the rain had earlier queued for the few remaining Charity Shield tickets. Some still had their sleeping bags with them. This was an occasion of mass devotion.

Yesterday was a celebration of Newcastle support. Fans filled every corner, from spot-lit dais to puddle-stained car park. Supporters everywhere, whether in the form of Sir John Hall, a fan as well as a businessman, the local brewery sponsors, and even Shearer, the first £15 million fan who once stood shoulder to shoulder on the Gallowgate with those who now chant his name. These fans’ money, from chairman to sponsor to ticket-buyer, had combined to bring home one of their own. “It’s your money,” Keegan declared.

Shearer’s signing is a reward for all those loyalists who followed the club through thin and thinner. It is a signing for those thousands of diehards who travelled down to Leicester City four years ago, knowing that their beloved Toon stood on the brink of oblivion.

It is a signing for all those who have watched the club sell their precious players, like Chris Waddle and Paul Gascoigne, both sons of the city. The night before, those not already en route to St James’ could have watched BBC footage of Malcolm Macdonald scoring for Arsenal against Newcastle, who had just pocketed £333,333 for him.

Those selling days were over, Keegan thundered. “It’s lovely to see a Geordie coming home,” Newcastle’s manager said of Shearer. “We’ve sold them time and again. We’ve built stands with the money they brought in.” But St James’ had large stands and a small trophy cabinet.

The transformation wrought by Keegan’s inspirational presence in the dressing room, and Sir John’s millions and enthusiasm, borders on the phenomenal. When Shearer joined his last club, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle were standing in the shadows. Now they are firmly among the limelight clubs.

Shearer, confident but not bragging, spoke yesterday in a stand that had little more than a workers’ hut on it less than four years ago. Liam O’Brien even put a free-kick through one of the hut’s windows. O’Brien and Portakabins: it seems a lifetime ago.

This season is the test. Newcastle have spent millions and need a tangible return.

Yet Sir John, Keegan and Shearer know well that the club have not achieved anything except a guarantee of full-house notices. On Sunday, against the team they love to bait, Newcastle enjoy a first chance of acquiring some silverware, however insignificant the Charity Shield may be.

The championship is the challengers’ real crucible. Those delirious thousands yesterday are the same people with despair suffusing every facial feature last spring, as a weak defence ushered an inspired Manchester United past. The Double-winners have won trophies throughout the Nineties; Newcastle have won only friends and sympathy. Shearer can change that.

This season is the test. Newcastle have spent millions and need a tangible return. Shearer will doubtless contribute by maintaining his goalscoring rate - not bad for a striker who spent part of his Newcastle schoolboy trial playing in goal.

With Shearer leading an impressive attacking line-up, Newcastle will probably score at least twice a match. But Keegan’s defence can only be allowed one slip. Although not captain material, Shearer leads by example and his refusal to countenance defeat should inspire colleagues in times of trouble. His competitive debut comes at Everton on Saturday week; when Blackburn won their championship, Shearer produced a display of extraordinary obduracy at Goodison. As the clock ticked down, as Everton threatened equality, Shearer even booted the ball almost into Stanley Park. If Newcastle are looking for a winner, they have found one in Shearer.

Keegan insisted Shearer will be partnered by Les Ferdinand, who has handed over that No 9 shirt. If they do manage to click, Newcastle will indeed possess, in Keegan’s words, “a terrific strikeforce”.

And an expensive one: £21 million. Sir John, encouragingly, talked briefly about ensuring that the early - ultimately expensive - exodus had ended. “We’re going to invest money in our soccer academies so that future Alan Shearers don’t have to leave the region.

“This club is going places now,” Sir John said. Starting with Wembley on Sunday. “Anyone got spare tickets?” Shearer laughingly enquired. He is back where he belongs: reaching for the sky surrounded by family. “After all I’m just a sheet-metalworker’s son from Newcastle.”