By Peter Ball

The Times
August 08 1996

Alan Shearer will have to wait until the Charity Shield on Sunday to make his Newcastle United debut, but he has already made an impressive start at his new club. Just by turning up at St James’ Park yesterday, he sent Newcastle into a lather of excitement.

“This is a great day for the club,” Sir John Hall, the Newcastle chairman, told the media, an elite group of supporters inside the ground and a larger gathering outside. “This club is going places and Alan, together with all the other players, is an investment for the future. It is very difficult to improve on the squad we have, but I’m sure everyone today will agree that we found the right player.”

Indeed they did. Although Shearer’s arrival was greeted by rain rather than the sunshine that his £15 million transfer probably demanded, thousands of supporters braved the weather in the Leazes End car park at St James’ Park to pay homage.

Even meeting the supporters was transformed into a high-gloss affair, despite the weather. Usually, if news of a big-money signing leaks out, little groups of diehards congregate outside the ground hoping for a glimpse of their new player.

Yesterday, the rain might have dissuaded some from attending, estimates of the crowd varying between from 5,000 and 15,000, but nonetheless the event was stage-managed from start to finish, more like an American media party than an English sporting occasion. At 2pm, with the press corralled in the Leazes End stand and those lucky few supporters, guests of the sponsors, seated behind, the Newcastle directors appeared and took their seats on a temporary stage erected on the pitch, followed by Kevin Keegan, who was greeted with loud cheers, then Shearer, to still louder cheers.

Keegan was still delighted with his capture, announcing with relish: “Even with the great players we’ve got, we know that this guy is going to improve them.” With expectations already sky-high on Tyneside, such words might have put further pressure on Shearer, who is carrying the tag of being the world’s most expensive player, but he was his usual, level-headed self.

His delight at joining his home-town club 11 years after turning them down as an apprentice was evident, but he gave no sign that the pressure would get to him. “I’ve always said I wanted to play for Newcastle and I can’t wait for the first game to come,” he said. “I think this team is good enough not only to win the Premier League, but to conquer Europe as well. The price tag is nothing at all to do with me. I don’t set the price. All I can do is go out and try to do my best and, if that means I score goals, which makes me worth £15 million, that’s fine.”

Shearer was equally dismissive of suggestions that he will feel pressure. “If pressure is going out and enjoying yourself and being sung to by 30,000 or 40,000 fans, then give me more,” he said. Every reply was punctuated by roars of approval from the crowd, whose excitement suggested that Shearer actually playing might be unnecessary all he has to do, it seems, is turn up.

On the decision to leave Blackburn Rovers and join Newcastle, he said: “It was the saddest decision and, in another way, the best decision of my life. Leaving Blackburn was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Jack Walker couldn’t have tried any harder to keep me and telling him that I was going was very difficult. I had four years of unbelievable success under some great managers and under Jack Walker, who was a great influence.

“I had a long meeting with him on Sunday [last week] and asked if I could see my options, see what I wanted to do. I met Alex Ferguson [the Manchester United manager] on Monday and was very impressed with him and then met with the boss [Keegan] on Tuesday and again I was very impressed and, as everyone knows, I always wanted to play for this club at some stage. I want to play for Newcastle with my best years in front of me, whereas if I’d gone somewhere else for four years, it would then be with my best years behind me.”

Even Kenny Dalglish was unable to persuade Shearer to stay with Blackburn, although the Scot finally told him that, whoever he chose, “you can’t lose”. With Shearer having scored 30 goals in each of the past three seasons and the only player to score 100 goals in the FA Carling Premiership that seems a reasonable forecast, although his integration into the Newcastle side has still to happen. There have been doubts about the ability of Shearer and Les Ferdinand to work together.

Last season, Keegan had advised Terry Venables, the England manager, to play Ferdinand and Shearer as a partnership and he has no doubts about their capacity to play together. “I think they will make a terrific strike-force,” the Newcastle manager said. “I think they can take each other to the places they dream about going.”

There is no doubt, however, who is going to be the senior partner. Despite his modesty, Shearer likes his own way and has already taken over the No 9 shirt, with its special place in Geordie folklore. “I would play in any number shirt for Newcastle United, but the No 9 at Newcastle is something very special and I’ve always wanted to wear it,” he said. “I mentioned it to the manager, he mentioned it to Les and Les has been very kind and given it to me.”

And the crowd roared again. Despite all the cheers, as his words were relayed to the crowds waiting outside, Shearer punctured one pervasive myth in virtual silence. It had been part of Newcastle history that they had failed to sign him because, when he went there on trial, they played him in goal. Not so.

“I came for a trial with a lot of other lads and there was a shortage or something, so everyone had to take a turn in goal,” he said. “I was no different from anyone else, I had my 20 minutes just like everyone else, but I said to someone that I’d played in goal for Newcastle when I was on trial and I’ve never heard the last of it.” It should not be long before the Newcastle supporters are talking about some rather more memorable performances.