Bradford City to play at Newcastle for first time in 25 years.
Bobby Robson was full of admiration for Kevin Keegan. “Young Keegan looks like a player, doesn’t he,” he smiled in front of the St James’ Park press pack, as a club media officer tugged on his shoulder and softly reminded out that he meant Kieron Dyer.
Laughter erupted all around as Robson avoided his gaffe by comparing the strengths of both players.
It’s a treasured memory of one of the few times I was fortunate enough to meet the late former England manager in person.
Robson had just seen his Newcastle side defeat City 4-3 in a Worthington Cup thriller.
On a tumultuous night, the Bantams rallied from three goals down thanks to a rare score from Ian Nolan and an even rarer Ashley Ward double – his first since a much-touted £1.5 million signing on the eve of the club’s dismal second Premier League season.
There were few highlights in season two after Chelsea, but the fightback in the northeast in my first month at the T&A gave one.
Newcastle’s Shearer had two goals, but debutant defender Steven Caldwell saved their blushes with the winner.
Geoffrey Richmond would conclude the night being transported to a nearby hospital after taking a terrible turn.
Robson kindly thanked opposite number Chris Hutchings for replacing front combination Stan Collymore and Benito Carbone at halftime with Ward and Robbie Blake.
“He had nothing to lose, and it worked extremely well; at one point, I thought we were playing Manchester United.”
“I hope the chairman stays with him because he does a good job.” Richmond recovered quickly and sacked Hutchings five days later.
Six weeks on, City were beaten again at St James’, a 2-1 loss ending a three-game unbeaten run which had offered slight hope under new boss Jim Jefferies.
Bobby Robson was Newcastle’s manager when City last faced them. (Image: PA.) That clearly didn’t work out, and the Bantams have not returned to Newcastle since.
Later that season, the teams played again at Valley Parade, with City taking a two-goal lead after just nine minutes.
Ward and a Blake penalty foreshadowed a defiant victory as they headed for the relegation zone – until Newcastle, led by freshly signed £2 million Andy O’Brien, clawed back to earn a point.
Bobby Pointon would not be born for another three years; Andy Cook, a 10-year-old Newcastle United supporter, idolised Shearer.
Since then, games between the two clubs have been consigned to history.
Until now. Last night’s complicated Carabao Cup draw brought a much-needed return to the Geordie footballing hotbed at the same stage as that tense clash a quarter of a century before.
It is an exciting potential for the current crop of City players to face the holders on one of the most legendary stages.
We can forgive ourselves for being assigned to yet another away draw. And what must the number nine be thinking about the opportunity to walk the same hallowed ground as the striker he admired?
Cook’s comeback, which is growing closer and closer, will undoubtedly speed even more with the prospect of facing his “other” club at his personal theatre of dreams in a few weeks’ time. It’s only a cup, according to the song, but what a game to look forward to.
The Bantams will enter the A1 with nothing to lose after defeating two Championship teams. You’ve got to adore it, as Keegan, not Dyer, put it.
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