I’ve always loved Newcastle. Even when you’re watching their games on television, you can feel the passion of the crowd.
I grew up in the suburbs outside of Newcastle, and there were blank walls, and there was a lot of space to imagine – the fields and the motorways – so I used to sit and talk to myself as different people.
I think Ant and I were ambitious because of where we come from. Both of us are from working-class families on council estates in Newcastle.
The reason you come to manage Newcastle is to be in front of 50-odd thousand every week, even if you might get a bit of stick along the way.
I’ve always wanted to play for Newcastle, and I’ve only had a little taste of that, so for me, it’s about getting fit as soon as I can and getting back on the pitch for Newcastle and making more memories of the future.
At Newcastle, I had a team at the bottom of the table with a crowd that was very angry at what had gone on at the club for a period of time.
I think every English actor is nervous of a Newcastle accent.
You start going to games when you’re younger but you think it’s the norm that every football club in the world has that many fans, but as you get older you realise they don’t! And you realise just how big a club Newcastle is.
I’m happy for the move to Chelsea from Newcastle and I did what I had to do with the time I was given.
I have followed Newcastle my whole life. I had two Newcastle shirts when I was little. It was unusual; most people choose a team like Manchester United or Barcelona, but for me, it has always been Newcastle.
I was going to a good club in Newcastle and working with an unbelievable manager in Bobby Robson. It was the best for Leeds, and in the end, it worked out well for me as well.
Robbie Fowler contacted me and said there were some very good players in the A-League while Michael Bridges spoke in glowing terms of this growing League. After finally speaking to Dwight Yorke, I decided to accept Newcastle Jets’ two year offer.
To improve teams like Newcastle, if you do the right things, it is enough to be stronger and bigger and compete.
I am hopeful for the Newcastle fans, for the club, for everybody that I will be able to step aside and we will be able to get an owner in that will please everybody.
At United, my United, we had been honed into a ruthless team who played great football but, ultimately, were there to win football matches and league titles. At Newcastle, they could certainly play on their day, and the crowd was formidable, but there was a weakness – a vulnerability that you could seek out.
Paul Scholes was at home on a cold February day away to Newcastle.
I never even wanted to be an actress. I studied mass communication and wanted to study law in Newcastle, for which I even got a scholarship. But by then, I had started modelling. So, I took a year off to decide what to do. But once you are used to working, it’s difficult to get back to studies.
When I was a young boy I wanted to play for Newcastle United, I wanted to wear the number nine shirt and I wanted to score goals at St James’ Park. I’ve lived my dream and I realise how lucky I’ve been to have done that.
Pages: 1 2
