Alan Shearer on the St James’s Park atmosphere and his favourite Newcastle goal
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Coral football ambassador Alan Shearer sat down with our very own David Stevens to discuss topics very close to his heart, relating to hometown team Newcastle United.
Shearer talks about the pressure of playing at St James’s Park in front of the famous Gallowgate End, and his favourite goal scored on Tyneside.
Watch the exclusive videos in full below, and read the best quotes we’ve picked out as Alan answers these burning questions.
Alan Shearer on the pressure of playing at St James’s Park
“It’s a superb atmosphere,” Shearer said of St James’s Park. “That can work either way, because the demand here certainly in the first 15 or 20 minutes of every game is for you to attack and score goals.
“If you haven’t scored within the first 15 or 20 minutes, then you can feel the other team start to grow in confidence. You can hear one or two little moans and groans around the stadium, but in the main you have 52,000 backing you.”
Of Toon Army members, the Newcastle fans, Alan added: “Their desire to win a game here, their desire for success is just unbelievable because they’ve just been starved of it over the years.”
“I’ve seen some very, very good players at Newcastle on the training ground”
“I’ve seen some very, very good players at Newcastle on the training ground,” Shearer continued when asked if the atmosphere on Tyneside proved too much for some.
“When they come onto the pitch in front of 52,000 and they demand you come out and play, then that’s when you find out who your characters are.
“When it’s not going well for you, then you see the guys who have got a bit about them and still demand the ball and want the ball and are prepared or not scared to make mistakes.”
“Benitez brilliant for Newcastle to keep hold of in Championship”
Moving on to discuss Magpies manager Rafael Benitez, Alan added: “It was brilliant for Newcastle to keep hold of him when they were relegated, because of who he is, what he is, what he’s achieved and what he’s won.
“For Newcastle to keep hold of him in the Championship was a great coup. They’re not disappointing. They had a tough start of course and lost their first two games, but they’ve turned it around spectacularly.
“They’re enjoying themselves, they’re top of the league, and we all hope they’re back in the Premier League where they belong.”
Alan Shearer’s favourite goal at St James’s Park
“It has to be the one that broke Jackie Milburn’s record, down in the Gallowgate end in the corner,” said Shearer. “The feeling after that and the atmosphere for certainly 10 or 15 minutes after that in the ground was still shaking and rocking, and I’ll never ever forget that.”
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