Looking back, Newcastle United’s 5-0 win over Manchester United, exactly 21 years ago today, was the moment Kevin Keegan’s iconic ‘Entertainers’ era truly peaked. Four years after taking the reigns at St James’ Park with the Magpies facing relegation to the third tier of English football, Keegan had done as he and the board promised and transformed the Magpies into an English football powerhouse.
But that rainy afternoon in October 1996 should have been the start of something special, not the beginning of the end. Keegan would resign a matter of months later and all of the building work, which culminated in signing Alan Shearer for a world record £15million from Blackburn Rovers the previous summer, would all go to waste. The Magpies would never come closer to a league title, let alone a first trophy in decades; both painful waits are still ongoing even now.
Coming into the game, Keegan’s charges were still hurting from two equally harrowing defeats to the Red Devils in recent months, but in very different ways. In March, Eric Cantona struck late on in their last visit to Tyneside to secure a 1-0 win; it was a night of high drama at St James’ Park, one which could have seen Newcastle all but secure the title and Peter Schmeichel had been the scourge of the home side all night. As it turned out, it was the start of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side reeling in the league leaders and eventually overturning a one time 12-point lead to lift the crown.
August came and, in the Charity Shield, Cantona struck again alongside Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Roy Keane, to put Newcastle to the sword in a 4-0 humiliation. But the French maestro could only watch on as Keegan and his team exacted revenge in their trademark style, going one better. The perfect game could not wipe away the pain from what had gone before, but it has given fans a great way of remembering the time their team was the country’s second favourite.
This game has not only made those players legends even today, but it vindicated Keegan and looked like doing the same for Shearer, too. To sign for his boyhood club, England’s star striker had to turn down Ferguson and Old Trafford; he has been forced to defend that decision ever since, because he is judged to have turned his back on countless trophies in favour of none.
Yet he joined to close the gap at the top, to be the difference between winning and losing, and he must have felt they had a great chance of doing that at full time that day.
For all the tantalising football Newcastle are remembered for playing, their surge to victory began with a scrappy header from defender Darren Peacock. He bullied the Manchester United markers to meet David Ginola’s corner; it was cleared away but the referee judged it behind the line. Moments later, Ginola put Newcastle in control with a sublime right foot effort on the turn. In the blink of an eye, the ball rifled past Schmeichel, giving the Dane no chance.
Shearer was always going to enjoy it from that moment on; it was the first time he’d faced the team he rejected in the league. The role he played in the third goal, scored by his strike partner Les Ferdinand, clearly gave him great satisfaction; his cross was powered in by Ferdinand, and he couldn’t resist a dig at the visiting supporters, who had been giving him a tough time all day; he turned and ran in their direction, flailing his arms around with a huge grin swept across his face.
Effectively, the points were secure and suddenly Newcastle fans could dream about a romantic end to the perfect game. A goal from the new hero, Shearer, would have been perfect and it soon arrived from close range. The best was yet to come; arguably the most famous goal in modern Newcastle United history.
Something else that has made this game so famous, for the neutral at least, is the commentary from Sky Sports’ legendary Martin Tyler. His reaction to the fifth goal, the showstopper from Belgian defender Philippe Albert, can be quoted by almost everyone who has seen that game live or on the countless reruns since. The first line summed it all up.
“One a day when Newcastle would have taken one, here they are looking for number five… with Philippe Albeeeert! Oh! Absolutely glorious!”
His voice followed the ball up and down, it was majestic, but nothing could do that goal justice. Albert had the audacity to chip Schmeichel from the edge of the box. The fact a central defender had that much confidence and composure just sums up Keegan’s team and the way they played at that time; full of exuberance, ability, so good that they almost went all the way. Even when they failed, they went down spectacularly in a pit of fire.
After that game, the project looked like it would go all the way. It is a great shame Newcastle would fall short, especially after Keegan’s resignation. But it will live long in the memory; it had everything great about that particular era and remains the benchmark for every future side to pull on the black and white shirt.
