Personal experience with players...

I saw Cantona before the FA Cup semi final in Cardiff. I was going to give him some stick but when I got close I discovered he was like 6 foot 3 and probably closer to twenty stone and I was a skinny little coward.

 

Shook Gazza's hand at the Metrocentre when I was about 5, can't really remember it though. Me mam said he looked a bit drunk.

Also saw Perch with his lass at the Metro a few months ago (unsurprisingly he looked a bit lost), and last week saw Leon Best coming out of The Gate.

 

Oh yeah how could I forget. Went to see Wimbledon v Chelsea in late 80's and after the game was waiting with my mates for our coach to pick us up. Micky Hazard came and stood next to us (also waiting for a lift). We just ignored him but he started chatting to us about the game. Seemed to be a nice guy actually (for a Mackem) but seemed a bit put out that we weren't overawed by his presence. We didn't ask for his autograph or anything.

 

Just posted an article -

About an hour ago, i saw Steve Harper in his car, and he let me cross the road and even waved

 

At least somebody waves to you Tash ****ing Gutierrez, what is he like!

 

Don't mention that ****s name

 

Met Milner and Stevie Taylor in Nijmegan during the U-21 European Championships. We were sat right on the corner and every time Milner came to take a corner vs Serbia we kept chanting Toon Army.

End of the match the lads came over to chat for a few minutes which was great.

 

Met Beardsley on a number of occasions. Always very polite and friendly.

When we lived in Whickham, Keith Gillespie lived along the road from us. Our daughter (around 9 at the time) was dared to knock at his front door by her mates. He comes to the door, she looks up and says "Hello - are you Gillespie?" in her geordie twang. Full credit to him, he gave her a signed photo from a pile he kept by the door for such occasions.

A bit later, still in Whickham, Shay Given lived just along and behind us. He often had a kick around with his neighbour's young lad in their back garden - right behind us. Our fence used to get a right twatting, but Bill next door had his kitchen window broken. Lad's father told Bill "Hey it was Shay Given!!", but Bill said "I don't care if its Jesus ****ing Christ, I want my window fixed". Shay was nowhere to be seen.

I see John Anderson quite often through our mutual businesses. He's a top banana and a good laugh. Just don't get him on the touchy subject of how much footballers are paid these days....

 

I've been slapped across the chops by Nolan as he was attempting to wake me from my mortal, sick covered stooper in Floritas.

Saw loads of the team in there, Jonas and R.Taylor seem to be big fans of the pictures, saw them loads in the metty when I worked there. (AC as well)

I've saw Ranger out once and he does seem like a bit of a nob. Didn't bother speaking to him but saw him throw a blob onto a table, point to a lass then point to the blob.

The lass told him to **** off, which was quite priceless.

 

My garden backed on to Christian Bassedas' garden when he was here... seemed alright

Nobby Solano lived in the same estate, just 2 doors down from my mates house... seemed alright

I saw Shola in As You Like It once... seemed alright.

I saw Shearer, Robert and Given in a school yard once... seemed alright (they were picking up their kids, and I was picking up my brother, before any tries to be funny)

I spoke to Peter Ramage on the phone once... seemed alright.

I 'think' I spoke to Cacapa in Sainsbury's once just after he signed for us. I tried to get him to answer some questions for my GCSE Geography Coursework but he smiled and said "No English" and walked off... still seemed alright

 

I remember Routledge (or maybe it was Jose) tweeting a picture of the baby grows actually!

 

This isn't a story about a Newcastle footballer, but probably hands down the coolest 'celebrity' story of my life!

Last year I went travelling in Thailand and Australia (blew my life savings, but was totally worth it). I was on the Thai Island of Koh Samui and stumbling my way up the road when I randomly bumped into 2 of my cousins...We all went into a massive club and as I was completely off my tits, decided to climb up on stage and start having a dance off with my cousins...Suddenly there was a mad rush from the crowd and loads of people joined in, it turned into boys Vs girls in a bizzare primary-school disco meets RUM-DMC style affair...

...Out of nowhere, a huge sweaty looking lump of a lad came pushing through the crowd and started doing the worm accross the stage. All the lads I was travelling with are all mad about rugby and started pointing and shouting '****ing hell, he plays for England' ... It turned out that our chunky Wayne Sleep was none other than Northampton captain and England hooker Dylan Hartley!

Any way, after he stood up we all went over for a bit of craic and he offered us an invitation back to him private apartments for a party ('bring some booze and some filthy bitches though boys, yeah?') So, bottle of vodka in hand, away we went, hanging off the back of a Tuk Tuk to his very own, 3 floored, private gym and pool, completely enclosed £350 a night apartment...It was immense!

Only got a couple of photos of the night...But...To add to this lads already legendary reputation in my eyes, after partying all night without sleep, he made us all scrambled eggs and fruit salad for breakfast in the morning!

The man himself

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His pool

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And the two blondies in this photo ended up running about with their tits out

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Quite possibly the greatest night of my life!

 

DAMN IT. WHERE ARE THE OTHER PIUCTURES.

rep for the best story so far anyway.

 

Jonas Gutierrez

 

I was in David Lloyd near the Freeman about 3 years ago, and Paul Gascoigne started getting changed beside me. I glanced up, not realising who it was at first (he'd lost a lot of weight). Then I looked again, and he gave me this look, which said 'I can't believe it's me either!'

Also, I saw Laurent Robert outside Bell's bookshop on Gosforth High Street. Shame that place closed down...

 

Some of the pictures didn't transfer from facebook i guess...Not to fret, I picked out a couple of decent ones and uploaded them to my photobucket:

Meet Amy

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and Megan

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2 of the lads ended up riding them on a beach in Phucket...I spent that night being prick-teased by a Canadian girl, with barely even an accidental fumble to show for it!

 

Saw Gutierrez walking past mothercare while i was in tryin to find something for my nephew. Me and the Ex saw Beardsley walking into SJP she told me to say hello put he had his luch so thought id leave him alone.

On a seperate note. When Newcastle trained at Houghall in Durham my Grandad spoke to Shaka Hislop for ages think Shaka wanted to runaway. I lost his autograph though

 

me and a mate were in david lloyds about three years ago, walked into the changing room and it was full of toon players (well about 4), my mate totaly oblivious walked over to one of the lockers and started getting changed, ended up pulling his boxers down right in front of michael owen.

i also saw ranger going into an italian cafe today didnt speak to him and cannot confirm his knobness.

 

I won a fone-in competion years ago, got to watch Newcastle v Luton FA Cup tie from the press box, go the the press confrence after, interviewed Keegan for the radio, met the players after - Beardsley, Rob Lee and Lee Clarke were all top class. Half way thru the first half Beardsley was tackled by some Luton player, don't recall which, and I stood up and shouted 'How, ya ****in' ****!' = got a severe bollocking coz I'd completely forgot where I was and there were radio commentators all round me! In the press confrence, someone said KK was using the state of the pitch as an excuse (1-1 draw). He lost his temper, said 'Are you calling me a liar? Come on then, the lot of you!' He led everyone out of the press room, down a couple of coridoors, then I realised we were all going out onto the pitch. I hung back a bit so I could walk out on my own. Fantastic, even in an empty stadium! He was right, mind, the pitch was clarty as hell, a right mess.
That was the second time I met Rob Lee. First time was when he was playing for Charlton. I was working in Greenwich for a couple of weeks, and the company put me up in a hotel in Blackheath. I'd never been away with work before, boss told me I just had to sign for my meals and if I wanted a drink in the bar. Mistake! Got talking to a group of lads who turned out to be most of the Charlton 1st team, Mr Lee included. 'Don't worry about it lads, I'll get the beer in, I don't have to pay' - needless to say I was nearly sacked when I got back and the boss saw the bill!!

 

I met Les Ferdinand many years ago in Tall Trees, he was absolutlely great to everyone who spoke to him he was with Danny Behr at the time and she was really nice as well.
I've met quite a few famous people through work even though I don't always recognise them, I work in a shop and this guy came in with his daughter, she was helping him choose a purse for his wife. He was a bit put out about the price and she was telling him not to be mean, as it happens we didn't have it in the shop I needed to order it from another store. He gave me his mob. number, I asked him his name and he was really huffed. He calmly said "It's Mcdermott, Terry Mcdermott". I said, "Course you are, you've changed your 'Do'" (Hairdo) He was even more annoyed. His daughter was hysterical, I could hear him telling her off all the way out the store.
I also met a rugby player at work, we got chatting whilst his wife was trying stuff on, he was doing some thing for the Falcons. I didn't recognise him, but he was an Australian international, with a world cup winners medal. He's called Andrew Blade.