Happy Birthday to Wor Pav.

1968 Pavel Srnicek born, Ostrava, Czech Republic. (1991-98 & 2006)

One of a small number of players to win a permanent contract and become a first team regular after turning up on trial at United.

Arriving in January 1991 initially for a month, Srnicek appeared for the reserve side and was then signed at a cost of £350K from hometown side Banik Ostrava.

Former soldier Pav had begun his playing career with army sides Dukla Tabor and Dukla Prague and was capped at U21 level.

Although signed by Jim Smith, Srnicek's first team debut came for newly-appointed boss Ossie Ardiles, in a 1-0 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday in April 1991.

Becoming a popular figure with fans and players alike, Pav was to remain at SJP and played under both Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish for the following six seasons.

His time in Toon drew to a close though in the 1997/98 season following the arrival of Shay Given and Pav had just one senior outing, at home to Blackburn Rovers when Given was away on international duty.

Confined to a non-playing substitute role thereafter, he lost out to Shaka Hislop for the bench spot at Wembley in the FA Cup Final defeat that year (he did appear for United in the Charity Shield at that venue).

A brief return to Banik was followed by spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Italian sides Brescia and Cosenza, then back in the UK with Portsmouth and West Ham - always well -received when playing against Newcastle.

Leaving Upton Park in 2004, Srnicek had an unsuccessful trial at Coventry before moving to Portugal with Beira Mar.

And it was a case of "Pavel is a Geordie" again in October 2006 when injuries to Tim Krul, Shay Given and Steve Harper caused then-boss Glenn Roeder to bring the free agent back to SJP on a short-term deal.

Pav duly made his 150th league appearance for Newcastle - some nine years after the 149th - when appearing as substitute for the last three minutes of the 3-1 home victory over Spurs just before Christmas 2006..

He then made a full appearance in the next game away at Bolton on Boxing Day, but was involved in a mix-up with Peter Ramage that unfortunately led to the Trotters equalising.

Pav remained at SJP for the rest of the season but wasn't called upon again for first team duty (although he did appear twice for the reserve side).

After a short spell as a freelance goalkeeping coach in the North East, Srnicek returned to the Czech Republic and became involved in youth coaching back at Banik Ostrava.

January 2012 then saw him appointed as the goalkeeping coach at Sparta Prague, earning a great ovation when returning to SJP in September 2013 to feature in the Steve Harper testimonial match.

From NUFC.com

 

Loved Pav and his penchant for extravagant skinning of oppo strikers was brilliant. I wonder what Budgie is up to these days, assume he's still doing the commentary in Dubai? We've been lucky to have some reall characters as goalkeepers but Budgie and Pav were the funniest in my time.

 

We've been quite lucky with keepers over the years, had some really good stoppers, but as you say, Pav and Budgie stood out in a warm friendly, crowd pleasing way.

 

Didn't know he was born in Ostrava. Had an ex who came from there and been there many times myself. Complete sh*thole. I'm not surprised he adopted a different home city so easily now!

 

He soon became an adopted Geordie by his legion of Geordie fans,

 

Certainly was a cult hero here, one of the most popular players of recent times.

 

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