Joey Barton and Alan Shearer will share dressing room again for Steve Harper's testimonial Testimonial matches are normally light-hearted, friendly affairs, but Steve Harperâs is starting to look more like a scene from the movie Fight Club after the goalkeeper decided to ask Joey Barton and Alan Shearer to share a dressing room again when a Newcastle XI take on AC Milan next week. Barton has been involved in a long-running feud with Shearer and the pair have not met since the former said he âdespisedâ the ex-England and Newcastle captain on Twitter. With Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer also reunited on the pitch where, as Newcastle United team-mates, they came to blows during a home defeat to Aston Vila in 2005, Harperâs testimonial could be far more dramatic than most. Barton has repeatedly ridiculed Shearer, while the pair almost came to blows in the dressing room during their time together at St Jamesâ Park as Newcastle crashed out of the Premier League in 2009. Somehow, though, Harper has managed to bring the two back together to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Great North Childrenâs Hospital, as well as to mark the end of his 20-year association with the North East club. Barton had already clashed with Shearer after he was sent off during a defeat at Liverpool during the latterâs short stint as manager. And, while the pair reportedly made up later that summer when they crossed paths due to their shared love of horse racing, Barton reopened an old wound and poured a bucket of salt into it following another regrettable sending off. Criticised by Shearer on Match of the Day after he was sent off playing for QPR against Manchester City in the final game of the 2011/12 season, Barton lashed out in trademark Twitter style, ending with: âMy final point, ur a s--- pundit/manager ... I really donât like that p----, in fact I honestly despise him ... Goodnight.â Shearer has never responded publicly to Bartonâs goading, but The Daily Telegraph understands he has been far from impressed with the midfielderâs comments. Both, though, agreed to play in the testimonial as a favour to Harper, who left Newcastle in the summer to sign for Hull City. Others who have agreed to play in the match against AC Milan next Wednesday include Andy Cole, Rob Lee, Nicky Butt, David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla. They will face a team of AC Milan legends including Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Zvonimir Boban and Christian Vieri. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...room-again-for-Steve-Harpers-testimonial.html ----------------- Apart from the potential flash point of Barton playing with Shearer, the report says this match is next week. Presumably he needs some form of dispensation from the club to appear?
Given the age of his opponents, he'll have to pull a muscle warming up to come to any harm. How tragic that would be. I might turn a blind eye if he elbows Shearer 'by mistake' even if they are , allegedly, on the same side.
Seems a strange time to play a testimonial. I think that all parties will be able to put their differences to one side for just one match. It is after all in the name of a legend of the games charity. Fair play to Harper for donating the gate receipts to Sir Bobby's foundation.
I met Harper through work last year (and sorry to say I didn't recognise him). A very friendly and nice bloke he was and hearing he is giving the gate money to charity just emphasises the fact
Surely the testimonial must be this Wednesday as we are due to play Brighton at home next Wednesday so Barton is likely to be otherwise engaged.
