There are always iconic games that fans remember and define an era at a club, but few were greater than the night a Tino Asprilla-inspired Newcastle beat Barcelona in the Champions League.
The 5-0 win over Manchester United, Keegan’s first goal for the club at the Gallowgate End against Queens Park Rangers, Rob Lee’s hat-trick in the away UEFA Cup game at Royal Antwerp, Alan Sherer’s thunderbolt in the Old Trafford FA Cup Semi-Final win against Spurs.
All those were games that stick in the memories of those who remember them, but the first-half demolition of Barcelona by Asprilla – accompanied by some wonderful assists from Keith Gillespie – probably outdoes them all.
It is amazing to think it was 22 years ago, and is one of those ‘this will make you feel old’ trivia facts.
But Newcastle circa 2019 are a million metaphoric miles away from that of 1997, and it is such a shame to see the demise of the club.
Supporters, like me, who can recall those days from their memories, and not YouTube videos, despair at the way the club has declined to the state it is in today.
Newcastle did not capitalise on achievements from past eras
It seems criminal that the club did not kick-on from those heady-heights, and become one of English football’s elite sides.
They had almost everything they needed – the players, the fans, the stadium.
There was one thing they did not have, however, and that was trophies.
The position we find ourselves in now under the current ownership, it is unlikely that the missing ingredient will be added any time soon, a fact fans were quick to remind the club of when they posted a Tweet about that historic day over two decades ago.
Here are a selection of the replies:
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