He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten, as fans have proved, on the 20th anniversary of Sir Bobby Robson’s first game in charge of Newcastle.
The legend, who had black and white blood running through his veins, fulfilled his lifelong ambition, as he stepped into the home dugout at his beloved St James’ Park.
It was a dream opening for him too, with Sheffield Wednesday the unfortunate visitors on the wrong end of an 8-0 demolition.
To those of us fortunate to be at that game, it was an occasion right up there with Kevin Keegan’s home debut goal against Queens Park Rangers, and Shearer’s first home goal against Wimbledon.
It was a never-to-forget day, which makes the current plight of the club all the more galling for fans.
The late Sir Bobby would be dismayed at the decline of his club, and the treatment of its fans that he adored and had such a great rapport with.
A memorable game on a memorable day
In that first game, Alan Shearer scored an incredible five goals – including two penalties – with Aaron Hughes, Kieron Dyer and the late Gary Speed chipping in with the others.
It was a game that epitomised Newcastle under Robson, and unfortunately highlights how the club nowadays is a million miles away from those heady days in the late 1990s, early 2000s.
How fans who remember those days must wish for their return, or younger fans who must wish they could see a team like that of which their fathers drool over.
Fans were quick to take to Twitter to reminisce and long for their former icon:
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