With Alan Shearer now the record goal-scorer the Toon has ever had, we are counting down a Top Ten of his greatest moments in a Newcastle shirt.
Pick that one out!
5 – Villa thriller
Game: Newcastle United 3-0 Aston Villa
Competition: Premiership
Date: Sat 3 November 2001
Venue: St James’ Park
The beautiful game was alive and well for this clash against Aston Villa. Newcastle’s passing may have been quick and fluid, but the quality of all three goals was as spectacular as it was impressive, coming against ex-Man United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Craig Bellamy scored twice, with a wonderful half-volley and an ultra-cool finish, but the game will be remembered most for Alan Shearer’s stunning volley.
Rob Lee picked up the ball in midfield, looked up, noted Shearer’s run, and picked him out with an angled cross-field pass.
Unstoppable: Shearer celebrates
Shearer, without breaking stride, sent a glorious side-footed volley past the despairing Schmeichel to send the Gallowgate wild. A simply majestic moment.
4 – Blues banished
Game: Newcastle United 2-1 Chelsea
Competition: Premiership
Date: Sun 25 April 2004
Venue: St James’ Park
Newcastle United ended Chelsea’s hopes of winning the Premiership with this fantastic result against Roman Abramovich’s millionaires.
A super strike by Shola Ameobi just before half-time brought the scores level after Joe Cole had given Chelsea an early lead. Turning Desailly, Ameobi struck a shot beyond Ambrosio, that left the keeper with no chance.
That'll do nicely!
Alan Shearer then made the match his own, with a moment of sheer brilliance just after half time. Desailly was again left for dead, as Shearer turned away from him before unleashing a thunderbolt from 30 yards that flashed into the back of the net.
For Newcastle it maintained their push for a Champions League spot, which they ultimately failed to achieve. It heralded the end for the Bobby Robson era, but the Toon Army were still left with an abundance of great memories.
3 – Five star show
Game: Newcastle United 5-0 Manchester United
Competition: Premiership
Date: Sun 20 October 1996
Venue: St James’ Park
Perhaps the greatest team performance ever seen by Newcastle United in the Premiership. After being crushed 4-0 by Man United in the Charity Shield a couple of months earlier, Newcastle played the exact same line-up against the Premier League Champions, and got a completely different result.
Shearer completes his hat trick
And at the heart of it was Alan Shearer, a player who turned down Manchester United to join Newcastle. He set up one goal, whipping in a fantastic cross for the reliable head of Les Ferdinand, before scoring another, tapping in after Schmeichel could only parry a shot.
It was the epitome of Keegan’s ideals – free-flowing, exciting football spearheaded by a great number 9. Central defender Phillipe Albert rounded off proceedings with a delicate lob, but by that point, the damage had been long done.
It represented everything that was great about Keegan’s era as Newcastle boss, and for Shearer, it remains one of his greatest moments, leading the attack of his beloved Newcastle, in a game where they crushed England’s finest team.
2 – Leicester fiesta
Game: Newcastle United 4-3 Leicester City
Competition: Premiership
Date: Sun 2 February 1997
Venue: St James’ Park
Few men can alter the course of a game so drastically as Alan Shearer in his pomp, and this game perhaps illustrated that most. An Emile Heskey inspired Leicester soared to a 3-1 lead, shocking the home crowd, and with 13 minutes left on the clock, things looked ominous.
But then Alan Shearer took it upon himself to single-handedly crush the life out of a bright Leicester City, with a stunning hat trick. First off, a freekick from just outside the area that was hit with so much venom, it was as if Shearer was releasing all of his pent up frustration in a single strike.
Shearer's masterstrike
But there was more to come. Minutes later, he received the ball in the box and hit a low drive beyond Kasey Keller in the City goal. An equalizer that sent the Geordie crowd into raptures. That would have done. 3-3. Decent result.
But there was still time for one more attack on a terrified Leicester goal. As Newcastle piled forward, Leicester crumbled again, and Alan Shearer popped up at the back post to tap in the winner. A sensational comeback inspired by a sensational striker. The celebrations were deafening.
1 – Out of the blue
Game: Newcastle United 2-1 Everton
Competition: Premiership
Date: Sun 1 December 2002
Venue: St James’ Park
He barely touched the ball all game. Newcastle were dreadful throughout. And at 1-0 down, a groggy Toon performance looked to be heading to a forgettable conclusion.
But then Alan Shearer produced what is arguably the greatest goal he has ever scored in professional football.
When Ameobi headed down another long-ball into his path, options looked limited. With little time to think, Shearer elected to hit the ball first time from 25 yards. Like a rocket, it flew into the back of the net, and took the roof off St James’ Park.
Forget what it meant, forget what it stood for. This was Alan Shearer’s finest moment, because it embodied all the attributes of a great striker into one thunderous shot. There was power in that strike, and there was incredible technique. Above all, there was stunning precision.
With the last kick of the game, Craig Bellamy stole in to win the match for Newcastle, and send the crowd even wilder. But for years to come, this will be remembered as the game where Alan Shearer executed the perfect strike.
