Geordie giant Shepherd lived his big dreams
FREDDY SHEPHERD will be remembered as a football fan who lived his dream.
As an ambitious working-class lad growing up in the austere environs of post-war Tyneside, he fantasised about fame, fortune and football.
He succeeded on all three fronts.
A life-long love affair with Newcastle United began on the Gallowgate end terraces idolising Brylcreemed heroes such as Jackie Milburn and Frank Brennan.
Shepherd rose from his humble beginnings to become chairman of his beloved Magpies, and make a fortune as a businessman.
His penchant for the spectacular saw Shepherd play a key role in luring a series of famous managers to Tyneside — Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Graeme Souness and Sir Bobby Robson.
His players were stellar names — Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla and Michael Owen among them.
He helped transform ‘The Toon’ into ‘The Entertainers’ with back-toback Premier League runners-up spots (one of which should have been a title), three Wembley trips and close to a century of European games. Yes, he made mistakes during his time at St James’ Park but in stark contrast to the present incumbent, Mike Ashley, he delivered entertainment and excitement galore.
Souness and Owen, he admitted, were his costliest errors as Toon chairman. His biggest regret was the mishandling of Robson’s exit as manager.
I got to know Shepherd well during his 15 years at Newcastle and admired his passion for club and city. We often disagreed, but he never held grudges. On one occasion after I criticised club policy in an article, he invited me to present an alternative to an impromptu board meeting from his usual chairman’s seat.
“You’d bankrupt us in 48 hours,” was his scathing verdict.
Shepherd was colourful, candid and controversial. Privately, he was generous and caring. He paid £250,000 from his own pocket for a statue of Alan Shearer at St James’ Park.
One day, perhaps, Shepherd’s contribution to the Magpies will be commemorated too.
Knowing him as I did, a small plaque at the back of the Gallowgate stand would suffice for this Geordie giant.