WOR & PEACE Magpies legend Ando: FA Cup is a great chance to end 51 years of hurt for fans
TOON IN SEARCH OF THE
JOHN ANDERSON has seen it all at Newcastle over nearly four decades.
The former Republic of Ireland defender made 337 league appearances for Toon in 10 years with the club, signing from Preston in 1982 amid the hoohah of Kevin Keegan’s arrival at St James’ Park.
Two years later, Anderson was a virtual ever-present in a promotion-winning campaign that was the swansong for Keegan’s playing career.
When Geordie Messiah
Keegan returned to Tyneside in 1992 for his first spell as manager, injury forced Anderson into retirement.
But he was soon back with Newcastle – watching them home and away as a match summariser for BBC radio.
At 60, ‘Ando’ is still on the air and on the road, as he will be when he travels to West Brom – his first club – for Newcastle’s visit in the FA
Cup fifth round.
It is more than 50 years since the Magpies lifted a major trophy – the 1969 Inter-cities Fairs Cup, which eventually became the Europa League.
And Anderson (above) feels Newcastle now have “a big opportunity’’ to reward the patience of their success-starved fans after Steve Bruce led them into the FA Cup’s last 16 for the first time in 14 years.
Manager Bruce (right), a lifelong fan himself, replaced Rafa Benitez last summer after quitting Sheffield Wednesday, but being an ex-sunderland boss meant a cool reception.
Anderson said: “I always thought it was going to be very difficult for him because an awful lot of supporters didn’t want him. But I don’t see why it was a problem that he managed Sunderland.
“It wasn’t when Barry Venison and Paul Bracewell, who played for Sunderland, came to Newcastle as players.
“It’s the job Steve has always wanted and he’s done OK. He’s been just about true to his word and played his strongest side in the cup competitions. You’d prefer West Brom at home, but they probably don’t want to be in the cup because their priority is promotion.
“This is a big opportunity. Beat West Brom and you’re in the quarter-finals.
“When we got to the cup finals in ’98 and ’99, we didn’t really turn up. If we were to win something, it would be incredible for the fans, those who have been watching Newcastle for 40 to 50 years – even longer than I’ve been around the club.
“We came close to winning something under Kevin Keegan when we should have won the Premier League in 1996. Hopefully, it’s this year in the cup.’’
Newcastle have had 20 managers – Keegan twice – in Dubliner Anderson’s time in the north-east, with big-name bosses failing to deliver. Mike Ashley’s unpopular ownership is in its 13th year and, as talk of a takeover rumbles on, Anderson insists the club needs “huge investment’’.
He said: “The Premier League is such now that if you don’t spend big, you stand still.
“Under Keegan, it was Newcastle who started spending the big money, like Alan Shearer’s £15million world-record fee. Everybody else followed suit, but we’ve been left behind. Will we get up there again? Unless there’s huge investment, you would have to say no.”