Friends to become enemies as Entertainers braced for war
WE have a Newcastle United family head-to-head on Tyneside turf a week tomorrow.
Steve Watson and Rob Lee were Magpie team-mates for six years during the glamorous days of the Entertainers. Brothers in arms fighting the Geordie cause.
Next Sunday they will transform them into enemies – at least for an hour and a half.
Why? Because Watson, the new manager of Gateshead, will be playing Rob’s sons Olly and Elliot Lee when a rampant Luton Town come to the International Stadium in the second round of the FA Cup.
Former United forward Andy Cole helped make the draw on behalf of headquarters and so played a dastardly hand in forging Watson v Lee for the massive prize of entry to the third round, when Premier League clubs like Newcastle partake.
The Lee juniors began life at West Ham when Rob was a boyhood fan before eventually finding their way into the ranks of Luton, who are currently leaders of League Two.
The Hatters like running up cricket scores, albeit at home.
They have destroyed Yeovil 8-2, Stevenage 7-1 and Cambridge United 7-0 which, I would suggest, makes Olly and Elliot Lee key players for the lower league’s Entertainers just as Rob was in the 90s Entertainers!
Last Saturday’s downing of Cambridge had the Lee stamp all over a devastating performance.
Olly began it all with a stupendous effort which has already guaranteed him goal of the season.
He lobbed the goalkeeper from his own half, fully 70 yards.
Rob notched for United from his own half at SJP - only to have his outrageous effort ruled out through no fault of his own.
Dad missed Olly’s epic day being a guest at Twickenham (he is not even a rugby fan). Will he risk missing out on something spectacular again at Gateshead?
Olly, 26, is an attacking midfielder while 22-year-old Elliott is a striker who bagged a couple, helping to sink Cambridge’s crew in choppy waters.
Watson will, of course, be endeavouring to keep his Heed above the water line.