Shearer salute at the SoL ... but Cats fans aren’t cross at Kenny
CHARITY CHAMPION’S CHEEKY BIG AL TRIBUTE
MEET Kenny Ashton – the Newcastle United fan who went viral for his Alan Shearerinspired celebration at the home of arch-rivals Sunderland. Kenny sprinted across the Stadium of Light turf with his arm aloft after successfully hitting the crossbar with his half-time effort on Saturday.
The lifelong Toon supporter quickly became an internet sensation when the Sky Sports clip of his celebration was shared widely by football fans.
Now Kenny, a dad-of-five from
The ball was still on the spot. I thought, ‘I’m going to do it’. I had to do the Shearer Kenny Ashton
Boldon Colliery, has spoken about his moment in the spotlight and the gruelling charity walk which led the 34-year-old to Wearside. He and his fellow walkers were invited on to the pitch by the club at half-time to take part in a crossbar challenge as a thank you for their fundraising efforts on behalf of the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
Bravely donning the shirt of his beloved Newcastle, Kenny endured his fair share of stick from the crowd and none of the participants were successful in their efforts.
But as the walkers started to leave the pitch, the Toon fan saw the ball on the spot and unleashed a crisp strike on to the crossbar – and was soon off celebrating to initial cheers from the crowd.
Kenny said: “I was the only Newcastle fan on the walk so I had to wear my shirt obviously. The ball was still on the spot as we started to walk off. I thought, ‘I’m going to do it.’
“I had to do the Shearer. It was just a spur of the moment thing, I could barely walk. I was hobbling around but as soon as I hit it, the adrenaline came through us!
“The place just erupted when I started running. It was good, kids on the sideline were singing ‘six in a row’ at us but they high-fived us in the end.
“Everyone was ripping us to bits beforehand, but I said to the lads I’ll be the only one who hits that crossbar. I knew I was going to hit it.
“I got booed and jeered but that’s to be expected. I loved every minute of it, it was good banter.”
Milking the celebration for all it’s worth, Kenny then put the icing on the cake with a nutmeg of one of his friends who came to usher him off the pitch. He added: “I just hope Shearer gets to see it because I think he would absolutely love it. “He is my absolute idol and I don’t think there’s a player in the world the Sunderland fans hate more!”
Kenny woke up the following day to find his crossbarshot and enthusiastic celebration had made him a social media star. Sky Sports footage was shared by delighted Newcastle fans – while Kenny was just relieved to see his efforts were captured on video.
He added: “It’s all a bit surreal now it has gone viral. I was begging people to find footage because I needed the evidence!”
Kenny was part of a group who undertook a gruelling walk from Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium to the Stadium of Light to fundraise for the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
Inspired by former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe’s heartwarming friendship with brave Bradley, the football fans made the remarkable journey over nine days and arrived on Wearside on Friday. More than £12,000 has so far been raised by their efforts.
Kenny added: “The reason I got away with it is because cancer has no colours, it’s as simple as that. Everyone knows we were there for Bradley, so I don’t think there is any ill-feeling.
“We all have aches and pains, but we have said it is no comparison to what kids like Bradley, Frankie (Sherwood) and Hope (Feeney) are going through on a daily basis.”
To find out more and to donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-bosher-safc.