Remembering the glory days when Messiah came to Toon
I WANT US TO SUCCEED AGAIN – BERESFORD
KEVIN Keegan had transformed Newcastle United from Second Division relegation fodder to European contenders in less than two seasons.
But one day the Messiah was told by his own captain that he was being banned from taking part in his own training sessions.
Keegan won it all in the game, including European Footballer of the Year in 1978, but with the likes of Andy Cole, Rob Lee, Scott Sellars, Peter Beardsley and Philippe Albert in the form of their lives, he was told he was no longer up to the task.
United used to open the gates of each training session and invite fans to Durham’s Maiden Castle venue which resulted in huge crowds turning out to see their heroes in action.
It was a far cry from the privacy of the modern day setup which has resulted in high fences being erected around the club’s Benton base.
Indeed, at one stage during the Keegan era, there was even a burger van on the premises as supporters flocked to the sidelines to watch the Entertainers train. However, Beresford told the Chronicle: “Kevin Keegan used to train with us but one day it exploded. “Barry Venison was the best captain I played under, we used to fight like cat and dog in training, but he was a great skipper. “Venners took training so seriously but so did Kevin.
“The gaffer always wanted to join in. “But if you got the gaffer on your side you would be struggling because that is how competitive it was. “One day Kevin lost the ball.
“Venners tracked back and ended up colliding with the post.
“He then exploded with Kevin and said, “That’s ******* enough you aren’t playing in 5-a-side again!” “They were toe to toe.” However, Beresford feels the situation underlined just how good the Newcastle team of the 1990s really were.
He added: “We were all laughing because it was the captain telling his own manager he couldn’t be involved in his own training sessions anymore.
“But what it summed up was that Kevin Keegan – a former Liverpool and Newcastle star – was not able to play because it was competitive.
“It got to the point where you didn’t want to get beat EVEN in training.
“To be fair, Kevin instilled it and Barry Venison took that on.
“I look back on it with a big smile on my face and it doesn’t get any better than looking at good times.”
Beresford found himself reunited
with some of his former team-mates this week as Cole was inducted into the hall of fame at the club’s foundation dinner. He said: “It was great to see Andy get his place. “Coley was back and he’s been through so much, so it was good to catch up. “He’s been through his illness, his career with us and Man United and all that came with it. “But then you have a chat and the old stories start coming back. I met up with the lads, Lee
I look back on it with a big smile on my face and it doesn’t get any better than looking at good times John Beresford
Clark and Rob Lee were there, and we were chatting.”
With the Entertainers in Toon, this resulted in many tales of the good old days being told in the club’s executive suite.
Beresford knows how important Rafa Benitez (right) is to the city and the club, but he would love to see the current side get on the frontfoot a little bit more.
The popular ex-defender said: “I have been critical but I know we are lucky to have Rafa Benitez.
“The way I played, I want to see Newcastle let off the leash a bit more and attack more. Especially at home.
“I understand away from home why you try to shut things down. “I know I’d be a rubbish manager but I am there as an ex-player and also a supporter.
“I just want to see us do well. “Newcastle were let off the leash a bit in the second half and the crowd got behind that.
“It meant that Watford ended up being on the back foot in the end and we got the three points. “Now I’m thinking, ‘Come on Rafa,’ I want to see more of that.”
Beresford also hopes that the modern-day players also take something important from this week’s annual dinner at the stadium.
He said: “My era has gone, although they were good memories.
“I just hope that the modern player comes to an event like that and they take some of it in.
“As they get older they will see what a special club it really is.
“I saw Ayoze Perez there and Federico Fernandez and they will take something from it.
“They have to remember that as Newcastle player, one day they might go up to a kid at a community event and change his life.”