An emotional Alan Shearer took time to honor his late father while Newcastle celebrated its Carabao Cup victory earlier this month with a victory parade.
The Magpies finally put an end to a 70-year drought for a major domestic trophy by clinching a 2-1 win against Liverpool at Wembley, with goals delivered by Dan Burn and Alexander Isak. Newcastle’s most recent piece of major silverware prior to this triumph was captured back in 1969 with the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and domestically, the FA Cup in 1955.
Legendary striker Shearer, who found the net 206 times in 405 appearances for his boyhood club, never managed to lift a trophy during his tenure with Newcastle. Shearer, deeply connected with Newcastle just like his father, Alan, who passed away last year after battling cancer, touchingly spoke of his dad’s devotion to the club during the Town Moor festivities.
On the significance the cup victory would have had for his father, Shearer mentioned during the parade: “Unfortunately my dad passed away last May. He was lucky enough to be at the final in ’69. I just wish he could have hung on for one more year just to see and sample this. But he would have been watching on and would’ve been as proud as I was.”
Shearer was in high spirits as he joined the celebrations at Wembley after Newcastle’s remarkable victory, and he was a standout figure during Saturday’s parade, which saw hordes of thrilled Newcastle supporters lining the streets. He wasted no time in sharing his emotions about the team’s historical moment at Wembley just two weeks prior.
He said: “I said I was going to party heavier than anyone and I did! I don’t where I am, what time it is, what day it is…The last two weeks have just been the best in my life. It was some day at Wembley. It was bloody amazing.
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“This is what I wanted. This is what we all wanted. I wanted this to happen in my lifetime and it has. Whatever happens in my lifetime I can go happy. Eddie Howe and the team have done our magnificent city so proud haven’t they?”
The celebrations will need to be put aside as Newcastle refocuses on the Premier League, with Eddie Howe’s squad preparing to take on Brentford Wednesday.
The Magpies are eyeing the top-four spots, sitting sixth in the standings at present, but understand that securing a win against Brentford – coupled with favourable outcomes elsewhere – could elevate them into a Champions League qualification position.
