What were you doing on Tuesday, July 30, 1996? It was the day Alan Shearer signed for Newcastle United and became the world's most expensive player.
That’s right, it’s exactly 23 years since the Magpies broke the world transfer record to bring Shearer back home from Blackburn Rovers.
Shearer, in case you need reminding, went on to become United’s and the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer in a career that saw him spend a decade in a black-and-white shirt.
The England legend joined his home town club for £15m back in ‘96 and was worth every penny as he became a folk hero.
He made his league debut away at Everton and then scored in his first home game – a 2-0 win over Wimbledon.
During his time at the club, Newcastle qualified for the Champions League three times and he helped the Magpies reach back-to-back FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999.
Shearer bagged a club record 206 goals in his 404 Newcastle appearances – surpassing Jackie Milburn in the process – as well as 30 in 63 games for England in career spanning 18 years.
His testimonial match came against Celtic on May 11, 2006 at St James’ Park – a game the Magpies won 3-2, with Shearer’s injury-time penalty the deciding strike.
