“EVERY DAY I WAKE UP AND I’M HAUNTED BY NOT WINNING THE TITLE WITH NEWCASTLE”
You joined Newcastle the summer before their title-challenging 1995-96 campaign. Did you sense that you were walking into something pretty special?
Absolutely. I remember our first game against Coventry, with 38,000 fans all dressed in black and white. The atmosphere at St James’ Park was unbelievable. I remember walking onto the pitch with Les Ferdinand and we couldn’t believe what we were witnessing. We won 3-0 but it could have been 30-0. We were carried by our fans – we just felt invincible that day.
Your move to Newcastle from Wimbledon made you the most expensive defender in British history. How did that feel?
Very proud. When I was 13 years old, even 16, I was told I wasn’t good enough to make it as a pro. Going from non-league football
