Meeting up with the man that was left on the bench in our first League Cup Final | OneFootball

A couple of days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting an old friend again, Paul Cannell needs no introduction for us lads of an older vintage.

After being convinced by Joe Harvey to leave Sunderland, who he had unwittingly become aligned to as a junior, Heaton lad Paul signed for the club that he supported, Newcastle United, as a full time professional in 1972.

Paul was also a clever lad and in joining NUFC, sacrificed his studies at University and his hopes of becoming a lawyer some day.

I first met him in 1979 when I was having trials for the Toon at Benwell.

He had signed for Washington Diplomats from Newcastle United on a permanent deal in 1978, after previously having been on loan.

Paul was up at Benwell to catch up with some of his old buddies whilst enjoying a break from American ‘Soccer’.

I had banged in a couple and after leaving the changers, I bumped into Paul and he said that I had did ‘alreet’.

When he then found out I lived in North Shields, he offered me a lift. I’ve known and been mates with him ever since.

Paul finished his playing career at North Shields in the 1980s and after another failed trial period for me at the Toon in 1981, I had eventually began serving an apprenticeship as a Marine Plumber/Welder.

Paul Cannell had settled in North Shields and ran various clubs and pubs over the years.

Although a decade separated us, we had always hit it off.

By the time I was in my late forties and he was pushing sixty, we had become firm friends. We even shared the same thick moustaches that had once been Paul’s trademark as a young United striker.

Paul is a man with no regrets, who patiently and quite happily played second fiddle to Supemac, John Tudor and Alan Gowling during his time at Gallowgate.

Paul was named as our only substitute for the League Cup Final against Manchester City in 1976.

He has told me that after Dennis Tueart had given City a 2-1 lead in the second half, he was convinced that Gordon Lee was going to bring him on to save the day.

It never happened and Paul never ever cared for the losers medal he received that day (which also happened to be my birthday on the 28th February).

Long before Shola, Paul was a bit of a ‘Mackem Slayer’ in his own right, and this has always endeared him to me even more.

Me and Paul both have a feeling that this Sunday coming could finally be Newcastle’s day in the sun.