Years that meant a lot to me as a Newcastle United fan – Taking you back to 2002 | OneFootball

Now that the EPL is in recess for another international break, I thought I’d concentrate on a few years that meant a lot to me growing up as a Newcastle United fan.

Next up is 2002.

Bobby Robson’s exciting Newcastle United had topped the Premier League table on Christmas Day 2001, having beaten most of their main rivals.

I for one thought that we were definitely contenders to win the League in 2002.

My wife was pregnant at the time and I personally was in a happy place. My happiness though soon took a jolt early into the New Year, with the untimely death in tragic circumstances of my pal Ian Ballard.

The quiet Beatle, the great George Harrison, had also recently passed away and ‘My Sweet Lord’ topped the UK charts again, 31 years after it’s original release.

United’s fine form started to dissipate and this culminated in a 2-0 home reverse to Arsenal. Dennis Bergkamp fluked a so-called wonder goal to send the Gunners top of the League and they never ever looked back.

The Toon finished the season in 4th position, securing a Champions League spot.

Arsenal completed their second double in four years when they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.

Brazil won the World Cup that was held in South Korea and Japan, beating Germany 2-0 in the final in Yokohama, courtesy of a brace by the superb Ronaldo.

After defeating Zeljeznicar 5-0 on aggregate in the final qualifying round, Newcastle United lost their opening three fixtures in our Champions League group.

Then in astonishing reversals, NUFC defeated Juventus, Dynamo Kiev and finally Feyenoord, to become the first ever team to qualify for the second group stage after losing their first three games.

The emotional scenes at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam when Craig Bellamy scored our last gasp winner will forever be etched in my memory.

In amongst our Champions League exploits, United had also defeated Sunderland in the Tyne/Wear derby. My lifelong mate Ian Dixon was married on the same day and I vaguely remember being sozzled with the drink in the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay.

There was tragedy in Bali in October when a terrorist attack claimed the lives of many innocent civilians.

Finally, the Christmas number one was another pathetic and instantly forgettable effort called ‘Sound of the Underground’ by Girls Aloud.