Tyneside Terror: Inspiring Gary Wilson story Newcastle fans may not know after St. James’ Park appearance

Snooker champion Gary Wilson, known as the Tyneside Terrior, had a dream come true as he celebrated his Scottish Open victory on the pitch of St. James' Park over the weekend.

The Wallsend-born snooker star secured his first ranking title last month as he won the Scottish Open and had previously said it would be a dream come true to celebrate the accolade at the home ground of Newcastle United.

The 37-year-old knocked out reigning world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan on the way to the landmark Scottish Open title.

Wilson is a huge Newcastle fan and after the win, he said: “I would really love to show this trophy to the crowd at St James’ if that were possible – doing that has always been one of my dreams, but I had never won a title!

“I have seen other players do that at their football clubs, and we have such a good stadium and massive fan base that would be unbelievable, amazing. That would mean the world.

“I have never been in that position. I have been shown around the ground and the dressing rooms and stuff in the past, but that has always been in the back of my mind."

Fast forward a month and, during halftime in the Premier League fixture with Fulham on Sunday, Wilson was applauded by the crowd at St. James' Park. Sharing a video on Twitter, Wilson wrote: "As a lifelong Newcastle United fan. Thank you to @NUFC for allowing me to go on the pitch at halftime and acknowledging my Scottish Open victory. Thank you to the club's sponsor @fun88eng for your hospitality."

Newcastle United fans congratulated the snooker star on Twitter saying they were "glad you got out there eventually".

Wilson is known for his inspiring career story, which includes spending seven years working as a taxi driver on Tyneside, as well as in a frozen food factory and behind his local bar after dropping off the snooker tour in 2006.

The Geordie had rocketed into the sport with a dazzling rise as a youngster that included national and world championship wins in under-18 and under-21 categories. He dropped off the tour in 2006 and didn't regain his professional status until 2013 with a career highlight coming in that title victory last year.

Speaking to The Mirror, Wilson remembered those years and said: “Winning this title and holding the trophy, it does seem light years away from some of the times I have had in my career.

“Some of my experiences when I was off the tour and doing other jobs have helped form my character. I am almost bored of talking about it - that spell in my life is a long time ago. But it obviously contributed to where I am now. And it might serve as inspiration to other players waiting for their chance.

“I took something and enjoyed aspects of all the jobs I did in those seven years off tour, especially the people I met. But the frozen food factory work was the worst - really monotonous as you would expect, on a production line for eight hours a day just doing the same thing over and over.

“Frozen food, just going into the -18 freezers and bringing stuff in and out…it wasn’t the best. And it’s a far cry from what I am doing now.”