‘Believe it or not’ - Alan Shearer thanks ‘Sunderland’ for kick-starting his legendary Newcastle United career
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer shared a comical story about how his footballing journey began
Alan Shearer has thanked Sunderland for showing him the path towards a successful Newcastle United career - but not quite how you would think.
In the mid-1970s, a budding sheet metal worker’s son from Gosforth lived a modest life, a million miles away from Premier League glory or England stardom. Shearer would go on to fulfil a legendary career - with his statue now cast in bronze out of St James’ Park.
Many assume his footballing journey started at Wallsend Boys Club and Cramlington Juniors before being scouted by John Hixon. His recommendation took a young Shearer to the opposite side of the country at Southampton, where he soon rose through the ranks.
However, it was a teacher at Grange First School - with an ironic surname - that pointed the Toon icon in the right direction. Shearer told the Rest Is Football podcast: “In my very, very first school, believe it or not, but this is true. His name, my sports teacher, was Mr Sunderland.
“He got me into one of the boys' clubs, or recommended I did. His name was Mr Sunderland, honestly! So Mr Sunderland directed me into the boys’ clubs and was the one to take me a bit more seriously, to try and pursue a career, if you like.
“He was a Newcastle fan but that was his name. Can you believe it! He was the one that started me off at my very first school, to say ‘go and do this, try this, you never know’.”