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Newcastle United – The Big Signing

11 years ago
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What creates that special bond between players and fans?

Obviously going to see the team play in the flesh is an obvious but what else still brings the two sets of people closer together, even in these days of wages the ordinary man/kid can only dream of.

The opportunity to actually meet your heroes in person takes things to another level.

Back in my younger days things were a lot easier with barriers few and far between, the idea of the players training behind closed doors a concept totally alien to the youth of Tyneside.

Many a trip was taken to Benwell to watch the players train and at the end we were all competing to get their autographs, any pen would do and any scrap of paper if you didn’t have a ‘proper’ autograph book with you. Seeing the latest Mag Auctions including a Jackie Milburn signed programme brought the memories flooding back.

That signature would be treasured and shown to all your mates at school.

There was a crew of us who would turn up well before kick-off time and hang around the car park that was then behind the now Milburn stand. I think it was from around 12.30 players would start to arrive in their cars and park up, a mob surrounding and following the likes of Peter Withe and Terry Hibbitt, while Peter Cartwright and Steve Hardwick could saunter relatively untroubled up to the players entrance. Even reserve matches were fair game, played 3pm on a Saturday afternoon at St.James’ Park, stars returning from injury and the odd emerging superstar such as Chris Waddle, more autographs in the book.

I know it is the kids basically who turn out for the ‘reserves’ these day, while not sure how easy it to get access to players before and after a home match. I do know that a hardcore of kids (and bigger kids) do head up to the training ground at Little Benton and wait outside for cars to stop, though obviously the likes of Gabriel Obertan have to worry about what they sign with so much going on Ebay these days…

Looking back at my collection of autographs that I have just retrieved from my mam’s, my top three signatures are;

1. Kevin Keegan – he signed his debut programme some months after that mad first match.
2. Supermac – Forget the rubbish he spouts on radio, he was the real deal – I got him to sign the shirt I was wearing when he came back with Arsenal (my mother wasn’t happy!)
3. Alan Shearer – A few years later and a few years older…a prized possession is a signed testimonial programme from that unbelievable night when we said our goodbyes.

What is your most treasured autograph?

This week with the Mag Auctions we are looking at various angles that tie NUFC together with Fulham and we have them featuring in the latest Mag Auctions of classic Newcastle United memorabilia including one item signed by the one and only Jackie Milburn.

Each Sunday a new batch of NUFC collectables are made available on eBay with prices starting from as low as 99p.

Fulham have a rich history going back to the days of Jimmy Hill and Sir Bobby, then you jump to the modern era and the latter day revival under Al-Fayed.

Our range of memorabilia covers both eras with the cast list including trading cards, match programmes, Supermac, Kevin Keegan and a signed Jackie Milburn item.

With a deep love of United’s history and the classic memorabilia and programmes that are a big part of that, we have always intended to bring you our very own auctions.

Delving into Newcastle’s extraordinary history, each week we will be putting a number of items up for auction via eBbay, with prices starting from as a little as 99p.

Not everybody will want to bid on the items but we are sure that the range of items will provoke interest and debate, plus the memories flooding back.

It costs nothing to look and with the auctions lasting for a week you have plenty of time to keep an eye and bid at any time over the 7 days, potentially picking up a real bargain.

Every week a selection including programmes, magazines, tickets, trading cards and clothing CLICK HERE to visit.

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