I know we have been here before. But it is always fun.

29th July 1996......Car Park - Legoland.....1900hrs......

Daughter number 1's 10th Birthday.

Just about to leave Legoland.

Put the car Radio on for 7.00pm News.......

and here are the headlines says the man on Radio 5 Live........Newcastle United have smashed the British Transfer record and have paid Blackburn Rovers #15m for England Centre Forward (and son of a sheet metal worker from Gosforth. They didn't say that, I added it in) ALAN SHEARER.......

I almost ran the car into the one in front........

Where were you and what were you doing.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2000

Answers

I heard it on a news flash on Radio Newcastle sometime around mid- morning. All I really remember about the day is, asking my local newsagent to keep the Chronicle advert thingy that was outside the shop, for me. It read (and still does in my house) "United smash world transfer record". I'd dreamt of us breaking the British record for years but never believed we would and now we'd broken the world record! Although that record has been surpassed many times since, they can never take the fact that we did it, away from us. What's more, I know that if I live to be 1 million years old; I will never see the Mackems do that.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2000

Oh and another thing; Sunderland's record transfer fee at the time was #1,000,000, meaning that our record fee was 15 times that of theirs so for them to do the same to us...........Now then 15x15......

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2000

Yep I rememeber it well - a manc in the office came across and shook my hand - he thought they'd get him - I phoned home - my Dad answered with the words "Yes its true" - nowt else.

Thanks ITK

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2000

A bit like Josh. I work in "Greater Manchester" and was told by a rather green looking ManUre fan. Made my day that did.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2000

I was having lunch in a pub on the outskirts of Leicester when some bloke told Mr Jacko at the bar. I didn't believe it so rang me nephew in Cullercoats - he was wetting himself with excitement and could hardly speak!

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2000

What happened to me name on that last post? Spooky.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2000

My boss's wife works for the evening chronicle and i found out as soon as i walked into the office. I just remeber sitting at my desk doing nowt, no change there then, ringing my mates and jumping into my car every hour listening to the radio.

the best part was that there was a manure fan in our office and he was gutted. He honestly thought that they were going to get him.

I also remember the interview on the radio when he was presented to the fans. Again nowt was done that afternoon. Magic

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2000

almost exactly 4 years ago?

Heard it on the radio whilst on-site at work.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2000

I was in a meeting in London. Came out and past Harrod's to see the Evening Standard shouting 'Shearer signs for 15m'. Galloped to newsstand with heart in mouth thinking that the only way the parochial buggers would put that on the front page would be if Chelsea or the Arse had signed him.

Spent the next half hour running up and down various streets in Knightsbridge shouting inanities at other people, hoping there might be a Geordie I could break the news to.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

almost exactly 4 years ago? Heard it on the radio whilst on-site at work.

Oi chevy.....you looking for a slapping bonny lad. See 'Pet Hates' for exlanation........unless you are deliberately being bliddy awkward!

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

I was at work and read it on a screen and screamed out the news much to everyones bemusement ... i then proceede to go out and get absolutely a**eholed in London , and ended up standing on a n evening Standard newstand at 2 am singing ' hes coming home , hes coming home , hes coming Shearers coming home ' to all the folks passing along the road and the passing traffic ... bit sad really , : - ))

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Was on the phone to someone (client, I think) and a mate came rushing in gesticulating madly. Eventually, she put a post-it under my nose and I shrieked so loudly as I just thought the Mancs would get him in the end and when we got him. Wow - what a day that was. Did anyone get to the signing thing at the Civic Centre?

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Easily remember this one.

I was still in my Student days playing Championship Manager in the lounge. My Newton Heath supporting housemate came in to see how my team were getting on and the radio was also on. Radio 1 announced he had signed and the look of total utter disbelief on my mates face was astounding.

He said 'well you'll win the title now'. Every silver lining has a cloud.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

You're going to hate me but when I learnt we'd signed Al for 15 million pounds I had very mixed feelings. Hell the club had just signed the best striker in English football for a world record fee, it should have been a glorious day. But....

For the first time in living memory the club had come close to winning the title playing sparkling attacking football. Goals by the bundle but let down ultimately by defensive frailties. Albert, Peacock, Pav, Beresford, Watson, all heroes of course but we needed something extra in that department. 15 million, 4 years ago, could have bought you just about anyone. No disrespect to Al, who came back to his home town in good faith to win honours, but I didn't think he was the sort of player the club was lacking. With hindsight I haven't changed my mind.

We love our no.9's and they don't come any bigger than Alan Shearer. I'm still convinced he was the wrong player, at the wrong time, possibly even for the wrong reasons (just prior to floatation).

You can all shoot me down in flames now.

Still love him though.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

I was sat in my front room with a sales rep listening to how good his windows were. I had the telly on at about 1pm. Needless to say I bought the windows.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

I was on holiday in Melbourne and having got up late after a few beers the night before. Wor lasses mother said "oh Newcastle have bought someone" after much "Is it Shearer" from me she finally gets the paper and there it is NUFC buy Shearer for 30 million. I nearly had a heart attack but of course it was 30 m Aussie dollars

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

I couldn't even tell you where I was 4 days ago!

However I think I read it on a Newcastle bbs that no longer exists while at work then rushed around showing certain people a number of fingers between 1 and 3.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000