WHEN JIMMY MET SAVIOUR SHEARER

Exclusive by Harry Pratt Our pre-match hero turned villain within seconds. Howls of derision from the West Ham regulars greeted Alan ShearerBs every move following a heated exchange with the linesman in the opening minute of NewcastleBs trip to Upton Park.

For one young lad, standing out like a sore thumb amid the throngs of claret and blue, it mattered not. Jimmy Tamme, in the famed black and white of Newcastle, was oblivious to the abuse. So too was Mum Brenda.

Nothing can tarnish their sincere respect and undiluted adulation for the now-retired England international. Even if their beloved Newcastle had been crushed by five, rather than an Bunlucky oneB, on Saturday, and Shearer scuffed three sitters wide of the mark before seeing red, he could have been sure of a heroBs reception from his two biggest fans.

Defeat was not the desired result on the pitch for any of the three characters, but so what? The real result, the fact Jimmy and Brenda were proudly watching Newcastle for the first time in their lives, had been achieved.

Before you click the mouse, under the impression this is probably just another tale of two die-hard fans finally making their dream debuts up in the stands, hold on a little longer.

Cast your minds back to May 22 this year and an England press conference shown live on the ever-reliable, Skysports..comTV channel with Shearer facing the press before the Euro 2000 warm-up against Brazil.

Those who heard chief football reporter, Nick Collins, inform the star that a taped message to a young man had just done the trick and awoken him from a coma will never forget the display of incredible emotion from the seemingly cold-as-ice, straight-as-a-dice international hitman.

Nor MumBs tears of pure joy, love and thanks that ensued live on air direct from her sonBs hospital bed. Jimmy Tamme, 20, and in a coma for the previous three months was finally waking up. After being left for dead by a vicious and savage gang attack, a few choice words from the gameBs perfect role model triggered his dormant mind back to life.

Brenda, who wears the lines of someone who has been through it all B and some - recalls: BI contacted the Newcastle Chronicle about the chances of Alan doing a personal tape. I was at my wits end, and felt I must try something. Alan was JimmyBs favourite Newcastle player. Anyway, a tape arrived at the hospital the same day the Chronicle asked him to help.

BI put it in the machine, pressed play and literally within seconds JimmyBs eyes began to flicker. I couldnBt believe my ownBI rewound it and the same thing happened again, and again. After about ten plays Jimmy suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the machine. I raced to get the nurses and doctors, the same people who had given Jimmy no more than 12 hours to live when he was first admitted to casualty. They were stunned. B

'IncredibleB thought a certain Essex-based businessman, who upon learning unemployed Jimmy could not afford to watch the Magpies at St JamesB Park, was so moved he felt compelled to email skypsorts.com with the offer of an all-expenses VIP trip to the capital for Jimmy and Brenda the next time Bobby RobsonBs men were in town down Upton Park.

Hence, six months later the Geordie mother and son were sitting alongside the Hammers season-ticket holder, Steve Lowley, a regular behind the away dugout at Upton Park for 35 years. YoursB truly was fortunate enough to be invited along too to witness first-hand their big-day out in the capital. The sight of the two Tammes and their delighted faces was worth the entrance fee alone.

After all itBs not every day you hear of such miraculous real-life recoveries, courtesy of a footballing icon. Nor of a rival fan demonstrating such generosity to a counterpart. All of which serves to underline the power of this game way beyond any playing field.

For without ShearerBs aid it is more than likely Jimmy would still be in deep sleepBor possibly gone for good by now.

At half-time with the game still conveniently goalless, Jimmy, Mum, Steve and I enjoyed a pint. It was at this time, Jimmy revealed his brave, spirited stance on his current plight and the hard months spent in a rehabilitation centre, learning to walk, talk and live something a little close to his previous existence.

BAyee, lifeBs a bitch, Harry,B was his first direct statement, immediately countered with Bbut thanks to our man Steve itBs getting better. This is a dream come true for me.B

So whatBs itBs like awaking after three months deep sleep. BIt took me about two days to finally become conscious as you know it.

BBut IBll tell you this, Harry, itBs not too bad being asleep all that time. No-one to bother me, tell me what to do or any of that stuff, man,B added Jimmy, who admits he was no teenage angel.

Even so, nobody deserves to take a beating such as Jimmy did. His left-side is still far from perfect, hence the limp, at times stuttering eliqution, and, according to Mum, a new fiery temperament, borne out of frustration at not being able to do the simplest of tasksBsuch as buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe-lace.

The second half underway, we were back in our seats before disaster struck. West Ham opened the scoring against the run of play. The picture of Jimmy standing up to object to the cheering fans around him is one which will stay with me forever.

There was no sign of an equaliser during the final minutes. When the whistle came, Jimmy headed for the most-hospitable Long Room in the Hammers main stand and contemplated life could be a whole lot worse.

Especially, when we took him across the other side of the ground to meet none other than Shearer himself. For Jimmy, who had not met his saviour, this was as good as it gets, like hammering home a last-minute winner in a Wembley Cup final.

While Mum wiped away the latest stream of tears, Jimmy was invited on the team coach to shake ShearerBs hand and offer thanks. Rest assured, then, the long journey home was a little easier for the beaten captain thereafter. Then, a few minutes later it was time to meet the manager, Bobby Robson.

Robson, 67 yet with all the enthusiasm of a nipper when it comes to the game - he barely sat still throughout the 90 minutes - declared: BYouBre made of strong stuff, I hear. They just set upon you did they? Terrible. But youBre fighting back. Well done, keep it up, son.B

The day of Jimmy's - new - life was all but complete. We went back to conclude our post-match refreshment and that allowed Steve and his Hammers pals one last chance to liven the proceedings with some classic East End humour.

BSo tell us, Jimmy, who did you follow before they gave you that bump on the head?B

While, of course, the violent, near-fatal incident earlier this year in Newcastle will never be a laughing matter to our very special guest, what a wonderful thing it is that he, like the rest of us, was falling about in stitches.

And, no it wasn't the extra-strong lager!

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

Answers

Where did you get this, DB?

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

From the Sky Sports Football web-site,

http://www1.sky.com/sports/football/index.htm

The link it at the bottom of the page. I only opened it because it had Shearer's name in it. A good story in this day and age.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

Wonderful story!

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

Since when has WGB been "the game's perfect role model"? I can think of countless other players that would fit into that category head and shoulders above WGB. Yer very own WUB for one. Nice man..shame he scares me kids:-)

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

FM even LR can't accept this one. He is not the only perfect role model, I'm sure there are many others but it is good of the press to give the footballers some decent press once in a while. Notice how this one never made the back page of the tabloids.

Anyway you just concentrate on your young un's giving those mackems a bliddy pasting.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

>> The picture of Jimmy standing up to object to the cheering fans around him (when W.Ham scored) is one which will stay with me forever.<<

Wonder why Jimmy was beaten up in the first place?

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

"....aye, but he's lost a yard ye knaa!"
Personally, I can't actually think of a better sporting role model. But there again, I'm biased.
Great story DB.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000