Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer is 'proud' to see his name return to 'where it belongs' following the renaming of the St James' Park main bar. Fans celebrated as the Gallowgate End bar returned to its original name last month in honour of the club's all-time record goalscorer.
Shearer's Bar opened in 2004 and became a popular city-centrre spot, but was controversially renamed Nine Bar in 2013 during Mike Ashley's unpopular tenure. The new owners decision to return to the original name is part of a clear drive to rebuild bridges with club favourites and legends, with an application to move Shearer's statue back on to club grounds submitted.
The bar was closed following the Magpies ' 2-1 home victory over Brighton last month for the revamp. Shearer was asked for his response to the gesture in an interview with the club's in-house media, and the BBC Sport pundit could not hide his pride.
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He told NUFC TV: "It's great, I think everyone sort of associated it with my name anyway. The name might have changed, but whenever my mates came to St James', they always said they were going into my bar. I'm very proud to see my name back above the bar, where it belongs."
When asked if he had been back since the renaming, Shearer added: "I went in a few weeks ago before a game, not when it was renamed but it was when I met one of the doctors who did that great work with one of the fans a few months ago. I went in there and had a pint with him."
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