When David Kelly scored a desperate late winner for Newcastle United on April 25, 1992, such was the frenzied leaping about among the 26,000 crowd that many on the then-terraced Gallowgate End found themselves yards from where they’d been standing only moments earlier.
Thirty years ago today, the striker's solitary goal against Portsmouth was one of the most wildly celebrated at St James’ Park in decades. To put the game and goal into perspective, this was an era as dark and ominous as any in the club’s history.
In Newcastle United’s centenary year, they were third bottom of the old second division and in real danger of dropping into the third for the first time - and subsequently going bust. In the penultimate game of a wretched campaign, the priceless goal by Kelly effectively saved United from footballing oblivion. (There was an unlikely last-gasp win at high-flying Leicester Coty the following week, but other results on a nerve-shredding last day of the season meant Kevin Keegan's team would have been safe from the drop anyway).
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After a tense goalless 85 minutes at a windy St James' Park, Kelly struck against Pompey. Alan Oliver reporting in the Chronicle wrote: "Fans in Gallowgate End have told me that it seemed an eternity - the time between the ball leaving Kelly's right foot and before it crashed into the back of the Portsmouth net.
"However that was surely an illusion as the ball arrowed its way unerringly past Portsmouth goalkeeper, Alan Knight. Surely never in the history of Newcastle United can a goal have been greeted with such ecstasy and relief.
Signed from Leicester City for £250,000 in December 1991, the under-rated Kelly endeared himself to United’s fans during his two years at Gallowgate with his whole-hearted dedication to the black and white cause and a regular supply of goals. The return of Peter Beardsley to St James’, as United regained their top-flight status, saw 'Ned' perhaps rather prematurely packed off to Wolves in June, 1993. But that was not before the wheel had turned almost full circle.
Just 12 months after the gut-churning anxiety of the Portsmouth match, Kelly signed off with a superb hat-trick as Premier League-bound United demolished Leicester 7-1 in the final game of the 1992-93 season amid a party atmosphere at St James' Park. His Newcastle goals record of 39 goals in 83 games remains highly respectable.
David would go on to appear for the Republic of Ireland in the 1994 World Cup finals, and play for a host of clubs before kicking his last competitive ball, for Derry City, in 2002. Three decades on from his heroics against Portsmouth, the former striker - who was in attendance at St James' Park - was honoured in a special 'Wor Flags' display before the match against Leicester City, the Friday before last. Read the full story here.
