John Beresford knows that Newcastle United are about to enter another dimension when it comes to being involved in the Champions League.
Beresford had already been established as one of the Entertainers and booked his place in Geordie folklore as one of the club's most loved left-backs before the Magpies enter the UEFA competition back in 1997/98. But he propelled himself to an even higher level of acclaim with the Tyneside public 26 years ago.
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Back then Kenny Dalglish's Toon team plucked out Barcelona, Dinamo Kiev and PSV Eindhoven in the draw for the group stages. But it had been Beresford's two goals in the first leg of the play-offs that set up a win over Dinamo Zagreb after the second leg ended 2-2 and his goals at St James' Park proved decisive.
And that set up an unlikely encounter for the Yorkshireman in 1997 as his summer went from enjoying a pint with his mates in Sheffield to finding himself front and centre in a Press conference sat next to one of the game's Galacticos in Luis Figo.
With journalists from Marca and El Mundo all braced to take notes, it was the former Barnsley and Portsmouth defender who took questions alongside one of La Liga's most famous faces.
Beresford told Chronicle Live: "When we drew Barcelona, Kenny Dalglish pulled me to one side and said: 'Do you mind doing the Presser John?'
"I would never normally get asked to do it but I'd scored a couple in the play-off. It was usually the big boys like Alan Shearer or Tino Asprilla. But he pulled me and I said: 'Yeah no problem'. "Anyway, I walked on to the stage and sitting on the seat next to me was Figo!
"He was probably thinking: 'Who's this little ****', but it really set the game up and they are unbelievable memories for me. I was then directly up against Figo in the game which was something else. "I will remember that atmosphere for the rest of the days, the place was rocking.
"You had the Tino hat-trick, and the rest as they say is history. But it shows you once you get into the Champions League, you are going to have lads transported to another level."
Newcastle will go into their first Champions League campaign with some of the club's records frozen in time. Alan Shearer is still the club's top scorer on seven goals while Beresford finds himself joint top scorer with four goals.
He not only struck in the game against Dinamo Zagreb, but he scored twice away to Dinamo Kiev in a 2-2 draw. Discovering he was still up there in the scoring charts delighted the ex-Toon star.
Beresford said: "I didn't even know that you know! But I'll certainly take it. I will jump all over that type of statistic, I actually thought Shola Ameobi was ahead of me on Champions League goals. I can't wait to see Shola and remind him."
Beresford will now still be involved in the Champions League but this time in his role of ambassador for the Magpies. The former Portsmouth star works the lounges on the corporate level at St James'.
He said: "I'm delighted that Newcastle are back in the Champions League. "It not only brings the memories flooding back but shows what Eddie Howe and the players have achieved. I hope they go into it and embrace it.
"We certainly enjoyed it when we qualified and it's a chance to make memories the lads will never forget."
