Five years ago, whilst working at Newcastle’s main newspaper, ChronicleLive, I put together a long read that involved interviewing four former Newcastle United youth team players. They were the class of ‘94. Talented and successful, they won things at youth level but were ultimately victims of a very cold decision by Kevin Keegan.
Speaking to them decades later about their time at the club, at the height of Keegan mania, each had a curious mix of gratitude and bitterness. Despite being first- and second-year pros fresh out of high school, they were afforded the privilege of rubbing shoulders with Premier League stars like Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole, training with them almost daily, and often with Keegan, who would join in regularly.
Yet their pathway to the first team was effectively blocked by the man they idolised as kids, a man worshipped by an entire fanbase.
