'I have no grudges over the number nine shirt'
- Published
When Alan Shearer was signed by Newcastle United in 1996, it was surely fate he would take the legendary number nine shirt.
The only problem? There was already a formidable centre-forward wearing it, and doing a very good job.
Les Ferdinand tells the latest episode of Kammy & Ben's Proper Football Podcast how boss Kevin Keegan went about breaking the news to him.
He said: "I never asked for number nine - it was just the shirt I was given to wear. We were on a pre-season tour of the Far East and I was running to duty free when Kevin pulled me down and said I was the first to know we were signing Shearer.
"Then he asked about the number nine and said Alan had worn it all his career. I was like: 'So have I.' He then said Alan wanted penalties so he had to ask Peter Beardsley about that and I replied: 'I thought I was the first to know.'
"I got that I had never been the kid on the Gallowgate End watching the number nine score for Newcastle and knew what it meant to him. I had no grudges against him - but my relationship with Kevin was never the same after that.
"The rest of the boys could not believe I had given it up and were asking if I had sold it!"
How did Ferdinand greet Shearer when he joined up with the team? And what were his favourite grounds to play at?
