DESPITE what Freddy Shepherd might think, Alan Shearer finally proved he is not the Mary Poppins of football today in 1999. He was not even the Gary Lineker because it was on this day that he was sent off for the first time ever at the age of 28 - an incredible stat for a man who has made a whole career out of backing into defenders and pulling their shirts.

Newcastle were playing Aston Villa at St James’ Park in a Premiership clash on the opening day of the season and Shearer, who was England captain at the time, was making his 100th appearance for his hometown club.

In the match referee Uriah Rennie dismissed Shearer for a 71st-minute challenge on midfielder Ian Taylor and Villa took advantage of the England captain’s sending off four minutes later.

Joachim met Delaney’s cross from the right and glanced a header past Magpies keeper Steve Harper to make it 1-0.

A bad-natured match, seven players were booked in total, including Shearer who walked after being shown two yellow cards.

Despite the home team dominating most of the game, John Gregory’s Villa held on to take the three points.

Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit was apoplectic at his captain’s red card and at the final whistle he strode across the pitch towards referee Uriah Rennie, gesticulating wildly and had to be restrained by United officials and a policeman.



“I have never known a referee to be such a bad influence on a game,” he said afterwards. “If these are the new FA instructions to referees, they will destroy the game. I just hope people can see on television just how bad he was. Why did he keep stopping the game all the time?

“There was no bad tackling. Two years ago, I thought he was one of the best referees. I don’t know what’s happened to him. Maybe he is under pressure from the FA.”

When it was put to Gullit that he might face a fine or suspension for his outburst, he said: “I don’t care. I’ve got to speak out.”

Gullit’s outburst may have been a window into the soul of a man already under pressure at the club, despite it being only the first day of the season. Things did not pick up for the Dutchman and within three weeks he had left the club after famously leaving Shearer on the bench for a 2-1 defeat to hated rivals Sunderland.

Here is a little clip of Shearer winding up Roy Keane to earn the Irishman a red card. We will be back tomorrow but if you can’t wait until then for more football nostalgia click here to see what else happened on this day in football.

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