Shola Ameobi; a tribute

Shola Ameobi: a Tribute

 

Ameobi was not the most talented player to play for Newcastle United. He himself would admit this fact. Newcastle fans up and down the country, including myself would often his question his selection in matchday squads or the starting XI. What Shola Ameobi gave Newcastle United was commitment, leadership and soul. Many fans would argue that the commitment side of things should be the bare minimum and I agree but there’s plenty of former Newcastle players I didn’t feel contributed it every time they played, Michael Owen and Damien Duff to name 2. Shola played through injuries, often to the detriment of his performances and his long-term fitness. I believe he lost a yard of pace following a hip operation during the 2006-07 season, a problem it is said he played with for 2 years due to a lack of other first team strikers. I don’t think many players would have done that for the Newcastle cause, at a time when Newcastle United were struggling.

 Whilst Shola was never a prolific scorer, he had a knack of scoring important, memorable goals. From his stunning equaliser against Tottenham, to his winner in the cup against Chelsea, to his brace against Sunderland in a 5-1 win, every Newcastle fan has memories of Shola they remember fondly. His derby goals are well documented, 7 goals against Sunderland places him only below Jackie Milburn on an all-time list in that fixture and he’s also netted 4 against Middlesborough. His goal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, will also live long in the memory. His calmness and record from the penalty spot is faultless and I was always confident if he was taking a penalty. His European record was much talked of and he scored 15 goals in 51 games in European competitions. During the 2005-06 season, Shola netted 6 goals in the last 12 games to fire Newcastle into Europe. Following Newcastle’s disastrous relegation season big name strikers abandoned the club. Mark Viduka, Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins all sort new clubs. Going into the new season, there was huge worry around the club, with many fans such as myself thinking a return to the premier league was unlikely with the lack of goalscoring prowess in the squad. But Shola stepped up for HIS club, he cared about this football club. The goals of Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands will be remembered but Shola was prominent at the beginning of the season, when the doubt amongst the fans was really there. His hat-trick against Reading in the 2^nd match laid a marker for the whole team for the season.

His final interview brought a tear to my eye, my favourite quote was “I hope the fans realise that I have given everything for this club blood, sweat and my soul. “ I can only say I hope the fans realise this also, he has been criticised over the years, but he doesn’t select himself and he cared about this club. Shola Ameobi should be remembered fondly by every Newcastle United fan. In a club devoid of leaders and fighters since the departures of Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Andy Carroll, Steve Harper, Nicky Butt, Alan Smith and Yohan Cabaye in recent years, Shola was both of these. No-one has a bad word to say about Shola Ameobi he is a footballing gentleman. Joey Barton once called him the “nicest man in football” and this shows the respect he has in the game.

When Newcastle managers have been in bad predicaments they have turned to Shola Ameobi. Joe Kinnear brought him back in when he came in, a calm figure amongst the turmoil. Alan Shearer did not pick his former strike partner much but threw him on during the final day of the relegation season. Chris Hughton turned to him at the start of the championship season when he needed an experienced striker to put in the performances. He wasn’t prominent towards the end of the season or the start of the next season but came back shortly before Hughton lost his job- contributing important goals. Shola played an important role at the back end of that season, when it was feared Andy Carroll’s sale would contribute to relegating the club. When Pardew was under-pressure in November and December, Shola found himself back in the manager’s first team. This shows the high-regard Shola was held in and that when the team needed leaders, the manager relied on him.

 

I really do wish Shola the best in the rest of his career and after it. A true footballing gentleman, who I and many others will miss seeing as part of Newcastle United. I encourage any Newcastle fans to read Shola’s final interview at Newcastle linked below and think how long it may be until we see another character like Shola spending 14 years at Newcastle.

 

 

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20140523/ameobi-ive-given-everything-for-this-club_2281670_3833854