Toon fan knocks Mackems out of the Cup

Last updated : 17 February 2003 By Martyn Elliott

The Hornets were awarded a controversial penalty, which even Alan Shearer described as a joke, that Smith missed only for the referee to order a retake – which was smashed past Thomas Sorensen to make the Mackems season look even more disappointing.

"My dad moved from Newcastle when he was in his teens but he brought me up as a Mag," he told The Journal.

"I grew up in Hemel Hempstead, which made it difficult to follow Newcastle, but me and dad would go to St James's Park a few times every season and we would always go and watch them when they came south.

"Half my family still live in Newcastle and they are my team. I would love to play for them one day. I rang my dad and he was delighted.

"He couldn't be happier because we were playing Sunderland, but to me the opposition really didn't matter. It's just great to win and score. Newcastle fans are different class and it would be a dream to play there one day."