Best owners and administrators in English football - A Tribute to the late Mr. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

SIR JOHN HALL AND FREDDY SHEPHERD

Newcastle United, otherwise known as the Toon or Toon Army, is a club noted for its passionate and large fanbase, and the fact that its ground is still amongst the very largest in the country. At 52,000, St. James's Park is only bettered by Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium. And only Tottenham's new ground when finished will outsize it still.

They clearly had the potential to be a major force with the proper backing, which is what happened in the early to mid-1990s. Sir John Hall was a local business magnate, who bought the club in the early 1990s and attempted to make Newcastle a major force in the Premier League. The club was competing in the then First Division (now Championship), and gained England legend Kevin Keegan as manager. He brought in old boy and local favorite Peter Beardsley, as well as young starlet Andy Cole, and won the First Division with ease. They entered the Premier League, with Andy Cole scoring over 30 league goals to secure them a third-place finish.

Cole left for Manchester United in 1995 in a then British transfer record fee, but, in 95/96, the true apex of their run arose. The club signed David Ginola from PSG, Les Ferdinand from QPR, Shaka Hislop from Reading, and came very close to winning the league. Signing Faustino Asprilla late in the season imbalanced the side, and they lost ground to Manchester United, who eventually won the Double. Keegan himself had a noted meltdown when triggered by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson concerning the relative performances of Leeds United who was playing both teams in quick question.

Home city boy Alan Shearer joined from Blackburn Rovers for a world record fee in 1996, and things were still looking good for the Tyneside club.

Sir Johns's influence in the club receded somewhat, and Freddy Sheppard continued the good work with appointing Sir Bobby Robson, who akin to Keegan made the Toon challenge for the league and compete in the Champions League.

Sir John left Newcastle in the mid-2000s, and Freddy Shepherd died also in 2017. But they stand as an example of what the Toon could be under the correct management. This is something in direct contrast with the current owner, Mike Ashley.