A little known factoid is that Boro’ never *actually* lost to the lads from Newcastle United – because it never crossed the line. Now, this is a tale that could probably fill a book. Yes, that’s right. A proper book. One with pages and pictures and everything like that. Perhaps even one of those hardback covers, y’know, with an arty grayscale photograph. We’re on about Giuliano Grazioli astride a tank or Gary Crawshaw taming a lion. No! Wait! It’s Robin Trott painting a topless Page Three model! Or maybe we ought to just wait for that publishing deal before we decide.
But, let’s make no mistake for the time being, this is one of the stories from our club’s history. Our epic David versus Goliath FA Cup clash with the Magpies in 1998 definitely put our humble club on the football map; our 1997-8 FA Cup Round Four battle putting the world’s focus squarely on us. And made things a bit tense between us too. The Toon weren’t at all happy that we wanted to play our home tie at home. Oh well, they bagged their big day out on home turf against us. And no matter what that Shearer lad says, it never crossed the line in the replay.
You can hear John Beresford’s view here.
Fast forward 13 years to 2011 and Boro’ are tearing things up, now a Football League club. Newcastle are back in town for the FA Cup and a school reunion of sorts. This time, the rules are different. As, to be fair, are the chairman, players, manager and South Stand. But the fans aren’t. And Stevenage exploded into life in the second half of the ESPN-screened game to dazzle the Premier League side. A famous win. Sweet revenge. And, arguably, the catalyst for a super second half of the season that helped catapult us into League One?
Watch highlights with uninspiring FA commentary here.
