"Come in Number 37" is the infamous name of Rob Lee's autobiography - and it references the horrendous way in which the Magpies legend was treated by Ruud Gullit. The Dutchman arrived on Tyneside during the 1998-99 season and set about attempting to rid the club of its experienced players, and Lee was high up on the agenda. He forced Lee, Stuart Pearce and John Barnes to train with Newcastle's reserves, before refusing to give the former England midfielder a squad number for the 1999-2000 campaign. Lee's No 7 was instead given to new signing Kieron Dyer, who had arrived from Ipswich Town, and the veteran midfielder came close to leaving Newcastle. Lee recalled later: "It had become a case of who went first, me or Ruud. He didn't speak to me at all in the summer. The next thing I knew a message was passed to me that I should train with the reserves." However, Gullit's resignation just five games into the season ensured Lee outlasted the Dutchman - and he was quickly recalled and given the No 37 shirt by incoming boss Bobby Robson.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
