If Alan Shearer is Mr Newcastle, then Rob Lee is probably Mr Entertainers more than any other player signed by Kevin Keegan. He was the midfield engine who inspired the attacking geniuses of Ginola, Beardsley, Cole, Shearer and Asprilla to hit the back of the net and dazzle supporters, and over 10 years at the club, he was an astonishingly big presence on the way the team played. He was also Shearer's great friend, and has been the biggest mouth-piece in attempting to dilute the image of Shearer as somehow boring, talking defensively about his mate on more than one occasion, and proving how close the pair became:
"When he's with his family and friends he's a joker and, it may seem strange to say, but he's like Gazza. I don't like to say it but he's probably got a bit of intelligence. But you take him away and put him with his friends and family and they'll tell you he's a nightmare and a prankster. He can take a joke and dish it out but when the serious stuff starts he wants people to do it correctly and wants the team to play well. He's a very funny man would you believe - no-one does."
The great tragedy is that neither Lee nor Shearer saw their dedication to Newcastle rewarded in the shape of trophies to match their individual accolades, and the strength of their relationship was such that the first time they played against each other, they were drawn back together with a bump. Literally. After his move to Derby, Lee smashed heads with Shearer, leaving both bloodied and battered. Which other great bromances have defined Newcastle history? Share your picks below in the comments thread.
