10 Ultimate Cult Heroes Of Newcastle United In The Premier League Era

by Jak Penny

1. Temuri Ketsbaia

Played for NUFC: 1997 - 2000

Appearances: 114, Goals: 14

To this day advertising hoardings still whimper in fear of the deranged Georgian 16 years after he kicked and snarled his way into Newcastle's cult hero history vault.

A virtual unknown on English shores when he arrived on a free transfer from AEK Athens in the summer of 1997, it took just a few weeks before Ketsbaia was adopted as an honorary Geordie. Lest we forget it was his goal in the final seconds of extra time in against Croatia Zagreb the second leg qualifier that sent us into the Champions League for the first time our history.

Ketsbaia was never the most prolific goalscorer to ever play for the Club but his application and endeavour in a black and white shirt is the reason why so many Toon fans continue to hold the bald-headed attacker in such high regard.

Still, it was his unhinged celebration against Bolton in 1998 for which he is best remembered. Coming off the bench to tap in a last-gasp winner Ketsbaia proceeded to subject the Gallowgate hoardings to a frenzied flurry of snap kicks before hurling his shirt into a stupefied crowd and even attempting to remove his boot. Luckily his team-mates stepped in to prevent him from going the full monty.

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Content writer, blogger, occasional journalist and lifetime inhabitant of the post-LOST island of grief.