Alan Shearer delivered a touching tribute to his father as Newcastle United celebrated the end of a 70-year trophy drought.
The beloved Magpies figurehead joined jubilant fans at a city bus parade on Saturday, commemorating the club`s recent Carabao Cup triumph.
Eddie Howe`s team defeated Liverpool 2-1 two weeks prior, securing their first major domestic silverware in 70 years.
Vast crowds of fans filled the streets of Newcastle, welcoming their victorious team back to the North East.
Shearer, a former Toon striker, was among the emotional attendees near St James` Park.
Growing up in nearby Gosforth, the 54-year-old`s passion for football was ignited by his father, Alan.
Shearer`s father sadly passed away the previous year at the age of 80 after battling cancer.
Alan Sr. was just 11 when Newcastle last achieved domestic trophy success in 1955.
Shearer, an England legend, shared that his father was present at Newcastle`s prior trophy win before the Carabao Cup – the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.
Visibly moved on stage post-parade, Shearer expressed, “Yes, sadly, my dad passed away last May.”
“He was fortunate enough to be at the `69 final.”
“I just wish he could have held on for another year to witness and experience this.”
“But he would have been watching and would have been as proud as I am.”
Shearer confessed to shedding tears at Wembley as Newcastle clinched the win against a late Liverpool surge.
Speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast, he admitted, “I must admit, a couple of tears welled up when the final whistle blew because I thought about my dad.”
“I just wish he had been here yesterday. But he was definitely looking down.”
“Even in his final days, he was talking about Newcastle, expressing his hope for their success and trophy win.”
Shearer previously wrote about his father`s profound influence in a poignant column last year.
In The Athletic, he penned, “Without my dad, a part of me feels lost and adrift, and I hope you understand.
“Without being overly sentimental, perhaps you could think of him when the Match of the Day theme music plays this weekend.”
“I know I will. And, if it feels right, think of your own family too.”
“I’ll be at the BBC studios in Salford this weekend, and I honestly can’t say how it will feel when that famous tune starts, but I know it will be difficult – very difficult.”
