After 12 sterling years at Nottingham Forest, Stuart Pearce started out
on a new chapter in his career when he joined Newcastle United on a free
transfer three weeks before the start of the 1997/98 season - and two years
after United provided the opposition for his testimonial! Newcastle manager
Kenny Dalglish acted quickly to snap up the tough-tackling 35 year old
England left-back, who stepped down as Forest player-manager after relegation
and a 5-0 defeat at Newcastle in May, offering him a two-year contract
with an option for a further year. At the time he signed, Hammersmith-born
Stuart's 76 England appearances made him the most-capped player ever to
play for Newcastle. He made his full international debut alongside Peter
Beardsley against Brazil and Newcastle-bound Mirandinha at Wembley in 1987
and took over the England captaincy from Gary Lineker in 1992. 'Retired'
from International duty in 1996 but quickly returned to set his sights
on the 1998 World Cup in France. Started out with non-league Wealdstone,
signed for Coventry City for £25,000 in 1983, and joined Forest for
£240,000 in the summer of 1985, winning League Cup winner's medals
in 1989 and 1990.
