‘I wish he would have hung on for one more year’ – Alan Shearer chokes up in tribute to his dad at Newcastle parade

ALAN SHEARER has paid an emotional tribute to his dad – as Newcastle celebrate ending 70 years of hurt.

The Magpies legend joined tens of thousands of fans at a bus parade on Saturday to toast the club’s Carabao Cup success.

Eddie Howe’s side beat Liverpool 2-1 a fortnight ago to secure a first domestic trophy in 70 years.

Thousands of supporters packed the streets of Newcastle to welcome their heroes back to the North East.

And former Toon striker Shearer was among the emotional crowd outside St James’ Park.

The 54-year-old grew up a Magpies fan in nearby Gosforth, with his passion for the beautiful game fueled by his dad Alan.

Shearer’s father passed away last year aged 80 following a battle with cancer.

Alan Sr was just 11 years old when Newcastle last won a domestic trophy in 1955.

England hero Shearer revealed his dad had been present at Newcastle’s last trophy before the Carabao Cup, when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

Choking back tears on stage after the parade, Shearer said: “Yeah, unfortunately, my dad passed away last May.

“He was lucky enough to be at the final in ’69.

“I just wish he could have hung on for one more year just to see and sample this.

“But he would have been watching on and would’ve been as proud as I was.”

Shearer admitted to shedding a tear at Wembley as Toon held on despite a late Liverpool rally.

He told the Rest is Football Podcast: “I must admit, I had a tear or two [in my eye] when the final whistle went because I thought of my old man.

“I just wish he’d been there yesterday. But he’d been looking down.

“”Even in his last few days, he was on about Newcastle and how he wanted them to do well and win the trophy and what have you.”

He would have been watching on and would’ve been as proud as I was.

Alan Shearer on his dad

Shearer opened up about his dad’s influence in a powerful column last year.

Writing in The Athletic, he said: “Without my dad here, part of me feels lost and untethered and I hope you can understand.

“Without wishing to be too maudlin, perhaps you might think of him when the Match of the Day theme sounds this weekend.

“I know I will. And, if it’s right and feels appropriate, think of your family, too.

“I’ll be in the BBC studios in Salford this weekend and I honestly can’t tell you how it will feel when that famous tune starts up, but I do know it will be tough – very tough.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk