Whatever happened to the class of 1993?
Posted on April 17th, 2010 | 200 Comments |
The response was mixed, although the poll is still open, and opinion was pretty evenly split when deciding just which team is stronger and what the outcome would be. Would the attacking style that started to show itself back then triumph over the rock solid, never-say-die attitude of today’s team? Plenty of debate took place amidst an awful lot of reminiscing. However, that got me thinking about what happened to some of that team from 1993?
It is well known what happened with some of the team, especially the likes of Rob Lee, Andy Cole, and Lee Clark, but what about the rest? Is 17 years enough time to forget just how the careers of those players panned out after leaving us? I thought I would track back and take a look at the fortunes of some of the players and just what twist their career path took after 1993.
Pavel Srnicek – Stayed with us until 1998 before briefly returning to his former club Banik Ostrava. He was soon back in England plying his trade with Sheffield Wednesday where he stayed for two years. Spells at Brescia, AS Cosenza, Portsmouth, West Ham and Beira-Mar followed before making an emotional return to Newcastle back in 2006. Now retired, he runs a goalkeeping academy back in his native Czech Republic.
John Beresford – Another who stayed until 1998 before departing to join Southampton where he injured his cruciate ligament. He struggled to overcome that particular injury and ultimately it ended in retirement. John now works as a pundit for ESPN.
Steve Howey – Moved to Manchester City in 2000 and spent 3 years there before moving to Leicester, Bolton, New England Revolution in the US of A before finishing up at Hartlepool in 2005. Howey now works on BBC Newcastle.
Barry Venison – Moved on in 1995 where he met up with Graeme Souness at Galatasary. Souness lost his job in Turkey and Venison soon followed him back to the UK to play for Southampton before being forced to retire at the age of 32 with a back injury. Barry now works as a pundit for ITV.
Kevin Scott – Moved to Tottenham in 1994 but failed to establish himself as a first team regular. Spells at Charlton and Port Vale followed before spending three years at Norwich City. He finished his professional career on loan at Darlington before moving on to play amateur football. Kevin now splits his time working at the Middlesbrough academy and working as a part-time driving instructor.
Lee Clark – Moved to sworn enemies Sunderland in 1997. Spent two years playing for the Wearside tramps before moving to Fulham in 1999 where he spent six seasons before returning home to play for Newcastle and learn his trade as a coach. Clark is now manager of League 1 Huddersfield Town.
Rob Lee – Stayed with The Toon until 2002 before moving to Derby County for two seasons. Spells at West Ham, Oldham and Wycombe followed before he retired. He now work as a pundit for a Singaporean football channel whilst making the odd appearance in charity matches from time to time.
Gavin Peacock – A casualty of our promotion and moved to Chelsea for £1.5 million in 1993. Stayed there until 1996 before moving to QPR where he spent six seasons, including a brief loan spell at Charlton, before retiring in 2002. Peacock is now studying to be a pastor, vicar or minister in Canada.
Kevin Sheedy – Another casualty of promotion. Moved to Blackpool in 1993 where he spent one season before retiring. Sheedy is now a coach at Everton having spent time as an assistant manager at both Tranmere and Hartlepool.
David Kelly – Yet another promotion casualty that move to Wolves in 1993. He spent two seasons in the Black Country before moving to Sunderland in 1995. Two seasons later he moved again, this time to Tranmere where he spent three seasons. Spells at Sheffield United, Motherwell, Mansfield Town and Derry City followed before retiring in 2002. ‘Ned’ is now assistant manager at Nottingham Forest.
Andy Cole – Controversially sold to Manchester United in 1995 where he stayed until 2001 picking up numerous trophies on the way. Another three years were spent at Blackburn Rovers before brief spells at Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Sunderland and Burnley before finishing at Nottingham Forest in 2008. Andy Cole is now a part-time coach working with Lee Clark at Huddersfield.
So there you go. It’s interesting to see just how things panned out for the class of 1993 and whilst some made it to the big time, others didn’t. It’s also nice to see what they are up to nowadays and there should be some surprises in there for you.
Happy reading!
NUFCBlog Author: toonsy
toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.
Good read toons.
What about Killa, Brace and Salty Sellars though? Three of my favourites from back in the day.