Who Put The Ball In The Mackem Net?

Last updated : 23 October 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Nikos Dabizas: "I will never forget the games against Sunderland because they were so special and I'll certainly never forget scoring against them at the Stadium of Light (2002). I wouldn't say it was the pinnacle of my career, but it is one of my favourite memories.

"Whenever I am in Newcastle the fans always remind me of that game and the goal I scored and people still leave messages on my website thanking me for scoring that goal. I don't think I've scored many more important ones and none have given me as much pleasure.

"I have a giant poster of me celebrating that goal with the lads on the wall in my front room in Greece. It is a constant reminder to me every time I sit down to watch television and it also shows what it means to me. When I scored, I lost my mind. For 10 seconds my head went completely blank, I was like a mad man, a man possessed, it was a wonderful moment. It was just sheer joy, nothing else. It was a magical feeling, fantastic.

"To score in a game, which is so important, on enemy territory, it doesn't get any better than that. I didn't score many either so I wasn't expecting to have something like that to celebrate. I can just remember seeing it go in and then, it's a blur, cheering, shouting and the lads jumping on me.

"It was pretty crazy, but it's moments like that which stick out in your mind and I will always look back on it as a special moment in my career."

WHAT IS YOUR OWN PERSON MEMORY ... THE MOST IMPORTANT SCORED AGAINST THE MACKEMS?

David Kelly, Peter Beardsley,Scott Sellars, Alan Suddick, Wyn Davies, John McNamee, Jinky Jimmy, Pop Robson?

For me ... "Who put the ball in the Mackem's net, Liam O'Brian!"

We came across him on holiday in Majorca many years after he left Newcastle and took him for a few jars.

We put him on a pool table in one of the bars and made him talk us through it ... over and over again.

What a star!!!