âÂÂThatâÂÂs our left-back,â announced the puzzled Newcastle fan 90 minutes before SundayâÂÂs Tyne-Wear derby. We were walking past a pub on the way to St James' Park when Michael Martin, the editor of the excellent Newcastle fanzine True Faith, spotted a suited Jose Enrique standing in front of his 4x4 Porsche looking flustered.
The Spaniard, who joined the Geordies from Villarreal for ã6m last summer, kept saying: âÂÂI donâÂÂt know where they are, IâÂÂve lost them,â to whoever he was calling on his mobile, while passing fans admired his motor. Or took photos of him. The pub's half-dozen bouncers knew who he was but couldnâÂÂt communicate with him.
âÂÂI donâÂÂt think he speaks English,â said Michael (a fact later confirmed by Kevin Keegan after NewcastleâÂÂs 2-0 win over Sunderland). I told Enrique that I spoke Spanish and asked if he was OK. âÂÂNot really,â he replied. âÂÂIâÂÂve run out of petrol. And I needed the toilet so I went in the pub and IâÂÂve managed to lose my car keys.âÂÂ
Right.
âÂÂIâÂÂm ringing my girlfriend, who has another key for the car, but thereâÂÂs no petrol and IâÂÂm already late.â He looked like a little boy lost as he undid his collar.
Newcastle's Spanish left-back Jose Enrique: a key player
I explained the situation to Michael, who rang two contacts within the club to explain the situation; Terry McDermott immediately dispatched two security lads to sort the problem out. Enrique looked relieved when I told him that help was on the way and I assumed all was speedily resolved as he played 90 minutes - and played well.
Word of the events got through to the man who plays the music over the public address system and in among Geordie standards like Dire Straitsâ Local Hero and The Blaydon Races, they thanked Michael by playing Love Will Tear You Apart by Joy Division, a band he adores.
Ian Curtis brings Joy to Enrique's saviour
I spent three nights in Newcastle around the derby, meeting all kinds of interesting souls as well as witnessing FC United beat Newcastle Blue Star 4-0 on Saturday. Blue Star â once the team of the famous brewery which stood next to the Gallowgate End - are one of the top non-league teams in the region, but they struggle on gates of less than 150 and seem lost in the 13,000-capacity Kingston Park home they share with Newcastle Falcons rugby union team. Travelling costs appeared to have taken their toll and, despite playing well this season, they had asked for voluntary relegation back to a league which involves less travelling. TheyâÂÂve changed their mind, but geography always works against them and other semi-professional clubs in the North East. At least theyâÂÂve got a considerable pool of local talent to draw from.
After that game, I watched Carlos Tevez rescue a point for Manchester United at Blackburn in RosieâÂÂs Bar, which was full of Newcastle fans. I was alone but couldnâÂÂt contain my emotions as the little Argentinian netted. A Chinese man on the other side of the bar punched the air too, before coming over and shaking my hand. We didnâÂÂt even speak. Such is the power of football to unite, as well as divide.
