‘Jason Tindall asked me to sing on stage. There was footage online and he was jumping up and down, waving arms in the air. That was a strange night’ Newcastle-born singer on his encounter with Magpies coach

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Newcastle coach Jason Tindall smiles and makes a heart shape with his hands after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on May 22, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Newcastle United assistant boss Jason Tindall (Image credit: Getty)

Jason Tindall’s touchline antics at Newcastle United have earned him the nickname ‘Mad Dog’ at St James’ Park, where the former Bournemouth defender is the yin to Eddie Howe’s yang.

The 47-year-old has never been shy to confront the Premier League’s biggest names, clashing with the likes of Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Jurgen Klopp during his three-and-a-half years as the Magpies assistant manager.

Naturally, this has made him a fans’ favourite on Tyneside, but this crowd-pleasing behaviour isn’t just confined to his work on the St James’ Park sidelines.

Andrew Cushin reveals his Tindall encounter

Unai Emery and Jason Tindall share a word during the encounter at St. James' Park

Unai Emery and Jason Tindall share a word during the encounter at St. James' Park (Image credit: Getty Images)

Shortly before Tindall and Howe arrived at Newcastle United, local singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin was beginning to turn heads in the music industry, having caught the eye of Noel Gallagher and signing on to The Libertines frontman Pete Doherty’s record label.

Cushin’s debut album was released in September 2023 and he opened for Noel Gallagher on the Oasis man’s tour last summer. With his profile growing, he was spotted by Tindall on a night out.

Jason Tindall

Tindall and Eddie Howe were together at Bournemouth before landing the Newcastle job (Image credit: Mark Kerton)

“A few months ago, I was in an Irish bar in Newcastle with some friends,” Cushin tells FourFourTwo. “Jason Tindall and a few of the players were out.

“My mates and I know some of them, so we said hello. They invited us to sit with them, and a few drinks later Jason asked if I’d like to sing on stage.

“The manager of the bar said it’d be an honour. So, I got up and sung Wor Flags.

“I forgot all about it the next morning but there was footage online, and watching it back, I could see Tindall jumping up and down, waving his arms in the air. That was a strange night.”

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe and assistant Jason Tindall react on the sidelines during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St. James Park on October 21, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Howe and Tindall are one of the Premier League's best odd couples (Image credit: Getty Images)

As Newcastle push for a top five finish and return to the Champions League this season, Cushin will be hoping he gets another chance to celebrate with Tindall and the Newcastle squad come the end of the campaign.

Andrew’s album, Love Is For Everyon*, is out now and he’ll be touring in May and June. Head to andrewcushin.os.fan for information

Joe Mewis

For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.

With contributions from