As a Newcastle fan I have to agree with your last comment. We signed him right at the death on deadline day and I have to say that like most fans, I was massively underwhelmed, but he proved me wrong and became something of a cult hero.
At first my reaction to seeing him anywhere near the first team was, christ. A few games in and that changed because he always gave 100% and could come up with an important goal, he scored 4 goals in Europe which isn’t bad considering he was only at the club for one season. It still seems mad that we let him go and brough in the awful Alan Smith from your neighbours.
It’s a shame that he had to bury his daughter, no father should have to bury their children.