EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Aberdeen striker Mike Newell’s enduring north-east links, Dons spell and how agent bribe controversy stymied management career.
Mike Newell, a former Don and Premier League winner, has revealed that he has built long-term roots in the north east after leaving Pittodrie.
Newell added, “Two of my daughters still live up there now; one is married and lives in Banchory, and the other lives in Inverurie.” “That’s how much the family enjoyed it up there, and we never tire of going back. “It’s simply a great corner of the planet. “Living in Aberdeen was amazing.
“The kids attended Robert Gordon’s school, which was great, and we liked everything about it. “We were only there two years, but it left a massive impression on us.”
Newell retains strong links with Scotland
The Newell connection to Scottish football persisted long after he returned to England, with his sister Helen Page serving on the Scottish FA’s board of directors and his son George also playing for Motherwell.
Newell stated, “My sister lives near Gleneagles, and I never tire of visiting there since I have a friend from Aberdeen, Ricky Gillies, who is a member there. “When I met Ricky, I assumed he was the first Scottish person I’d ever met who had never played golf. “He’s currently playing off one or two.
He’s a good player and enjoys golf, so whenever I’m up there, we try to get a round in.
“I’m heading up again in August to do some house sitting.
I look after the dog, but I have the entire house to myself, and it’s just peace and quiet, which I enjoy. “I can go and meet Ricky and play golf whenever I want – it’s absolutely the best holiday I could possibly ever have.”
Family ties meant Hampden visit to watch Dons’ Scottish Cup win
Newell’s familial links also prompted him to pay his first visit to the National Stadium in April, to watch his former club defeat Hearts 2-1 in the Scottish Cup semi-final. He stated: “I attended the Scottish Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and Hearts since my sister is on the SFA board.
“She used to work for the Bank of Scotland and is on the board of the SFA, so she invited me up.” “Now, I understand that the standard is nowhere near that of the Premier League and everything else, but the atmosphere and noise created by Aberdeen and Hearts fans was simply incredible. “I’d never been to Hampden before, so I leaped at the chance – and it didn’t disappoint.”
How Mike Newell signed for Aberdeen
Newell left Rovers in 1996 to join ambitious Birmingham City, who were aiming for promotion to the Premier League under new manager Trevor Francis. However, Newell, who had scored a then-record nine-minute hat-trick for Rovers in the Champions League against Rosenborg during his final season at Ewood Park, struggled at St Andrews. Newell’s dissatisfaction, along with a 10th-place finish in the First Division, drove the striker to seek a new challenge.
He said, “When I was in Birmingham, I wasn’t receiving what I needed out of my time there.
“Trevor Francis was the manager, and it wasn’t what I expected, to be honest, and it felt a little amateurish in comparison to the other clubs I’d played for. “I mean no disrespect to Trevor; God bless his soul, but he simply wasn’t cut out to be a manager. “For all the money they had and could spend, it didn’t look like they’d make it into the Premier League. “I have never been one for money or contracts.
I wanted to play, score goals, and be a part of a successful team, no matter where I played.
For Newell, who was staying in Birmingham away from his family home in Formby, the easygoing attitude in Birmingham was problematic. He stated, “We weren’t training, and I needed to train because I wanted to feel well at the end of the week. “I come from a place where you practiced and played.
If you could make it through training with a minor injury, you were fit enough to play. “I had always wanted to train on Thursdays and Fridays, and Trevor made everything a little more easygoing.
“He used to say stuff like, ‘Well, back in the day, under Brian Clough (at Nottingham Forest), we didn’t train,’ and so on.
“I recall sitting there and thinking, ‘Yeah, but you were playing Saturday, Tuesday, or Saturday, Wednesday, and then Saturday, and then European Cup games.'” “The season is long, and there is time for recuperation and light exercise.
“But what if you have a free week and decide not to do anything? I couldn’t create it (fitness) myself. “I was staying in Birmingham on my own because I had five little children. We had not moved down.
“I was staying down there two or three nights a week, but I realised it wasn’t working out. “I’m not blaming Trevor at all; that’s how he viewed things. We were just not getting along.”
Newell’s desire for a fresh start elsewhere would result in a new challenge in the Scottish Premier Division with Aberdeen. The 32-year-old striker accepted Dons manager Roy Aitken’s invitation to join his squad for pre-season training and gain a feel for the club.
“I really don’t know how Aberdeen came about,” Newell added. “I believe Roy Aitken mentioned me to Kenny Dalglish since I had previously played for him at Blackburn Rovers.
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