"I'D LOVE TO ASK ROY IF HE WISHES HE DIDN'T WALK OUT IN 2002. HE MUST REGRET IT"

The Ireland stalwart between the sticks remembers Saipan, his Manchester City spell and Magpies magic with Sir Bobby

- Ian Murtagh

You played 354 times for Newcastle across 12 years, yet the only trophy you lifted in the North East was the Championship title with Sunderland, during a loan spell early in your career. Isn’t that ironic?

I suppose it is. In fact, it’s a bit embarrassing! I was a kid on loan [from Blackburn] when Sunderland won promotion under Peter Reid, and did fairly well there. I'd love to have won some silverware at Newcastle, but the way I look at it now is that countless outstanding players have entire careers without winning a thing, and that doesn't make them any less great. The bottom line is that most of the teams I was in weren't quite good enough to win anything. That sounds brutal, but it's true.

You also won the FA Cup with Manchester City, as an unused substitute in the final...

To be honest, that medal doesn't mean a lot because I didn't really contribute. But I was part of the group and having endured the heartache of losing cup finals at Newcastle in the past - I enjoyed the emotion of all my team-mates winning on the day.

Looking back on your career, would you say there were tremendous highlights but some crushing disappointments as well?