Everyone knows that Newcastle’s fans are the best in the Premier League – Ex-Wimbledon star


 
 
 
 
 
 

A one-time Wimbledon star has declared ‘Everyone knows that Newcastle’s fans are the best in the Premier League.’

To be fair though, this particular ex-Wimbledon star will have a foot in both camps tonight.

As Newcastle United face AFC Wimbledon.

Warren Barton was one of the key players back in the day when Wimbledon finished in their highest ever league placing, sixth in the top tier.

That was ahead of Warren Barton moving to Newcastle United, where twice he was part of the NUFC side that finished Premier League runners-up in 1995/96 and 1996/97.

Warren Barton talking to the official AFC Wimbledon site – 1 October 2024:

What makes Newcastle such a special club and what do you make of where they are now?

‘Everyone knows that Newcastle’s fans are the best in the Premier League.

They get behind their team no matter what. It’s a one team city, the football club is the heartbeat of it. It’s a privilege to play for those fans. They work hard Monday to Friday and then you have the responsibility to work hard on the weekend to win for them.

They’re going in the right direction under the new owners now but it’s going to take time.

They more than matched Man City at the weekend, who are arguably the best team in the world.

I’m now looking forward to seeing how they get on against a Wimbledon side who will cause them different problems.’

Given the success and cohesion you experienced with the Club, was it a difficult decision to leave?

‘It was part of the conveyor belt that the scouting team had created at the Club.

I spoke to Arsenal, at one point I was on my way to Blackburn Rovers and I spoke to Celtic and Manchester City.

But when you speak to Kevin Keegan, there’s no second guessing it.

I had a wonderful time up there, going from being a Crazy Gang member to an Entertainer. I was leaving friends behind but it’s all part of it.’

Your move to Newcastle broke another record as you became the most expensive defender in England at the time. This brought about England caps and the side assembled by Kevin Keegan was known as “The Entertainers”. How do you reflect on that spell of your career?

‘We reached three FA Cup finals and ran close in the league. To play with someone like Alan Shearer, who was their record signing at the time, Faustino Asprilla, Les Ferdinand and Peter Beardsley – the list goes on and on. There was also quality Premier League players such as Gary Speed and Shay Given.

They all had the same identity as the Wimbledon players. Great personalities. Philippe Albert, the Belgian, he played at the World Cup, but he could’ve fitted into that Wimbledon team because he was a great person.

I wasn’t out there at the time but the Newcastle lads were out in Cyprus with the Wimbledon lads and they all got on well drinking together. That shows the bonds that existed between those squads. So I went from one tight changing room to another one. It was an honour to play for both clubs.’