Toon shirt Fitz me at long last!
IF Fitz Hall had had his way, he'd have pulled on a Newcastle United shirt long before making his debut for the club.
For the defender had begged his mum for a jersey when he was growing up in London.
As it was, the Hall family budget only stretched to United shorts and socks.
Read more from new signing Fitz Hall
Loan Ranger Fitz eyeing United switch
I'll give my Hall against QPR – Fitz
And the 29-year-old – on loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season – finally donned a black and white shirt in Friday night's 5-1 win over Cardiff City.
Hall – who overcame the heartbreak of being released by West Ham United as a youngster to make a career in the game – still vividly recalls the day he went to buy a United strip.
"It's a clich, but this is a dream come true for me," Hall told the Gazette. "I used to watch Newcastle – it was when Andy Cole and (Peter) Beardsley were playing.
"I admired Newcastle, and I remember being at school and asking my mum for the money. There was one shop that actually did Newcastle strips, but I didn't have enough money for the whole kit.
"I got the shorts and socks, and wore them for years, and for the first time I've got a shirt!"
Hall went on: "Down London, everyone supports anyone. People are supporting everyone.
"It's not like in Newcastle, where everyone bleeds black and white. In London, supporters have never been to the grounds."
Hall admits he's still pinching himself at the turn of events that saw him join Newcastle until the end of the season.
"I'm still amazed at the whole situation, but as soon as I put on the shirt, that goes out of the window – it then becomes my job," added the 29-year-old, who got his chance against Cardiff in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor through injury.
"I'd played there a couple of times before, and I was just amazed looking around the stadium. It's just an amazing stadium, and I can't wait to play there in the home colours of Newcastle.
"It's been good – everyone's welcomed me. I'm excited, and it's gone well so far.
"The first thing on my mind was making my debut. The team's been doing well and keeping clean sheets, so I had to wait my turn.
"As long as there's competition, everyone will be on top of their game. I think it's good for the team with a few players competing for the same position."
Hall joined QPR two years ago from Wigan Athletic, and the centre-half has seen a succession of managers come and go at the Loftus Road club, bankrolled by Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.
However, cost cutting at QPR – now managed by former United striker Mick Harford – saw Wayne Routledge join United last month, and Hall followed the winger on loan.
And ironically, given the events of the past few years, he is confident his football will benefit from some relative stability, something of a rarity at St James's Park.
"It's been a bit up and down at QPR since I've been there – I think I've had eight different managers in two years," said Hall.
"It's a great club and it's got great fans, and once it gets a bit of stability, I'm sure they'll be heading in the same direction as Newcastle.
"That's another reason I've come here – you can just get your head down, and concentrate on football. That was a big attraction for me."
"I'm just 29 now and I'm coming into my prime, if you like, in the next few years, so we'll just have to see what happens.
"I just can't wait – I'm going to take every game as it comes, and enjoy every minute of it."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Transfer Rumours May 12: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Blackpool, Reading, Tottenham, West Brom
- Transfer Rumours May 12: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Blackpool, Reading
- Sammy Ameobi will be a big player for Newcastle United next season
- Tearoom throws out Anthem row trio
- Newcastle in talks over Cardiff friendly
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Jarrow
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
