Clean finish

In 1987, at the age of five, Foluwashola Ameobi moved from Nigeria to Newcastle upon Tyne. He arrived in a city with no African community to speak of, but settled thanks to a tight-knit family and his prodigious football talent.

By the time he was 14 he'd signed schoolboy terms with his hometown club, Newcastle United. (Around this time, my mates and I welcomed a keen young kid to join our artless kickabout in Newcastle's Exhibition Park. It was almost definitely him. But I digress.)

He made his Magpies debut in 2000, and has gone on to become something of a cult hero. There is pretty much unanimous agreement that he has never fulfilled his potential, and has divided supporters with his erratic form since day one.

Nevertheless, he has an indomitable spirit in the face of often cruel criticism, a genuine love for his home city, and - importantly - an unbelievable knack for scoring goals against our LOLsome neighbours, Sunderland.

Today he did it again, his record seventh Premier League goal against them (and his 50th over all) an injury-time equaliser that felt like a winner and extended our rivals' record of just one win the last 15 Tyne and Wear derbies.

Here's to you, Shola the mackem slayer.