Shola Ameobi: ‘I thought: how can I be most useful to Newcastle? Then the cog started turning’

The Guardian Sport · 10/22/2026, 7:00:09 AM

From experiencing racism growing up in Newcastle to becoming a derby hero and now a member of the executive team, the former striker has been on a remarkable journey “There were times where I feared for my life as a kid, being harassed and chased by different groups of people,” Shola Ameobi says. “There were situations where I had to sprint to get away from groups of lads who didn’t like me because of what I looked like.” Ameobi is recalling growing up in Newcastle during the late 1980s and 1990s, having moved from Nigeria aged six. There were lots of moments like that. Continue reading...