Former Newcastle United winger and current Feyenoord youth manager Brian Pinas has revealed his time at St James Park made him appreciate being a footballer.
The Dutchman signed for Newcastle from Feyenoord’s youth system in July 1997 and quickly impressed at the club, who promoted him to the first-team squad.
Sadly that didn’t translate into appearances on the pitch, though, with Pinas failing to make a single appearance for the Magpies and returning to his homeland and Feyenoord a year later.
He went on to enjoy a varied career in the Netherlands, playing for the likes of Groningen, NAC Breda and FC Dordrecht before retiring in July 2011.
Given he managed just a year in the North East and not a single minute on the pitch, it would be easy to think he doesn’t have good memories of his time with the Magpies.
It seems that is not the case, though, and in a recent conversation with Elf Voetbal, he was keen to praise the club and their fans.
“I was suddenly on the pitch with Alan Shearer, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Ian Rush and John Barnes. All greats,” he told them.
“I then got to experience Champions League and Premier League games from very close quarters.
“That culture cannot be compared to the Dutch football culture. It starts with the respect that players and trainers have for you, even if you are just a youth player.
“When I walked through the city I saw almost everyone walking around in a Newcastle shirt. That was normal there. I really got admiration for the sport in Newcastle and that it was very special that I was a footballer.”
