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Jack's Boyhood Dream Come True
Written by Newcastle Utd
Jack Colback will realise a boyhood dream when he pulls on the famous black and white striped shirt
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Jack Colback will realise a boyhood dream when he pulls on the famous black and white striped shirt on the opening day of the 2014/15 campaign.
A lifelong Newcastle United supporter, the Killingworth-born star put pen to paper on a long-term deal at St. James' Park on Monday.
Signed from local rivals Sunderland, it is a direct switch from Wearside to Tyneside that has not been made since Lionel Perez 16 years ago.
However, despite interest from other clubs, Colback revealed he had to grasp the opportunity to play for the team he supports.
"I'm fully aware it is going to be a controversial (move), but these sort of opportunities don't come around too often," the 24-year-old midfielder told nufcTV in this exclusive interview.
"It is an opportunity to come to a huge club like Newcastle - a club that has a lot of potential, an amazing fan base and a brilliant stadium. It was one that I couldn't let slip.
"If you ask fans around the world, the one thing they would like to do before they die is to play, it would be to play for the team they support, and I have been given the chance to do it.
"To come to a team I supported as a boy - my hometown team - is a really special one for me."
A regular attendee on the terraces of St. James' Park in his younger years, Colback's only recent visits have come with the Black Cats.
However, he has plenty of fond memories of the Entertainers era and cannot wait to get going as a Magpie.
"The earliest ones are probably the obvious ones - the 1995/96 season when we were so close to winning the league," Colback recalled.
"I remember having a video of the Manchester United game - the Howay 5-0 video - which I watched over and over again.
"Growing up, I used to come here with my dad. My first game at St. James' Park was against Wimbledon and we managed to win that day.
"As a young lad, the atmosphere was brilliant. It was overwhelming, and to now have the chance to walk onto that pitch and put the Newcastle shirt on, it's going to be a really proud moment."
To watch Jack Colback's exclusive nufcTV interview in full, click here.