Alan Shearer, The Man Who Made Me Love Football

Alan Shearer. The name that would strike fear in the sturdiest of defenders. Classic English forward. Known for his sheer power. Free kick and penalty specialist. Celebrates with his right hand raised in front of numerous Geordie fans. Priceless. Too bad he has left the football scene.

I first saw him playing for Blackburn, and followed him to Newcastle. That was when I started to love football. That was when football had never been so exciting before. That was when Newcastle was challenging the likes of Manchester Utd, and the best in Europe. None of the flamboyance of today's players, he is a pure, no-nonsense forward that England may never produce again.

And I realize that it's been a long time since I last played soccer. Especially on the pitch. 100m by 50m. 22 players. That goalpost. Shots that landed at the back of the net. Hungering and itching for goals. Imitating the legend that is Shearer. Raising my right arm.

I miss soccer. I need to tak kiu.