But The Times yesterday named the "Greatest English Intertoto Cup matches", and Newcastle United's remarkable 4-4 home draw against Troyes almost seven years ago came in at No 4.

Like everyone at St James's Park that night, I remember it well, but not for the right reasons.

Having somehow left the Stade de L'Aube with a goalless draw in the first-leg of the final, thanks in large part to Shay Given's heroics in goal, you'd have thought Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle – who had beaten Sporting Lokeren and 1860 Munich in the previous rounds – had done the hard part.

And Nolberto Solano's second-minute opener had United's fans dreaming of a run in the UEFA Cup.

But, as ever with Newcastle, things unravelled in spectacular style, and by the 61st minute they were 4-1 down.

A late comeback, capped by Robbie Elliott's 90th-minute equaliser, wasn't enough to undo the damage, and United went out on the away goals rule.

A classic? Maybe for the neutral, but it's not a game I'll remember with any affection.