I scored the winner for Newcastle United at Sunderland - what supporters did afterwards shocked me
Newcastle United cult-hero Liam O’Brien is synonymous with derby matches against Sunderland - as a new chapter is set to unfold this Sunday.
Liam O’Brien never expected his name to be immortalised by Newcastle United supporters back when he scored a match-winning free-kick against Sunderland at Roker Park back in 1992.
It was his second strike against The Black Cats in as many years, with the pinpoint free-kick delivered while wearing a Brazil yellow Newcastle away kit seeing the Dublin-born midfielder nicknamed ‘Zico’ by manager Kevin Keegan.
And over 30 years on, his name is still chanted at Newcastle matches.
“I didn’t realise on the day how big it was,” O’Brien told The Gazette. “After the game, I went for a few beers with some pals — big Newcastle fans, and they said, “You don’t realise what you’ve done, do you?
“I said: ‘Yeah, I scored the winner.’ They said, ‘No, you’ll never be forgotten’.
“I laughed it off at the time, but it’s true. To this day, it still means a lot. It’s brilliant for me, and I love that the fans still remember it.”
The derby returns
Sunderland’s promotion back to the Premier League will see Newcastle travel to the Stadium of Light for the first time in a league match in over a decade.
The sides previously met in the FA Cup third round in 2024 with The Magpies claiming a 3-0 win. But unlike last time, there is more of an even playing field as Sunderland head into the game unbeaten at home in the league and sitting a point above their rivals.
Although many Newcastle fans were happy to see Sunderland languish in League One and the Championship, O’Brien has welcomed the return of one of English football’s fiercest derby matches.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “Both sets of fans look forward to it. You can’t beat a good derby day — the tension, the build-up, the banter.
“There are plenty of Sunderland and Newcastle fans who will know each other, so it’s always good craic when you win. You can go into work the next day and say, 'We beat you,' and stick your chest out. It’s great that it’s back.
“I felt it straight away. I was lucky enough to score in a few — two against Sunderland, three against Middlesbrough. Even though Boro’s a bit different, it’s still a derby. The tension in the Newcastle–Sunderland games was massive. There's nothing like it.”
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Mackem slayer
O’Brien is best known among Newcastle supporters for his two goals against Sunderland, a match-winning free-kick in 1992 and an instinctive chip the season prior.
But which one was better?
“I always say the chip was probably the better goal because I didn’t have time to think,” O’Brien admitted. “The free-kick, I knew exactly where I was putting it. But with the chip, I just saw the keeper off his line and went for it instinctively, and it came off.
“I felt [the intensity of the derby] straight away. I was lucky enough to score in a few - two against Sunderland, three against Middlesbrough. Even though Boro’s a bit different, it’s still a derby.
“But the tension in the Newcastle v Sunderland games is massive. There's nothing like it.”
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NUFC’s lasting impact
As O’Brien’s legacy at Newcastle lives on through the memories and chants of supporters, he refers to The Magpies as ‘my club’.
“I love it, I’m doing my best to get as many people here in Ireland to follow Newcastle because that’s my club now,” he added.
“Both my sons are massive fans, one was even born there. They go over to four or five games a season and watch every match on TV. Newcastle will never leave this household.
“It’s great to see the club doing well again. Winning the Carabao Cup last season was huge, the first trophy in a long time. Now they’re in the Champions League.
“Hopefully, they can keep building the squad. Everything’s moving in the right direction.”