Steve Howey, a former Newcastle United defender, has reflected on the club’s near-miss in the 1995-96 Premier League season, insisting that neither he nor his teammates would alter their approach despite narrowly losing the title after leading the table by 12 points. The season ended with Manchester United overtaking Newcastle in a dramatic finish, with key figures such as Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel instrumental in their comeback.

Howey’s comments come as tributes continue to flow for Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle manager at the time, who passed away on Monday at the age of 75. Keegan was widely praised for his emphasis on attacking football, a style that brought Newcastle close to their first league championship since 1927.

Looking back, Howey said the team’s commitment to an entertaining, offensive style of play remained a point of pride. “Kevin Keegan always said to us if he’d changed to a defensive system or parked the bus, we’d have got more criticism,” Howey noted. “We’d played that entertaining brand to get there, and we just had to go for it the same way in the run-in.”

Despite the disappointment of losing the title, Howey attributed Newcastle’s stumble, in part, to a lack of experience in high-stakes situations. He pointed out that only a few players, including David Batty and Peter Beardsley, had previously won a league title. This inexperience contrasted with Manchester United’s squad, which featured a core of seasoned and decorated players such as Cantona, Schmeichel, Ryan Giggs, Gary Pallister, Paul Scholes, and Roy Keane.

The Magpies’ season included costly defeats against Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, and West Ham United, which ultimately contributed to their collapse at the top of the table. Yet, Howey emphasized that fans and players alike continue to cherish that campaign. He explained that Newcastle became many supporters’ “second team,” with fans from various clubs drawn to their exciting style of play. “People want to talk about their favourite moments and favourite goals,” he said.

In public appearances alongside former teammate John Beresford, Howey has encountered persistent admiration from Newcastle supporters, even three decades after the title race ended. He concluded: “It would have been perfection if we’d topped it off and won the title in 1996 because of the brand of football we played and the way Kevin wanted us to play. We wanted to play like that too. It just wasn’t to be.”