BOB Moncur has spent 35 years being hailed as the last Newcastle skipper to lift a major trophy - but the United legend would love to see Alan Shearer steal his crown in five weeks' time.

Moncur led the Magpies as they beat Hungarian side Ujpest Dozsa to win the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - the forerunner of the modern-day UEFA Cup - in 1969.

The 6-2 aggregate win ensured Moncur's place in United folklore but, since then, his legend has grown even greater due to the club's extended wait for more silverware.

Wednesday night's 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven sent Newcastle through to the last four of the UEFA Cup and left them just two games away from a possible final appearance in Gothenburg on Wednesday, May 19.

A win in that would see Shearer emulate Stokoe by finally bringing a major trophy to Tyneside, and the former skipper is desperate to see United's current talisman follow in his footsteps next month.

"I'm sick of being labelled the last captain to win a major honour for Newcastle," said Moncur.

"I have this ongoing wind-up with Alan. He keeps saying he's never won anything here and I tell him it's about time he took this title away from me.

"He's now in line and I could not think of a better man to take it away from me. I know just what it would mean to him.

"I'm not saying I haven't enjoyed the label - it's kept my name in the papers - but it's time for someone else.

"I'd love to see Alan lifting the cup in Gothenburg. It would have broken my heart if I'd lost the tag to someone I didn't like and respect.

"I wanted it to go to a Peter Beardsley or a Shearer, players I have a lot of time for both on and off the pitch.

"And I'd be genuinely thrilled for genuine pros like Gary Speed and Shay Given because they're my kind of players."

Moncur left Newcastle for Sunderland after captaining them in the ill-fated 1974 FA Cup final, but he has remained a staunch United fan and stands to win a long-standing bet if the Magpies can finally end their barren run this season.

"I struck a bet with a pal of mine many years ago," said Moncur. "He said 'Bob, you don't know how lucky you are because this club will never win another European trophy in our lifetime' I said we would, but I didn't think we'd have to wait this long.

"Now there's a genuine chance though, and 35 years has a bit of a ring about it, doesn't it?

"It would be typical of this club. It hasn't won a domestic honour since 1955 and it ends the drought with another European win. We don't do it the easy way here."

United's 1969 win was also done the hard way as they were expected to struggle after having qualified for the tournament despite finishing just 10th in the First Division the previous season.

But wins over Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, Real Zaragoza and Vitoria Setubal set up a two-legged semi-final with Glasgow Rangers, and a 2-0 aggregate success in that game saw the Magpies line up against Ujpest Dozsa in the final.

"When we entered the competition, the chairman Lord Westwood famously said 'We're daft enough to go out and win it'," said Moncur.

"It's a bit different for this team than it was for us because Europe was a massive bonus for us and there was a lot less pressure.

"Every game was an adventure and we just went out there aiming to enjoy ourselves. Every game was party time, if you like.

"Newcastle now have more expectation and more pressure. They went into the competition with the aim of winning it and that creates its own pressure."

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