THIS week 15 years ago, Alan Shearer's illustrious playing career was almost certainly over after the Newcastle United striker suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 4-1 win over Sunderland.

The 35-year-old, who scored the 206th goal of his Magpies career at the Stadium of Light, was understood to have damaged the medial ligaments in his left knee after a collision with Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca.

While Newcastle officials were refusing to rule him out of the final three games of the season, manager Glenn Roeder had admitted he feared the worst.

Shearer was awaiting the results of a scan but, while he would play at least some part in his testimonial game against Celtic on May 11, the derby win was almost certain to be his last competitive appearance in a black-and-white shirt.

"I hope it's not, but that could be it for me, " said Shearer. "I will have a scan but if it's the medial ligaments, I am done.

"I wanted to go the full distance but if I had to finish, it's not a bad way to do it - coming to your local enemies and scoring a goal that helps you get a 4-1 win."

Also that week, Britain's strongest woman would be on home soil when she defended her title.

Gemma Taylor, then 22, who was born in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, but then lived in Hartlepool, was to take on eight of the country's top competitors at Britain's Strongest Woman 2006.

Training at least five hours a day, seven days a week, Miss Taylor was excited at the prospect of taking the competition title on her home turf.

It would be the first time Hartlepool has hosted the high-profile event, which was to see the likes of Bernie Mckinely, a then world champion powerlifter, and Julie Dunkerely, the then British champion shot putter, competing.

"Training has been going really well" said Miss Taylor at the time.