Nobby Solano: Tyneside and trumpets

But there's no big ego or arrogance nor flash outlook from the Peruvian; he really does blow his own trumpet. And he does it very well, as he introduces a touch of Latin America to Tyneside with salsa band The Geordie Latinos.

Since arriving in the North-East, signed by Newcastle United boss Kenny Dalglish for just a few quid short of £2.8m in 1998 Solano has embraced the region as much as it has taken to him - "I'm an adopted Geordie'' - he happily declares.

In his homeland, he has had his face on telephone cards, although it;'s a myth he appeared on a postage stamp, while his wedding was broadcast live on national television. He is Peru's most celebrated individual since Paddington Bear.

Now, after a brief exile from the region, he is back where he considers home, playing for Hartlepool United.

And the winger, 36 and capped 95 times for his country isn't just seeing out his career for the sake of it. He plays with the same passion and panache which earned him hero status at St James' Park.

Pools' midfielder Nathan Luscombe recently said: "I take him home every day and we get stopped at traffic lights and there's workmen in their vans telling me to wind the window down. You can't take him anywhere.''

Solano moved to Tyneside from Boca Juniors, where he played alongside Diego Maradona. The Argentinian legend labelled his team-mate ‘The Little Maestro'. Such is their relationship he has extended an invitation to the player widely regarded as the world's best footballer in a testimonial game next year.

"Diego Maradona, for me I never dreamed in my life I would meet him, not just play football with him in the same team,'' reflected Solano.

"It was unbelievable, I signed for Boca and he signed at the same time. I would say everything in my career has been perfect, to meet and play with people like Maradona, Alan Shearer, Bobby Robson and play in the Champions League against players like Del Piero, Totti and Henry, Bergkamp and people like that, for me is so special.

"I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be playing football in England, it means I have played against and with some of the greatest talents in the world.''

It's probably a feeling most of League One gets when they face Pools this season. A standing ovation from the Bournemouth crowd when he left the pitch last month after scoring a searching free-kick showed the respect he has earned.

"I came to Newcastle in 1998 and then you never know where you will go. When I was young it was a dream to play in Europe, not just England,'' he said.

"But I arrived at a great time, when English football was getting bigger and bigger. I am really proud to be here and playing football in a country like this, one of the best for football.

"I am still playing because football is part of my life and I know how important it is. I want to be involved, stay involved after I finish playing and, at the moment, everything is going well.

"I am pleased for many people how well we are doing at the moment, but we are only at the beginning of a journey.

"I cannot believe how people are talking about Hartlepool. I still live in Newcastle and everywhere I go in the street and out and about, they say ‘Hartlepool are doing well'. I think we now have fans in Newcastle who want us to do well and it's great.''

Those supporters took an instant shine to the right winger.

Moving to England aged 23, may have been a daunting prospect for some. There's been plenty of foreign flops and overpriced misfits at St James Park over the years unable to cope with the environment.

But Solano proved quite the opposite in his two spells on Tyneside.

"It's unbelievable for me, how the Newcastle supporters supported me. It's probably because I was there for their last successful period, when we were in the Champions League under Bobby and everything was good.

"That's why people remember me and the good times and since then Newcastle haven't been doing so well.

"For me, I want good times at Hartlepool and to get promotion which would be fantastic.

"I came to England and didn't speak English. It was tough. But I wasn't going to make any excuses, some people adapt quickly into the team and the club, some people use the language problem as an excuse.

"In football you just need to play - that's why I am a footballer to play games. The language makes it easier when you can all speak together but you can learn.

"In that way I was quite an open person to learn it. My social life is important to me and that's why I have a lot of friends outside football. All these things help me to understand the language here.

"And it's very tough in the North-East, the Geordie accent is different. But I played for Aston Villa and it was even harder to understand people down there! And London people sometimes as well.

"In the beginning it was the football which kept me going, the people love you when you are playing for the club and doing well and that is something special

"Be a good professional and play well and it all comes together.''

There is, however, more to Solano's life than football.

Once training is finished for the day, there's no heading for a round of golf or back home to pass the hours on a PlayStation.

So Solano throws himself into his music. There's not many trumpet playing footballers around and Solano is more likely to list Roberto Roena or Arturo Sandoval than Lionel Ritchie and Phil Collins as his greatest musical influences.

"Everybody likes music, you get up and put the radio on. You get in the car and put it on, I am similar,'' he said.

"It was my passion outside football, I love my music and I love making music as well. In my profession we have a few hours training on a morning and the rest of the day is quite long - most people work longer hours.

"So I try to do something to stay away from football to help me relax and get away from football all day every day.

"My passion was playing the trumpet, so I get friends outside football, musicians and the like to help me not think about football all the time.

"It has also opened my circle of life as well, I enjoy playing with the band.''

"Golf isn't for me like it is for most footballers. The weather has been nice lately, but it's not like that all the time is it?

"You have wind and rain and you need to like it a lot to play in those weathers - it's not for me.

"Walking, walking and more walking. A lot of footballers play after training, but we are all different.''

And, after working under Sir Bobby Robson for so long, it would be amiss of Solano not to have at least one anecdote from their time on Tyneside.

"I used to have fun at Newcastle with my trumpet,'' he recalled. "At the time we were doing well and the players and Bobby were confident.

"We had good team spirit and we always laughing and joking, so I brought my trumpet into the dressing room to keep everybody happy.

"I remember I was injured at the time and normally as an injured player you have to stay in for treatment.

"Before the players started training Bobby was on the pitch talking to them and I was hidden away blowing my trumpet.

"He was looking around wondering where the noise was coming from and all the players were laughing and laughing while he was looking all over.

"It was good fun, great times as a unit and a team. It all came together.

"Bobby was one of the best managers ever and I was so proud to work under him. The energy he had - and he was an old man - and his values were good for everyone.

"As a professional do you need to be told what to do, but if you did then Bobby told you.

"He was making sure everyone works well, works hard and he was perfect at the right time with the right players and we had success.''