History weighs heavily as Newcastle's new heroes seek immortality

Long-suffering Newcastle United fans flock every day to pay homage to the statues outside St James' Park stadium, which looms like a cathedral over the city centre.

The bronze of Jackie Milburn is especially cherished by those with long enough memories while younger generations are more familiar with the one depicting record goalscorer Alan Shearer in his trademark arm aloft celebration.

Another one immortalizes former manager Bobby Robson's memorable five-year reign at his boyhood club.

But it's the one of Milburn, affectionately known on Tyneside as 'Wor Jackie', which epitomises the connection the club has with the city's population and just how long ago it was that they actually had the chance to celebrate a major trophy.

Milburn, whose record total of goals Shearer surpassed in 2006, opened the scoring in the first minute of Newcastle's 3-1 victory over Manchester City in the 1955 FA Cup final.

It was the club's sixth FA Cup title and third in five years but since then the Magpies have endured decades of false dawns with the only addition to the trophy cabinet the long-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and layers of dust.

There have been some near misses and gallant failures.

Former player Kevin Keegan returned like the prodigal son and led the team to consecutive runners-up spots in the Premier League in the mid-90s – Newcastle famously blowing a 12-point lead in 1995-96 and being pipped by Manchester United.

There were consecutive tame FA Cup final defeats in 1998 and 1999 and two years ago, flushed with money after being bought by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, they lost to Manchester United in the League Cup final.

Runaway Premier League leaders and League Cup holders Liverpool represent a formidable hurdle on Sunday, but there is a feeling that underdogs Newcastle are better-prepared than against United and in Sweden's Alexander Isak, they have a striker capable of becoming a new Geordie legend.

Not that the 25-year-old, who has scored 22 goals in 32 appearances this season, is too versed in Newcastle folklore.

"I didn't have too much knowledge, but my football knowledge in general is pretty bad," Isak told reporters on Friday. "Alan Shearer, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba, that's kind of where it stops.

"I think you find out quite quick about the greats and about the history of the club. And yeah, I'm trying to create my own history. I'm happy with what I've done so far."

Cup final fever has broken out in Newcastle with school children given permission to ditch the uniform and wear black and white stripes. Thousands upon thousands will board trains for London on Sunday morning hoping for the best.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes says he has dreamt about lifting the trophy since being left in tears two years ago.

"I want tears of happiness this time. Everyone knows how emotional I am," Guimaraes said. "I always try to give everything that I have on the pitch, to play as a fan, because I know what it means for them. Hopefully everything is going to be good for us on the day."

Newcastle have failed to score a goal in their last three finals and the last player to find the net for the club at Wembley was Rob Lee in an FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea almost 25 years ago.

"I spoke with Rob Lee. I touched his feet to give me a little bit of luck," Guimaraes said. "We want to make thousands and thousands of Geordies happy. We're going to do our best to get this trophy back to the city."