Such a versatile and reliable player and a pleasure to watch. I can remember the first time I saw him was near the end of 2001/02 season and Warnock had him playing on the right wing. Jags was awful and I thought to myself "Jeez, this kid is horrendous" Enter the 2002/03 season and a legend was born.
I was there for THAT goals against Leeds. I was there for THAT goal against Boro. I was there when he was in goal against Arsenal in THAT win.
My favourite memory of Jags was Wolves away at the end of 2004/05. It was the last game of the season and we lost 4-2. Despite the two goals we were pretty much outclassed and awful that game. Fans were fed up with our front line and were desperate to see a goal scoring machine from the academy who was sat on the bench, and kept singing "We want Billy Sharp!"
Near the end of the match Jags had the ball near to the halfway line and the fans sarcastically shouted out "SHOOT!" Jags obliged and smashed the ball hopelessly towards the Wolves goal, not even coming close to scoring. He then turned to the United fans and gave a thumbs up. This resulted in a earful from Warnock on the touchline. Jags again turned to the away fans and grinned cheekily. He knew us and what we're about.
Yep, same here.
The Boro one sticks out in my mind, because I remember the day so vividly. Warm day, me and Mrs G walked to the game, as we approached London Road we could see (and hear) the Police helicopter hovering about. A few minutes later, outside Barry's Bar (or whatever it was called back then), we saw a load of Boro fans, penned in by a load of coppers. When I say "coppers", I don't mean the weedy little, five foot three, 17 year olds, who we seem to have these days, these lads were all over six foot, in riot gear, and looked like they wanted a scrap more than the Boro fans. God knows where they got these lads from. One had a Alsatian on a lead, and he kept shaking the lead, like cracking a whip, and every time he did, the dog would lurch forward at the Boro fans, barking and baring its teeth.
The Jags goal was great, of course. Great goal, great atmosphere.
As we walked along Eccy Road after, a bloke walking past said,
"How have they gone on?", I said, won, he said
"any good?", I said ,
"watch Match of the Day tonight, watch the goal from Jags, that's all you need to do", and we carried on walking, ending up going for a few beers.
Enjoy your retirement, Jags.