When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang walks out at St James’ Park on Sunday in front of 52,000 supporters, it will feel a million miles away from his only other visit to Tyneside.
In fact, it is just three miles. For in the east end of Newcastle, tucked away behind a kebab shop and a florist, is Grounsell Park, home of Northern League club Heaton Stannington.
It was there, on a summer’s day in 2012, that Arsenal’s £55million striker turned out in front of 400 non-League enthusiasts.
The man who marked Aubameyang that day was Heaton captain Joe Wear.