**Alan Shearer Jokingly Calls Daughter’s Boyfriend an ‘Idiot’ After Comic Travel Blunder**
Alan Shearer, revered ex-England captain and Newcastle United legend, found himself at the centre of a family mishap after his daughter’s boyfriend, former rugby union player Micky Young, ended up hundreds of miles from where he intended – all thanks to a train mix-up. Shearer joyfully recounted the incident in a light-hearted manner, taking the opportunity to poke a bit of fun at Young’s expense.
The sporting family had gathered in London to support Shearer’s son, Will, who was running in this year’s London Marathon. As Will prepared to take on one of the world’s most iconic distances, Shearer and other family members turned out in force to cheer him on. Amidst the excitement, Young had hoped to join them after celebrating Newcastle United’s convincing 3-0 win over Ipswich Town the previous evening.
During the episode of “The Rest is Football” podcast, Shearer explained how things went awry. “He went to the Newcastle game yesterday, and was supposed to get the 5:59pm train from Newcastle to London,” Shearer said of Young. Unfortunately, high spirits – perhaps still soaring after the Magpies’ victory – led to a major navigational error.
Arriving at the station a few minutes early, Young boarded the train he assumed would whisk him off to the capital. Reality struck not long after departure. As Shearer recounted: “Fifteen minutes in, there’s an announcement: ‘Welcome to everyone on this train to Edinburgh,’ and it was non-stop all the way.” What was meant to be a southbound journey to London became a trek north, deep into Scotland.
With only one late train available, Young had to strategise. Shearer, never one to shy from a ribbing, shared, “He looked at every option—flight, car. In the end, he got on the 10:00pm Megabus from Edinburgh and arrived in London at 6:45am.” The football icon couldn’t resist adding a tongue-in-cheek warning, “‘You’re meant to be looking after my daughter one day!’”
Listeners to the podcast, including fellow host Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, clearly enjoyed the tale, struggling to contain their laughter. Lineker observed that Young’s determination to attend – even after such a gruelling detour – was impressive in itself. According to Shearer, even Young’s exhaustive coach journey didn’t save him from a good-natured jibe: “He stopped at Dunbar, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield… I said, ‘Oh you idiot!’”
In a sense, the tale sums up both the highs and the mishaps that can follow even seasoned sportsmen and women and their families. Despite Young’s misfortune, the gathering in London was ultimately a celebratory one. Shearer expressed his admiration for the marathon experience: “It’s unbelievable, the atmosphere and coming together of everyone. Everyone’s just so happy.” Will Shearer’s achievement – despite blisters and a few lost toenails – gave the family plenty to celebrate.
Meanwhile, on the football front, Newcastle’s win saw them reclaim third place in the Premier League. While Shearer and his family basked in the victory and marathon excitement, the league race remains tense with Nottingham Forest still vying to catch up, having a game in hand.
This light-hearted escapade highlights the warmth and camaraderie among the Shearer family, and shows that even the partners of sports icons can find themselves the butt of a joke from time to time – all, of course, in good fun.
As for Micky Young, one hopes he’s forgiven for his travel oversight – and perhaps next time he’ll double-check the train departure board. The Shearer family, it seems, wouldn’t have it any other way.