<p>By the summer of 1996, Newcastle were officially the second best club in England follow-ing a dramatic race for the Premier League title, with the ambition to become even bigger.<br><br>They would break the transfer world record by signing the England captain Alan Shearer, ahead of rivals Manchester United, for £15 million from Blackburn Rovers and had the talismanic figure of Kevin Keegan as their manager.<br><br>It was expected a golden peri...