“Me and Michael would at all times discuss, every single day, with out fail,” says Ethan Devine.
On December 30, Devine despatched Michael Newberry, the previous Newcastle United teenager and his title-winning Linfield team-mate and shut pal, a message on his twenty seventh birthday. It will likely be endlessly unopened. Michael, a defender with Cliftonville within the Northern Irish Premiership, had handed away out of the blue.
Michael’s life revolved round soccer and rising up on Stanhope Road — lower than a 10-minute stroll from Newcastle United’s house, St James’ Park — was solely ever going to be outlined by town’s soccer membership. The defender joined Newcastle’s academy aged 11 and, seven years later, received the extremely coveted Wor Jackie Trophy: awarded to the membership’s most promising youth prospect every season, forward of future first-team common Sean Longstaff.
Accidents prevented Michael from a first-team look at Newcastle, however he carved out an expert profession in Iceland and, later, Northern Eire, enjoying at Linfield alongside Devine as they received a league title collectively in 2022. “We grew to become shut, together with just a few others,” says Devine. “It was Michael who helped mature me as a person. He stored me on the fitting path and was such an essential particular person in my life.”
Cliftonville journey from the north of Belfast to the south of the capital to tackle Michael’s former membership Linfield immediately within the first assembly since his passing. His team-mates, family and friends are nonetheless making an attempt to return to phrases with their loss.
Michael holding Devine’s daughter (Photograph courtesy of Ethan Devine)
On an icy lunchtime in Newcastle, Adrian Salem is within the heat of his native pub. It’s packed as Newcastle’s Premier League recreation kicks off.
For Adrian, soccer can present the escapism that’s important after essentially the most troublesome days of his life. Saturdays haven’t been the identical since Michael, his youthful brother, died.
Adrian, eight years older, recollects how their father, additionally Michael Newberry and a former non-League footballer at close by Gateshead, took them to coaching periods. Michael would exhibit the talents he was studying to his brother. In return, Adrian — keen about boxing — had Michael as a sparring companion.
Michael was understandably disheartened after leaving Newcastle in 2018. “He was telling us that he hadn’t made it,” Adrian recollects, shaking his head. “Each time we spoke, I instructed him how proud all of us had been of him and the way others seemed as much as him. I’d at all times give him a cuddle.”
Adrian, a eager boxer, spent hours practising his expertise with Michael (Photograph courtesy of Adrian Salem)
Michael’s soccer journey started at Crimson Home Farm — a junior soccer membership in Gosforth, north of Newcastle. “Michael was an incredible younger lad, he was at all times smiling,” Mark Bolam, his coach from the youth membership, says. “He beloved soccer and was a extremely fashionable child.”
Bolam recounts how Michael, even after signing for Newcastle, would return to coaching periods and matches to assist the group. “He received on so effectively with all of the lads; there was an actual bond. I keep in mind Peter Beardsley (the previous ahead who captained Newcastle, earlier than turning into a coach at St. James’ Park, together with a spell as caretaker supervisor in 2010) at Newcastle telling me that Michael was the primary participant at coaching and the final one to depart. He would assist arrange our periods.”
Michael, left, started his youth profession at Crimson Home Farm (Photograph courtesy of Crimson Home Farm)
At Newcastle, Michael was elevated above his age classes, enjoying for the under-18s aged 15. He struck up a centre-back partnership with Owen Bailey, one 12 months his junior, from the under-14 aspect by to under-21 stage.
“Michael was forward of his time — a contemporary participant,” says Bailey, now a midfielder with League Two aspect Doncaster Rovers. “He was quick, robust, good on the ball.”
Bailey, 25, describes how Michael was “one of many nicest lads I’ve met. He would exit of his method to ensure everybody was tremendous from a private perspective earlier than worrying about soccer, particularly the youthful ones. In that setting, everyone seems to be competing for scholarships and professional contracts.”
Michael was elevated above his age class in Newcastle’s youth system (Photograph courtesy of Adrian Salem)
Bailey says it was evident Michael was one of many standout gamers. “He by no means acted like he was — there was actual humility,” he provides. “He clicked with everybody and had amusing. He was such , humorous particular person. He was the proper instance of the Geordie character: labored laborious however didn’t take himself too severely.”
That view was shared by one other team-mate at St James’ Park, Dan Barlaser, the Middlesbrough midfielder. “He labored so laborious within the health club — he was at all times in nice form,” Barlaser instructed the Newcastle programme. “He was at all times smiling, laughing. I’ll cherish these recollections.”
Michael, far left, watches a coaching session alongside team-mates Ivan Toney, Longstaff and Barlaser (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United by way of Getty Photos)
Regardless of being two of essentially the most promising gamers in Newcastle’s youth system, neither Michael nor Bailey would play for the senior aspect. “He was actually shut,” Bailey says. “However there was quite a lot of change within the academy and that didn’t assist anybody. Plenty of the most effective abilities dropped off the radar.”
Having signed an expert contract, Michael had a hairline fracture in his again that dominated him out for eight months throughout his ultimate 12 months on the membership. Later, Newcastle’s under-23 captain Bailey suffered knee accidents that prevented him from enjoying for 18 months. The timings meant neither was supplied additional contracts.
Bailey argues Newcastle’s geographical isolation makes it notably troublesome for younger gamers to proceed their careers. Not like different English city centres similar to London, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds or Birmingham, there may be not a deep community of native golf equipment within the north east as alternate options. Bailey resurrected his profession at Gateshead, then within the sixth tier.
Michael, who grew up a 10-minute stroll from St. James’ Park, was a lifelong Newcastle fan (Photograph courtesy of Adrian Salem)
Michael had curiosity from Blackburn Rovers and a trial with Motherwell in Scotland, earlier than agent Nick McCreery instructed Michael that Icelandic membership U.M.F. Vikingur had supplied a contract.
Adrian believes Michael’s left-field transfer had been influenced by his personal profession. Adrian served within the military in Afghanistan and Iraq and has since labored in India and Dubai. “Michael possibly noticed that and felt nothing would cease him transferring away,” Adrian says.
Michael spent three seasons enjoying frequently in Iceland. “He was having the time of his life,” Adrian says, earlier than including that it was a problem. “It was an unlimited, empty space. It’s one factor to expertise that, however residing there for that size of time is lots. We knew he finally missed house.”
Michael alongside his brother (Photograph courtesy of Adrian Salem)
Michael was capped by Northern Eire’s youth groups. Qualifying by his grandfather’s Belfast roots, he performed for the under-17 and under-19 sides.
It was there that he first labored with David Healy and Ross Oliver. In January 2021, Michael signed for Northern Eire champions Linfield, who had been managed by Healy with Oliver as his assistant. “This was such a giant deal,” Adrian says. Not solely was it a proud second for the household with their roots, however Linfield are the largest membership within the nation. “I’m English and I’ve friends who assist Linfield. It made me proud past phrases.”
Michael had received the Wor Jackie Trophy at Newcastle, named after Jackie Milburn, who stays Newcastle’s second-highest goalscorer, having scored 200 aggressive objectives. After leaving Newcastle in 1957, Milburn moved to Belfast and as player-manager received 9 trophies.
Michael joined Linfield once they had been prime of the league and had received the earlier two titles, arriving similtaneously midfielder Cammy Palmer, who got here from Scotland. “We clicked right away,” says Palmer, who stayed in the identical lodge with Michael earlier than they moved in collectively. Palmer, three years youthful, remembers driving the pair to coaching in a automobile stuffed with suitcases and backpacks.
“He was at all times there for a chat, it doesn’t matter what,” he provides. “We each missed our households and mates, however we had one another and grew into the membership and town.”
They helped Linfield win one other two league titles. “He received on with completely everybody. My spouse came visiting and there was by no means any drawback.”
Palmer and Michael lived collectively after becoming a member of Linfield in 2021 (Photograph courtesy of Cammy Palmer)
When Michael scored his first Linfield aim, Healy instructed Palmer within the dressing room he would wish to start out chipping in or he wouldn’t have the bragging rights. They grew to become shut mates with team-mates Conor Pepper and Kirk Millar. “We’d go spherical to Conor’s home to play poker,” Palmer says. “We socialised lots. It was group and the bonds had been shut.”
Palmer says what he remembers most about Michael was how he frequently sat with completely different teams and prioritised checking in with the kids. “We at all times had amusing, however he was there for me after I wanted a chat or felt I used to be struggling. I hope I used to be that particular person for him.”
In January 2022, a 12 months into Michael’s and Palmer’s time at Linfield, the membership signed Devine from Championship membership Knockbreda. A then-20-year-old who had by no means performed within the prime flight, the transfer was a giant step within the striker’s profession. “As quickly as I arrived, Michael taken care of me,” Devine says.
Devine and Michael received a number of trophies collectively at Linfield (Photograph courtesy of Ethan Devine)
Final summer time, Michael left Linfield for Cliftonville. He moved in with three team-mates who all transferred golf equipment that summer time: Arran Pettifer, Axel Piesold and Taylor Steven. “He was like the daddy determine of that home,” Devine says. “He was at all times making an attempt to look out for individuals.”
On Christmas Day, Michael made dinner. “He would have identified what it was like not having a assist base — that summed him up,” says Palmer.
The next day, Cliftonville misplaced towards Crusaders. Michael performed the complete match. On December 30, Cliftonville had been scheduled to play Dungannon Swifts and on the earlier evening, he and Devine chatted as regular. “That friendship in all probability received even stronger once we weren’t on the similar membership,” says Devine.
It was the final time Devine and Michael spoke.
Devine and Michael grew to become shut mates away from soccer (Photograph courtesy of Ethan Devine)
Michael’s brother, Adrian, couldn’t course of the information — he nonetheless can’t. “I had instructed him that he might decide up the cellphone to me anytime, it will not matter why,” he says. “I don’t know why that evening he felt he couldn’t ring us. He was my little brother. I held him in my arms when he was a child. We had been at all times there for one another. I beloved Michael a lot.”
As information circulated of Michael’s loss of life, Linfield and Cliftonville requested to the NI Soccer League to postpone their matches that evening. The league agreed, however the different 4 video games went forward.
Devine, now on mortgage at Ballymena United, and Palmer, at Glentoran, had been scheduled to play. Devine selected to not, Palmer did. “That day I wasn’t actually current, my thoughts wasn’t there,” Palmer says. “I used to be very emotional. I simply stored pondering of all of the recollections and what his household had been going by. I spent the day messaging Linfield gamers. They had been distraught. I didn’t know how one can assume.”
Michael and his brother, Adrian, who’s travelling to Belfast for the primary time for Linfield vs Cliftonville (Photograph courtesy of Adrian Salem)
Newcastle stays Adrian’s group and is the place Michael’s funeral passed off on January 16. He by no means had the chance to take up his brother’s provide to expertise Belfast and is travelling to Windsor Park for Linfield vs Cliftonville.
“If there may be one factor to study from this, it’s to at all times remind individuals of how a lot they imply to you and the way a lot you’re keen on them,” says Adrian.
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(Prime photographs: Adrian Salem)