STAFF and customers at The Malt Shovel in Hovingham were given an unexpected surprise last Sunday when they were paid a visit by none other than Alan Shearer.

The former England captain was in Ryedale visiting racehorse trainer Richard Fahey's Butterwick stable with a view to buying one of his horses.

As well as Richard Fahey, landlord Gary Benson is used to entertaining other well-known names from the North Yorkshire racing scene, including trainers Jimmy FitzGerald, Peter Beamont, Kevin Ryan and former top jockey Mark Birch. Other famous customers of his include York boxer Henry Wharton and former Yorkshire CC skipper David Byas.

But they don't come much bigger than Shearer, one of England's best footballers of the modern era.

A delighted Gary said: "He was fantastic. Absolutely unbelievable. He was really accommodating and more than happy to sign autographs and chat to people. He was a credit to himself, to football and to Newcastle United.

"He was just like any other guy having a pint. The girls who served him said he was very down to earth."

After a pint and some Sunday lunch, Shearer, who was with a party of six, took time to sign autographs and chat to thrilled customers and staff.

Life-long Newcastle United supporter Paul Read, a policeman from Helmsley, was among those to receive autographs from the star striker, as was the pub's head chef, Gill Amiss, who had the back of her jacket signed by him. One member of staff even kept Shearer's pint glass as a souvenir of his visit.

The England international was also happy to pose for a picture with staff from the Malt Shovel (see right), which was taken by part-time photographer and Hovingham resident Robert Wainwright, who is also a Ryedale District Councillor.

Shearer is already a part-owner in a horse called Covent Garden, trained by Howard Johnson in County Durham, which has already won several races.

It is not yet known whether Shearer will decide to enter the Ryedale racing scene. But if he does, the well-respected Fahey, who won the prestigious John Smiths Cup at York last July with Vintage Premium, would be an ideal choice to enable Shearer to start scoring winners of a different kind.

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, February 05, 2003