Tim Krul and that moment at Sunderland | OneFootball

Tim Krul was a fine keeper whilst at Newcastle United but he did one thing that I will never forgive him for.

Signing his first professional contract with United in 2005, Krul’s previous club ADO Den Haag eventually received around £200,000 compensation after a ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Tim made his Toon debut aged 18 in an away UEFA Cup tie against Palermo in 2006 and was outstanding, keeping a clean sheet as Albert Luque scored the winner at the other end of the pitch.

After signing an improved contract he was subsequently loaned out to Falkirk and Carlisle to gain experience.

He made his league debut for Newcastle United in the Championship in 2009, coming on as a substitute at half-time for the injured Steve Harper against West Brom at the Hawthorns.

In a quirky coincidence he made his Premier League debut a year later, coming on again as a substitute for Harper against Everton at Goodison Park.

It wasn’t long before Tim was our first choice keeper and boy was he good. Strong, tall (6’4″), good on crosses and an excellent shot stopper, what was there not to like?

He was following in the hallowed footsteps of Pavel Srnicek, Shay Given and the aforementioned Stevie Harper, and Tim Krul seemed to fit the bill to a tee.

It was at the Stadium of Light in the 2015 Tyne/Wear that Tim Krul committed a cardinal sin, as far as I was concerned.

Sunderland had won the previous four derbies and it was John Carver who led United into battle on a bright spring day in April.

The Toon seemed up for it and we needed to be, as NUFC were in a perilous position near the foot of the Premier League table.

We were doing alright and confidence was beginning to flow, before a hammer blow came just before the half time whistle.

I was watching the game with my brother and former United Striker Paul Cannell in Paul’s North Shields bar and grill, The Little Rock.

Even we were speechless when Jermaine Defoe scored one of the all time great derby goals for the mackems.

His incredible first time volley from outside the box had sailed past Tim Krul right into the top corner, a wonder goal beyond any doubt.

After the half-time whistle blew and the teams looked to be disappearing down the tunnel, the Sky cameras panned on to who other than wor own Tim Krul hanging back, waiting to congratulate Defoe.

Krul was all smiles as he wrapped an arm around and patted Defoe gently, and me, Paul and Wor Lad were bloody furious.

Paul Cannell, who was once a mackem slayer, couldn’t believe it, especially in a game of this magnitude.

I actually said that I would substitute him.

There were no further goals in the second period and it was after the final whistle that Krul’s act of sportsmanship should have been carried out.

After losing his place and various loan spells in his native Holland, Tim Krul joined Brighton and Hove Albion in 2017 and he has since had spells at both Norwich City and Luton Town.

Tim has recently been back in the region attending a Sam Fender concert at St Janes’ Park, he is also being linked with a return to United. You see, Tim fulfils UEFA’s homegrown player requirements, so could potentially help us by taking up a place in our Champions League squad.

He’s 37 now and I’ve got no doubt he’ll still be canny good, but I will never forget that little Tunnel of Love incident a decade ago, that left me in Dire Straits.