Keith Gillespie thought he was going out for dinner.<\/p>\n
Only his nearest and dearest had other ideas, throwing the ex-Newcastle United winger a surprise 50th birthday party earlier this year.<\/p>\n
And a special guest jetted in all the way from Colombia to be there.<\/p>\n
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“The doors opened and the first person I saw was Tino Asprilla,” Gillespie said. “He was standing there waiting on me. It was quite surreal because he’s somebody you don’t expect to see in Bangor Golf Club.<\/p>\n
“It was a lovely surprise. I was just made up that someone would actually make that effort to fly in for an evening.”<\/p>\n
It is now approaching three decades since the pair wreaked havoc for Newcastle against the mighty Barcelona.<\/p>\n
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But some friendships, clearly, stand the test of time.<\/p>\n
“We clicked that night,” Gillespie said.<\/p>\n
Now, as Newcastle prepare to face the Catalan giants once again, Asprilla will be among those watching on at St James’ Park on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Read about the aura of Asprilla<\/p>\n
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