At the time of his arrival at St. James Park he was one of the most expensive defenders in the country at £2.7 million, soon to be eclipsed by the £4.5 million arrival of Warren Barton.

The cost of Peacock, from London club, was not a gamble, in fact it was a snip, the long-haired centre-half very much immersing himself into the whole ‘Entertainers’ culture club that Kevin Keegan and the club was brewing up during the nineties.

QPR, as founder members of the Premier League, Peacock’s stock was always going to be high, rising somewhat when involved in the club’s best ever result, a 4-1 win against Manchester United on New Year’s Day 1992, eclipsing it in the black & white of Newcastle in October 1996. It was the 1992-93 season, Newcastle’s First Division title winning season, that QPR finished fifth in the new Premier League (Manchester United were crowned champions).

His arrival on Tyneside was done to strengthen the defence during the club’s first season back in the top flight, not that you would have thought it with the style of football played during that time. With a price tag round his neck as sizeable as it was though Peacock would have loved a better start on Tyneside saying: “I had a fantastic four years with the club and even though I didn’t start well, on the pitch, and I was dropped a few times, I just put my head down and it all kicked in right for me.

“I was very happy at QPR and had some good times there but I knew in the summer, the preseason, of 1993 that Newcastle United was one of several clubs interested in signing me, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The call came through on the Easter Monday from Newcastle, they played Ipswich I believe on the evening when I came up north and Kevin sold it to be right then.

“He (Keegan) didn’t have to sell the club to me. You get four, maybe five decisions in life, huge decisions, that you have to make, and this was one of them. We took the country over and it was like a circus coming into town when Newcastle United arrived – all the signings, breaking records, making waves internationally as well as domestically from day one. It became normal for us though and we seemed to start it all.”

During his four-year spell on Tyneside, claiming two league runners-up medals, a Charity Shield runner-up and numerous UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup runs. It was those European excursions, and a certain game in 1996, which stand out for Peacock, that and the support in which the Toon Army afforded the club during the time.

“The European matches, especially at home, were unbelievable nights,” added Peacock.

“With the fans constantly chanting ‘Toon, Toon, Black & White Army’ all night; it was non-stop, very loud. That and the constant chanting of players’ names, individually mind, it was very appreciative and we loved it.

“Then there was the game against Manchester United (October 1996, won 5-0). It was one of those games where everything clicked and when we were in the mood we didn’t need defenders, we just got on with it.

“Against a team like Man Utd, we actually went in with no real game plan, Keegan told us to just go out there and enjoy ourselves. As for my goal, I just headed it goal wards and it went in; the atmosphere though, all game in fact, was quite remarkable.”

With the ‘Entertainers’ Keegan brought in anyone who was anyone during that black & white rollercoaster spell at the club. All you seemingly had to do was be able to attack, defending was a secondary option and no matter how many times the opposition scored, the Magpies would endeavour to score more.

For Darren two of his team-mates stand out from that famed back-line during the nineties, Belgian giant Philippe Albert, and local star Steve Howey. Continuing Peacock said: “Defenders I’ve played alongside – Philippe Albert was great and had a fantastic left foot as well as a great sense of humour, and Steve Howey was brilliant, really good on the ball and very comfortable going forward.”

Now, some fifteen years after hanging up his boots following spells at Newport County (1986-89), Hereford United (1989-90), QPR (1990-94), Newcastle United (1994-98) and Blackburn (1998-2000) along with loan spells at West Ham and Wolves (both 2000), it’s been a rewarding fourteen-year career.

A near two-year spell as manager of non-league outfit, Lancaster City led him to his current role, something which still sees him involved in the beautiful game. “I retired in 2001 and have done my coaching badges,” Peacock concluded.

“I now work with the North Lancashire and District Development Centre, lots of coaching and seeing a lot of football and right now I’m pleased to be on board (with Newcastle Legends) and, having personally known him for a while, Steve (Wraith) is a very trusting person and I have a good relationship with him; he’s very enthusiastic and certainly knows what he’s doing.”

You can follow Darren on Twitter @DPeacock5 or to learn more about his work at the NLDCC visit their website HERE or on Twitter @nlddc2013