Newcastle United vs Manchester City will hold a special place in the heart of one Frenchman
Antoine Sibierski celebrates with team-mates after scoring Newcastle's opener against Reading in 2006
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There's been many a player who has trodden the Premier League pitches for both Newcastle United and Manchester City over the years.
As the two sides prepare to lock horns this weekend, a number of interested observers will be in attendance. Players who have had a foot in both camps.
Shay Given made more than 450 appearances for Newcastle before joining City in 2009. Sylvain Distin turned out at centre-back for both sides, as did Steve Howey, while James Milner won two Premier League titles at the Etihad.
There's others less well remembered. Laurent Charvet, the French right-back who starred for both clubs is one. And while Peter Beardsley is probably in the top five greatest players of all time at Newcastle, his six games on loan for the Light Blues is less memorable.
Another player who appeared for both, becoming a cult hero at Newcastle after a tricky end to his time at City, is Antoine Sibierski. What started as a signing castigated by Newcastle fans turned into a love affair and an affectionate nickname of Sib the Sexist in homage to the Viz character.
He only stayed 12 months on Tyneside before a bust-up over a new contract but Sibierski endeared himself to the supporters with some all-action displays - and some crucial goals.
It was a move that almost didn't happen, only secured a couple of hours before the deadline in the summer of 2006. Sibierski had fallen out with City boss Stuart Pearce and was allowed to leave on a free transfer.
"I was surprised to join a club like Newcastle considering my last season's performances with Manchester City," he said after signing. "Without that deal I would have stayed at Manchester City, even if I didn't have a good relationship with the coach.
"When I came the fans were sceptical, but I shut my mouth and I have worked to show my qualities and it has paid off."
Antoine Sibierski and Obafemi Martins(Image: Getty Images Sport)
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Sibierski was a midfielder by trade but was largely utilised up front by manager Glenn Roeder, who was seeking goals from his team after the retirement of Alan Shearer. Sibierski often partnered Obafemi Martins or played as an attacking midfielder, but was regularly asked to lead the line on his own that season.
It was a role he played with gusto, which got the acclaim of the Newcastle fans. He made 24 starts, 14 substitute appearances and scored eight goals, including four in the UEFA Cup.
Roeder and chairman Freddy Shepherd had offered him a new two-year deal, but after Roeder was sacked and Sam Allardyce replaced him in the hotseat, the goalposts moved. Sibierski rejected a one-year extension, saying he didn't want to uproot his family from Manchester for just a short-term contract, and instead joined Wigan Athletic.
It wasn't his last involvement with Newcastle, however. As a parting gift, he persuaded pal Joey Barton to join the club from Man City, where they had been teammates.
Sibierski said: "Joey and me were big pals when we were both at Manchester City. So it came as no surprise when he contacted me and asked me whether I thought going to Newcastle United was the right move for him.
"I told him 'Joey, you must sign for Newcastle United'. And that this was too good an opportunity for him to miss. I was only there for a short time, but I found it to be a great club with great supporters."
GETTING AIR: Joey Barton challenges for the ball
GETTING AIR: Joey Barton challenges for the ball
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Not that Sibierski held former chairman and co-owner Shepherd in the same high regard. Speaking after the club was bought out by Mike Ashley, the Frenchman was forthright in his views about the former Magpies supremo.
"As a Newcastle fan, as I am, I was very happy when Shepherd left the club because he is the reason why they have not won anything for a long time," insisted Sibierski. "I was only there for a year but I could see what kind of chairman he was.
"I'm not saying this because I was upset with him when he changed his mind over me signing a new contract which I had agreed with Glenn Roeder. It's because as a chairman I never saw him once last year come and see us to have a meeting, or speak to us about results and aims we should have had.
"Compared to the other chairmen I have seen throughout my life and career, he was not a good chairman. I don't know him as a man, maybe he was a good man, but as a chairman he was simply not good enough.
"I wanted to play there for the rest of my career and in [the] February I was told that I would be offered a new contract for two years on the same wages. I was waiting and waiting and then, three games before the end of the season, Shepherd sacked Glenn Roeder. Suddenly my contract had been changed to one year, with 40% of the wages guaranteed and the other 60% if I played. I could understand if I had been injured or basically rubbish but I had played well and didn't deserve that.
"It was a complete lack of respect and I'm disappointed about it to this day because I still love that club and I class myself as a Newcastle fan."
Now Sibierski is seeing football from the other side of the fence - the side the late Shepherd sat on. Now 51, Sibierski is sporting director of Ligue 2 side Troyes, who are owned by the City Football Group.