Uri opts for a hands-on approach to Beckham's foot

Shell-shocked Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted he felt like 'there was a sorcerer at work'

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The mystic match winner
Toon army welcome geller
Uri's Newcastle invite
For he's a jolly good Geller Dec 18 2001
The Evening Chronicle Report
Uri did it for the Toon Dec 19 2001
Arsenal 1, Newcastle United 3 Dec 19 2001
How Geller ended the capital jinx Dec 20 2001

By The Evening Chronicle

Psychic Uri Geller tonight leads the Spoon Army into London as the Chronicle tries again to lift the capital curse.

We called on world-famous Uri's aid after the Magpies stretched their run of games without a win in London to an incredible 29.To avoid the big 30 tonight United will need all the positive thought they can get, taking on Arsenal.And Uri, who rocketed to fame in the seventies using his psychic powers to bend spoons and stop watches, has offered to help.

The 54-year-old, said: "Two minutes with me and they would win. I can make them bend the ball like I bend a spoon.

"It is all about positive thinking. I would tell them to visualise the shots they want to play."I have helped many football players and I think Bobby Robson could be open minded enough to do this."

The Chronicle called on Uri after our previous two attempts to lift the curse failed.

First we brought in exorcist David Falcus to try to end the barren spell, but he failed.

And then we hired a pair of American witch-doctors Papa Booga and Pape Jo to put voodoo on the London hoodoo but they were not up to the job either.United bosses even tried to break the spell themselves.As revealed in Saturday's Chronicle they took the unusual step of flying two stuffed magpies 350 miles in a private jet to bring them luck.But Chelsea knocked them out of the Worthington Cup with a last-gasp goal.If the Magpies can break the curse tonight the reward on offer is a spot at the top of the Premiership.But to do that they must beat Arsenal, who are also on 30 points, by two goals.

Uri said: "It is about positive thinking."Readers can help by just looking at my picture in the paper and aligning your powers and determination for your team to win.

"Even if you are not there but hundreds or even thousands of miles away, it would all connect with a spiritual thought through which we can transmit energy.Readers can activate that positive thinkingWe will break the bad spell if we do this together".

But 95 per cent of it is down to the players on the pitch.

"There is a lot do with the number 11.Newcastle has not won 29 games in London and two and nine is 11.Number 11 is a mystical, powerful number, it is an awakening call, also an alert. I am touring and doing my first show in Newcastle for 30 years at the Opera House on January 10.I would love people to come to learn how to change their lives for the better."

Uri, who has a new book out, Unorthodox Encounters, added:"I won't be putting on the special shirt though, that would be bad karma. I think Newcastle will have a tough match against Arsenal but I have a good feeling about it."

Mr Geller, 54, said many footballers had come to him for help when their careers hit a tough patch. He said he helped Third Division Exeter beat Chelsea in a cup match.He also claims to have helped England win its game against Scotland during Euro' 96.As Gary McAllister lined up to take a Scotland penalty, Mr Geller was above Wembley in a helicopter.

He said: "I made the ball move a bit by Mindpower. It stopped McAllister scoring."

The Following day The Evening Chronicle reported this on the result of the match.

Arsenal 1, Spoon Army 3 Dec 19 2001
By The Evening Chronicle

Psychic Uri Geller was a Toon hero today after helping the Chronicle banish Newcastle United's London curse in staggering style.In an incredible match, the Magpies soared to the top of the Premiership after finally ending their run of 29 matches without a win in the capital. As Bobby Robson's heroes began their fightback in the 3 -1 thriller, world-famous paranormalist Uri was running around the London stadium a magic 11 times willing United on to victory.

Uri claimed 11, the sum of the two and nine in 29, was Newcastle's magic number and he was proved right in spectacular style. Today even shell-shocked Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted he felt like 'there was a sorcerer at work' on the pitch last night. Uri, who succeeded where exorcists and voodoo witchdoctors had failed before him, said: "I put my heart into this. This is incredible.

"I knew the team would win. I am so happy for everyone who supports them. It was exactly what I said."

Newcastle's first win in London since November 1997 came during an amazing match with two sendings off, a penalty and outrageous aftermatch scenes as Arsenal striker Thierry Henry went mad at the referee. For 30 minutes it looked like Newcastle could be heading for match number 30 without a win after the Magpies went one goal down to a goal from Thierry Henry.

But Uri had his own explanation as to why the first half had been so torrid - he was late for the match. He said: "I arrived late and had no ticket. But the moment I got out of the car and touched the Highbury stadium, the Arsenal player Ray Parlour was sent off. When we approached I had the scarf, the football and the shirt and I have the feeling Newcastle people are open minded and that they would go along with my instructions to look at the picture in the Chronicle of me. They are not cynical I started screaming and shouting for Newcastle to win. And soon after the start of the second half I said to my friend that Shearer would score from a penalty. That was half an hour before it happened. But I knew it. I knew the team would win". I am so happy for everyone who supports them. It was exactly what I said. "While Newcastle were scoring their winning goals I was running round the outside of the ground 11 times to lift the hoodoo."

Yesterday we revealed how Uri had vowed to break the curse after the Chronicle called on his aid following two failed attempts to lift the Toon's capital curse. We were determined to lift the hoodoo and had already called on exorcists and two voodoo witch doctors. Finally, and in desperation, we saw the light and finally called in psychic Uri, who rocketed to fame in the Seventies using his amazing Mindpower to bend spoons and stop watches worldwide.

He promised us that with his positive thinking he could make the likes of Shearer bend the ball like he bends spoons. The 54-year-old said: "I even predicted the 3-1 scoreline after I got to the ground. First, I sat in the car and listened to the game on the radio. After Arsenal scored I decided it was time to act. There was a lot to do with the number 11. Newcastle had not won in 29 games and two plus nine is 11. Number 11 is very mystical and powerful. It is a wake up call and an alert. So I ran around the ground 11 times. The facts are there. They didn't win for four years and then I get involved and they did it.I am happy for your readers. We cannot take away the players talents but I had no doubt in my mind that we would win. When they were down one goal everyone thought Arsenal would secure another one but I think our force touched the players. It was the force of your readers and their energy. We are all connected to each other and with this individual spiritual thread we can transmit energy. Your readers were so powerfully determined that there was no doubt Newcastle would win. I have had hundreds of e-mails from people in Newcastle thanking me. I hope Newcastle will win the league but I have to concentrate and see. Right now I have done what you wanted. The staff at Arsenal let me into the game but they didn't know why I was there or that I was filming the whole thing. They didn't know I was next to the dressing room and it allowed me access to be close to the players. It is almost a guarantee the team will win when I have a moment to talk to the players in the dressing room, I wasn't able to do that last night but I was physically close to them which is important. My prediction was 2-1 and then I said it could be 3-1. I was very confident."

Author and paranormal expert Uri was born in Israel on December 20, 1946. The former paratrooper first entered the public arena as a model in the Sixties, but he rose to fame as a psychic in the Seventies and shocked the world with his apparent ability to bend, break and soften metal and other solids using the power of his mind, most notably household cutlery such as spoons - something he'd been able to do since the age of five.

He also places great importance on the mind's positive power to heal the body and details of his astounding feats can be found on his website

He is a mind-power coach to industrialists, Premier League footballers, ice skaters, Formula One drivers and racing cyclists.

As a writer, Uri has just finished his 15th book, Unorthodox Encounters. He is married with two children, and is a fervent promoter of peace.

How Geller ended the capital jinx Dec 20 2001

By The Evening Chronicle

These are the moments when spoon-bending psychic Uri Geller circled Highbury to send positive vibes to Newcastle United on Tuesday night.

Uri travelled to Arsenal's ground after we enlisted his help to break the London hoodoo which had left the Magpies without a win in the capital for 29 matches.

Before kick-off famous spoon bender Uri had predicted a 2-1 Newcastle victory, with Alan Shearer scoring with a penalty.

He had also called on Newcastle fans to channel their energy by looking at his picture in Tuesday's Chronicle.

Uri, 55 today, said: "I believe by focusing the Mindpower of Newcastle fans, both in the ground and back in the city we have been able to create an extraordinary result."

After the 3-1 thriller stunned Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, said their must have been sorcery at work.

Uri said the Gunners had only managed to get the first goal as he had turned up late for the match.

On arriving at Highbury on Tuesday, Uri begun a series of rituals to break the no-win curse, including touching the walls and concentrating hard on the players.

Standing at the ground during the match, clutching his head in his hands, Uri sent positive energy to the players, willing them to win.

Uri said: "It was so hard to do because the whole area was buzzing with Arsenal energy."

The Chronicle was determined to lift the London curse and had already called on exorcists and two witch doctors before getting in touch with the psychic.

As Arsenal went one goal up in the first half, Uri looked worried for the first time and began to circle the ground 11 times.

Uri said: "I went around Highbury 11 times because it is an important number and Newcastle have lost 29 times and two plus nine is 11.

"I felt Newcastle fans in the ground and back in the city all focusing on the match."

After talking his way into the Arsenal camp at half-time Uri claimed to have scuppered the Gunners' chances by leaving behind positive energy for Newcastle.

Standing outside the Magpies' dressing room Uri touched the wall to channel good vibes to the players.

Uri said: "I hoped my concentration was working and they were getting the vision that they could win."

After Craig Bellamy was sent off in the second half, Uri phoned his solicitor Tim, who was born in Newcastle, to channel more positive vibes.

While on the phone, Uri predicted a penalty in which Shearer would score, moments before Laurent Robert was brought down.

Uri said: "I predicted this, I said it. I predicted it on tape. I said they would get a penalty and Shearer would score."

After the match Uri said the positive energy sent by Chronicle readers and Newcastle fans played a huge part in the result.

Now the psychic is predicting that by channelling the energy of Toon fans Newcastle will win the league.

Uri said: "By maximising that Geller-Chronicle effect I am convinced that we can boost Newcastle to the Premiership trophy at the season's climax.

"After all we have already helped them to the top of the table, after a run of almost 30 games without a win in London."