FORMER Southend United youth coach Mark Bonner saluted his Cambridge United players as they proved the magic of the FA Cup is still alive after the League One side dumped Premier League Newcastle out of the competition.

Joe Ironside’s second-half goal secured a famous 1-0 third-round win at St James’ Park.

And, when asked about the suggestion that the FA Cup is not what it once was, Bonner said: “It certainly is to teams at our level.

“I understand that some say that and why – there’s more football now than there ever was before.

“But the magic of the FA Cup, I guess, is about the underdog pulling out a surprise story. We knew going into today there’s always an upset somewhere and whether we could be it, we didn’t know.

“But somehow we found a way of doing it and I’m delighted that we have done.”

For Middlesbrough-born Ironside, the goal which took his club into the fourth round for the first time since they met Manchester United in 2015, was extra special at a ground so often graced by boyhood hero Alan Shearer.

Bonner said: “This was the game he wanted when the draw came around last time and he dreamed of scoring against them. Shearer was his idol, so it’s a major moment for him and I’m really proud of him and the contribution that he’s made to the game.”

Bonner spent six years working within the Shrimpers set up before heading back to Cambridge in 2011.

Speaking to the Echo last year Bonner said: "I had six and a half brilliant years with the academy at Southend.

“I joined in 2005 with Ricky Duncan and Luke Hobbs and worked with them before going back to Cambridge in 2011 to take over the under 18s.

“I had a brilliant time there.

“I was 19 when I came to Southend and Ricky Duncan was excellent to me.

“He gave me lots of opportunities and experiences which were great.

“I worked with the under nines to the under 16s while I was there and I had a number of different positions in that time.”