The 'rough diamond' who discovered some of Newcastle United's most loved signings

If Peter Beardsley was Bobby Robson's 'little gem' then Paul Montgomery was his 'rough diamond.' Geordies all and very much part of the football family Bobby gathered round him during a marvellous career as an elite manager.

Montgomery was a scout who not only unearthed jewels on a beach full of pebbles but told it as it was which is why Robson came to call him a rough diamond.

I have known Monty since he ran a swish Tuxedo Junction for Michael Quadrini slap bang in the middle of Newcastle's city centre, long haired and dressed with the sharp cut of all young men of the day. His conversion from nightclub to football club was unique yet virtually seamless.

A passionate United fan, Paul made the leap from neon-lit nightlife in the party cities of Newcastle and Glasgow to the great outdoors thanks to Jim Smith going on to work for his beloved club Newcastle United on three separate occasions under four managers - apart from the Bald Eagle and Bobby he served Glenn Roeder and fleetingly Sam Allardyce.

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Montgomery's rapidly growing reputation saw him also employed by the likes of West Ham, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Glasgow Rangers and Derby County gaining inside access to the greatest secrets of a fascinating but cut throat transfer market. He was a top scout to match Baden Powell and mixed with the stars as much as Patrick Moore. Pop stars as well as soccer stars. An ordinary down to earth working lad with an extraordinary gift to judge football flesh as well as run nightclubs.

When he was in charge of the Tux in Newcastle he lined up David Bowie and Jimmy Nail for showbiz stop-offs... only for the doorman to give Ziggy Stardust the elbow because of his flamboyant dress sense and Oz because he was wearing boots. Mind you, Princess Margaret made it through the hallowed doors!

In those days Monty mixed with A list celebs like George Michael of Wham and Wet, Wet, Wet. Errol Brown from Hot Chocolate, who he looked after when he was playing in Newcastle, called our boy "the only Geordie I know with any class." Errol should have got out more!

Inevitably and quite rightly Paul is telling his colourful life story in a new book entitled 'Rough Diamond: how a nightclub boss found football's future stars.'

His first signing for United "and my first success" was Pavel Srnicek though it almost went pear shaped.

Jim Smith, aka the Bald Eagle, had already shown total bravery by offering Monty his initial job in scouting after they had met a few times for dinner on the Tuxedo Princess, the floating nightclub sister of the Junction. However what he did next was mind blowing. He instructed secretary Russell Cushing that he wanted to sign an unknown Czech goalkeeper who he had never even seen play. Merely on the word of his nightclub mucker!

The next week Montgomery received a phone call. "Your boy's coming in on Monday for his first training session," said Smith. "Make sure you come up to the training ground." Proud as punch, there stood the young Geordie star finder on the touchline as Srnicek took part in a practice match. His smile was as wide as the Tyne Bridge.... until Pav let a shot slip through his hands after only quarter of an hour and then in the second-half allowed an innocuous low shot through his legs.

"I was devastated. I could see Jim slowly making his way round with his usual cigar in his mouth and heading towards me. Staring straight ahead, I could sense his presence behind me - not hard to do with cigar smoke billowing around me. As he resumed his walk he whispered in my ear: 'were you p****d (drunk) when you watched him?'"

Monty slunk away to his car, raced home, and was never seen again until a phone call from the Bald Eagle some days later. Where had he been? Thoughts of a public hanging were quickly dispelled - "the boy can't speak a word of English, he'll be fine" _ and instead Monty was instructed to get up to the training ground because he was wanted to check out a couple of more players. "That showed how great a man Jim Smith was," ventures Montgomery.

A fine shot stopper with great agility, Srnicek went on to become a Newcastle legend cementing himself in folklore with his T shirt declaring "Pav Is A Geordie." His tragic death while out jogging back home brought an outpouring of love on Tyneside.

While with Sir Bobby our Geordie lad had a significant hand in the signings of Olivier Bernard, Andy O'Brien, Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Jenas. Rough diamond? Bobby used to love it when at think tanks to thrash out transfers he would ask Monty how much a certain player was worth and back would come the derogatory answer: "Two balloons and a goldfish." A throwback to the Hoppings on the Town Moor.

As well as getting close to one of United's most loved managers Monty struck up a lasting relationship with Jim Smith and Alex McLeish as a consequence working with them more than once.

He had recommended McLeish to the Bald One to solve United's defensive problems but because of financial restrictions at SJP we switched attention to Roy Aitken.

However Monty and McLeish had their day in the sun, not at Glasgow Rangers or Aston Villa where they also worked together, but with Birmingham City when they unbelievably won the League Cup beating the mighty Arsenal in the 2011 final at Wembley. "The greatest day of my life," our Geordie admits unabashed.

Monty was in the dressing-room at half-time and sat pitchside on the bench. Afterwards he did the lap of honour with players and manager. That's how much McLeish valued him and he wasn't alone.

You can buy Rough Diamond by Paul Montgomery from Reach Sport for £12.99.