Newcastle host Sunderland in today's early kickoff.
"I loved the games," he told newcastleunited.com. "You can definitely get away with a little bit more in terms of the referees because they understand what it means to you.
"You feel the passion. When the fixtures are out, it's not Liverpool, Arsenal or Man United that you look for. It's Sunderland and when you play them home and away.
"You have to win and be on the right side of it otherwise it hurts you for a while but they're brilliant games to play in and be involved in.
"I can remember all the goals and games, both the good and the bad. Sometimes, you have to put up with the bad but that's the way it is in football.
"I can remember them all, walking up the tunnel and back down it with the emotions and feeling that goes with it.
"You can hear and feel the atmosphere when you're on the way to the stadium. There's just something very different about it in a great way."
Shearer also recalled: "I remember walking to St. James' Park the day after Boxing Day, when there was no transport on, with all my pals and watching the game (a 2-0 win during the 1975/76 season in front of over 49,000 fans).
"I've been a part of it and know what it means to everyone but then to go out and play in it, being a local lad, there's no doubt that you carry the responsibility.
"You have to try and educate the others who maybe are new to it and perhaps don't know how much it means."