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NUFC fan and former Newcastle Blue Star player hopes to knock Newcastle out of Cup

7 years ago
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Ben Pringle didn’t make it onto the books of Newcastle United.

Instead the Newcastle fan signed for West Brom, only for that dream to fade and he found himself playing for Newcastle Blue Star, Morpeth and Ilkeston.

However, as a great example to any young player who doesn’t succeed at first, the 27 year old Geordie has then carved out a successful professional career at the likes of Derby County, Rotherham and Fulham.

A £250,000 summer buy for Preston, Ben Pringle hopes to step onto the St James Park turf for the first time tonight and knock the club he loves out of the League Cup.

The midfielder has started the last two wins in games against Huddersfield & Norwich and is desperate to keep his place tonight.

Ben Pringle recalls the days when he used to go and watch Newcastle in the Sir Bobby Robson era with his dad, then graduated to a season ticket with one of his mates.

Like the rest of us he would have loved to play at St James Park but let’s hope tonight he fulfils his dream on the losing side.

Ben Pringle Lancashire Evening Post

 “I can’t wait for this game and hopefully I will be in the team. Even if I’m not, just being there will be a good experience.

“When I was growing up, my dream was to play for Newcastle at St James Park. It would be special if I get the chance in this game.

“When I was 15, I had a season ticket for a year.

“Before that, I used to go to a lot of the games with my dad – I got the season ticket with one of my mates and I had it for a season before I went to West Brom.

“That was when Shearer, Bellamy, Robert, Dyer were there, it was a decent team.

“It has happened to a lot of people at clubs up and down the country that they don’t get to play for the team they support. The next best thing would be to play for another team at St James Park and hopefully I’ll have that chance.

“I got on the bench for Derby there a few years ago and Nigel Clough said he would try and put me on for the last 10 minutes. It was a game we drew 0-0 and we were hanging on at bit so I didn’t get on in the end. It was a good experience just being there and it would nice to go one better.

“When I first joined, I looked for the games against Newcastle first. To then get paired with them in the cup and to play the game in the same week as the league meeting, was strange.

“Both teams will be thinking about the league game at the weekend but we are not going up there to hold back, we want to have a go and try to win the game.

“Newcastle will be the same and whatever team they put out, it will be a strong one.

“It is up to us to stop them and find a way to get into the next round. Our record against the teams at the top of the league is very good and we have got a team spirit and are willing to fight hard for each other. It would be nice to cause another upset against a big club.”

 

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