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Opinion

Shall I teach you the words?

7 years ago
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On the 29th of October 1983, at the tender age of 12, I attended my first Newcastle game on my own. Having previously attended SJP with grown-ups and sat in the stands I was now on my own and in the big world of following Newcastle!

I happened to pick a great game as my first solo. Newcastle United 5 Man City 0.

What was most momentous about that day was it was the first time I entered the Gallowgate End. I stood looking out at the pitch just to the left of the Scoreboard so not quite in the surge or sway.

From that day on I was hooked and very quickly me and my best friend and cousin Lee, started jumping around in the Scoreboard game after game for years. The atmosphere was always electric and along with the corner we would simply sing our hearts out and bounce around like idiots.

We followed Newcastle all over the country, bringing the Geordie atmosphere to all corners of the UK, including nine hours on a coach to Portsmouth.

Moving on 33 years and having been a season ticket holder for the last seven years in level seven with my daughters, I/we have witnessed some fantastic and downright awful times at SJP.

They included Champion League games, the Man Utd 5-0, putting eight past Sheffield Wednesday and the Arsenal comeback (yes, I stayed).

The atmosphere in these games was equally as loud and enjoyable as the 1980s back on the Gallowgate End…but I’ve noticed ever since the singing corner was moved from the Milburn/Leazes corner, the atmosphere has never quite hit the heights. Now I know you have to get something from the team to help, but even this season when we’ve been winning it has not quite been the same.

Asking myself the question – why? I’ve realised all too many Newcastle fans don’t know the words. It seems when we try to belt out a rendition of ‘Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle’ and I join in, so many of the fans around me turn and look at me as if I’m daft! Then I realised, they don’t think I’m daft, they are simply trying to learn the words, just as I did back in the 80s.

I guess what I’m trying to say is come on, it’s not hard, don’t feel daft because if  we all join in there will be over 50,000 people doing it.

If promoted, next season will be very difficult and the one thing we will have in our favour is 50,000 fans making a huge amount of noise. The more we can motivate the players and intimidate the opposition the better it will be, and I can assure you – the more fun you will have: win, lose or draw.

You don’t have to bounce around like we did back in the 80s but the more noise you make, the more enjoyment you will get out of the match.

This is your chance to be part of what makes Newcastle such a great club to support, so remember, it’s ‘Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle’ and at the end it is ‘NEWCASTLE’.

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