Like a lot of Newcastle United fans, I no longer live on Tyneside.
Not by choice of course, just the reality of life.
No jobs to be had in what I wanted to do, so had to move to that London to get work.
Don’t get me wrong, some parts of living down here are great, but given the choice I would definitely be back home if a job was there.
It wouldn’t take a genius to work out that the football is one of the biggest things I miss, not just the 90 minutes but the whole matchday experience. There isn’t another city/club in England that comes close to what we have, especially compared to all these clubs where going to the game is the only thing on offer.
I know it has been said many times before but it is a massive social thing for us all and something you don’t really appreciate until it isn’t there.
I still get up home for around half a dozen matches or so and actually go to more away games these days.
I am an avid reader of The Mag and it is a brilliant essential lifeline for those of us living away from the toon,
However, I do feel that a lot of fans contributing in recent weeks are going a little bit over the top with the negativity.
It is true that none of us thought it could be this bad, just over a week to go until pre-season starts and not a single new face added to the squad. Also, nothing sorted with Rafa Benitez and we haven’t heard a peep from the great man either.
So yes, I’m not exactly feeling great myself about things either BUT I am prepared to wait another two weeks or so before I hit the Newcastle United panic button.
In a couple of weeks, the players will be making preparations to head off to Ireland for the pre-season training camp and bonding session for NEW players, the World Cup will have only a week still to go, and only five weeks until the new Premier League season kicks off.
This is the first time I have written anything for The Mag and I hope in a fortnight’s time I can write a second article, talking about everything that has happened in the past two weeks, and how we can now look forward with real positivity.
So put a note next to the 6 July on your calendar and we will share the good news.
Alternatively, if nothing changes, I will be joining the rest of you in wondering just how bleak the picture is, with the new season coming up fast.
