Great to see the working men’s clubs thriving along with Newcastle United | OneFootball

I was up with the larks on Fathers Day looking forward to what was in store. I’d already prepared my Sunday dinner on Saturday night and so after vacuuming my flat, I was left waiting and twiddling my thumbs.

I gave my mate Bob Dunn a ring and he was in the same boat, had heard nowt yet from his kids.

I then got a message with a photo from my old pal Graham Ross. He’d only went and got his first tattoo at the age of 61. It was a Toon one of course and impressive (see below).

It was nearly eleven bells and so I decided to head for Tynemouth Club and ended up being first customer of the day.

I was soon joined by Andrew from Leeds and the venerable Jimmy Hall. After showing the lads Rossy’s new billy stamper, I was taken aback when Jimmy told me he would also soon be going for his first tattoo at 74.

As the club started filling up I finally received some contact from my family. Wor Carly soon picked me up and we headed out with her Ma (my ex wife) for a walk in the countryside with the dog.

The lasses and Little Edd are fit beggars but after just over a couple of miles I was parched and needed refreshment.

On the way hyem we stopped off at a place I had never been in. Former 70s Toon goalkeeper Tony Bell has often recommended Seaton Sluice Club and so I decided to try it out.

Now I know there is a sprinkling of mackems in Sluice and my Seaton Delaval mate Dag has told me all about the rivalry that exists between the two close proximities.

The club was expansive and welcoming and I immediately struck up a rapport with the young barman.

I asked me what it had been like on Cup Final day three months ago and he said the day had exceeded all expectations.

He also told me the tale of a mackem regular who had come in with a Liverpool shirt on, taking bets and telling anyone that would listen that Newcastle didn’t stand a chance against the best team in the country.

The establishment had a real community feel and as Little Edd played with a younger dog, two of the committee told me that the club was proudly and primarily a Newcastle United stronghold.

As beer prices keep going up, down here on the coast the working men’s clubs seem to be thriving due to their fair prices. It’s always good to see more younger lads and lasses getting in these days and that is emphatically because non-members are now welcome.

And so the likes of Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Seaton Sluice Clubs are all magnets for Toon fans of all ages, and chocka when United are playing.

Everyone I have been talking to over the last few days is looking forward to the EPL fixture lists coming out this week.

The ones I’ll take the most interest in is our opening six games, then the final six of the campaign.

I regard us as potential title challengers (definite outsiders) if Eddie Howe brings in some of the players he has identified. That means it is imperative that we get off to a good start.

The final six games usually determines which clubs finish where in the pecking order for European places.

In my opinion, Newcastle United are currently one of the best six clubs in the EPL along with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa. I consider these clubs as our main rivals and will be taking a good look at when we play them.

Out of these fixtures nothing would give me greater pleasure than beating Liverpool.

There has been some talk again about Anthony Gordon joining the red scousers. I know Flash loves it at Newcastle and this could only possibly go ahead if King Edward was to allow it.

In my opinion, the Tino Livramento to Man City bandwagon is nothing but Tom Tit.

The rumour mill will continue for the next couple of weeks and as I keep telling friends it is better to ignore the vast majority of it.

Anyhow I’ll keep giving you any updates on auld blokes getting tattoos and whatever else is happening on the coast that is United related.