So sad – We have lost another massive Newcastle United fan | OneFootball

It was left to our beloved Newcastle United to salvage something on Sunday, for the crestfallen men who live alongside me down near Tynemouth.

We had been informed early doors that our big mate and Newcastle United fan, Richie Smith, had died suddenly.

So sad, he was only in his mid-sixties.

I cannot do full justice to just how nice a man Richie was. As the lads sadly gathered, a few Sunday dinners were decidedly put on hold.

Once I saw the tears welling up in former Toon goalkeeper Tony Bell’s eyes, the magnitude of what had happened sunk in. Tony after all, is one bloody hard so and so, to say the least.

I forlornly headed to the Co-op in Tynemouth Village to tell the staff of the sad news, then me and little Edd headed to the club.

At this moment, Newcastle’s Super Sunday clash against Wolves at Molineux was the last thing on my mind.

After a few beers I had a bit of cràic with auld Ralphy, as I do on most Sundays, chatted about Sunderland’s demise against Plymouth Argyle the previous day. Ralphy agreed with me that his team are far too inexperienced to be taken seriously in the Championship at such an early stage.

Elsewhere, Pep’s Manchester City won again at the Etihad on Saturday, there seems to be just no stopping Erling Haaland once again. He’s a phenomenal talent.

As most of you will agree, it had been entertaining and refreshing to see both scouse teams bite the dust in the EPL at the weekend.

It definitely was a case of the lesser of two evils for me, when Villa turned around a two goal deficit to defeat the hapless scouse mackems. I will love it the day these lucky bleeders eventually get relegated.

Nothing gives me more pleasure to see Liverpool and their self-entitled and extremely patronising supporters lose at Anfield. All my life I have despised the song ‘You’ll never walk alone’ (it’s a proper cringeworthy toe-curler is that one). So well done Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest for shutting them up.

Even though they won at little Southampton, I don’t rate ten Hag’s Manchester United. I fully expect the real United to finish at least 10 points above them this season.

Same goes with Chelsea, who scored a late winner against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. They are nowt special.

In the earlier Sunday kick-off it was no surprise that Arsenal turned over their inferior local rivals Spurs.

By the time our game came around, Little Edd had already been picked up by my daughter and grandson. I had fancied us all week to win this one.

Molineux has never been an easy ground for Newcastle United to go to and the black country boys always seem up for a good old Geordie challenge.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time Eddie was brave and made the necessary substitutions.

Our two goals in the final quarter of an hour were both sublime in their execution. Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes are both such terrific players.

So we picked up a vital three points and remain unbeaten, 10 points from our first four league games is more than respectable.

I didn’t receive the amount of post-match calls that I usually do but this was understandable.

Big Richie had backed Newcastle United to finish in the EPL top four again this season. He won a fair whack in the 2022/23 season when Eddie and the Hotrods tore it up.

I hope we are on course to do it again this season and I see no reason why we cannot.

When I eventually had my belated Sunday dinner, I put on some vinyl to salute my late mate. Hank Mizell, the Stray Cats and Matchbox were all on the menu.

Richie Smith, you will always be a Newcastle United fan and Rockabilly Rebel from head to toe. We’re all going to miss you dearly.