Nobody will be happier than her if Newcastle United finally bring home silverware | OneFootball

Me auld Ma hasn’t been very well, old age catches up with everyone and she is currently in good spirits in Cramlington Hospital, although suffering from pneumonia.

This is the woman who gave birth to my younger brother at teatime on the 21st of August 1971.

Coincidentally, Malcolm Macdonald had just scored a hat-trick on his home debut against Shankly’s Liverpool, and had also been carried off the pitch with concussion and his front two gnashers missing.

My Ma had suffered complications during the birth of Wor Lad and was kept in hospital. My Auntie Elsie (God rest her soul) helped my Dad in every way she could.

Not long after my Ma got out of the now long gone Preston Hospital in North Shields, I had acquired my first Newcastle United jersey.

It felt great running about with my little pals with the stripes on. One of the first gifts my father then bought me was a red number 9.

My Ma ironed it on to the back of my shirt and I actually used to imagine myself as being Supermac himself.

My Da later became friends with and also worked with my black and white mates.

Big Stevie Grant, Monkhouse, the two Mickys (Duffy and Willis) and the likes of Hixy, Telf and the much missed Stevie Bestford.

My old man even started going back to St James’ Park in the early 1990s and was also the life and soul on many an away day. Pogoing to the Pistols and Sham 69 in the Percy Arms actually became a ritual and enjoyment of his.

My Mam and Dad used to enjoy visiting Paul Cannell’s bar the Little Rock in North Shields and listen to the live dulcet croonings of the one and only Reggie Valentine (his real name by the way). Nobody apart from Pavarotti can sing Nessun Dorma quite like Reggie and it was at my father’s request that Reg sung it at his wake in 2019.

Paul Cannell has become almost like part of our family over the years. He is in his 70s now and doesn’t sport his once trendy and bushy moustache anymore.

I have had a thick tache for the last decade and I still cannot remember if I grew it in homage to Paul’s Toon heyday, or simply because I needed something to groom as I went baldy.

Auld Supermac is still out and about doing the rounds in Shields, helping and supporting local charities. Malcolm has a lot of energy considering the rigours of his serious knee problems in the 1970s and 80s.

Well I cannot finish off today without mentioning the late, great Tommy Cassidy. He was a particular favourite of me and my Tynemouth Club early drinking partner Richie.

It was a fortnight ago that Richie looked up at me tearfully from his cell phone and said just two words, “He’s dead.” I knew instantly who Richie was referring too.

Unfortunately, life can be cruel and if you’re lucky enough, you might get a canny innings.

I want my Ma to have an even cannier bat yet and no one will be happier than her, if our beloved Newcastle United bring home some sadly missed silverware as soon as possible.