The value of a good roof | OneFootball

Well, one or two of you might have noticed that I have been off the radar for most of this season.

Having only missed 18 home games since 1970, I found myself missing three home games and all away games for the season about to finish (except Sunderland, was which was a highly amusing day on many levels).

Turning 60 I seemed to suffer a number of successive ailments, all relatively minor I hasten to add, but enough to remind me that I should start to look after myself, so now I ensure I drive past the gym at least once a day.

Anyway, watching away games from the comfort of your armchair by whatever means possible, got me thinking about growing up supporting Newcastle United.

I have spoken before about 1978, when the heart and soul of the club was ripped to shreds by the powers that be, a relegation season complemented by the demolition of the world famous Leazes End. The vast terrace where the local gangs fought weekly for centre stage, before uniting as one with their support for Supermac, John Tudor, Jimmy Smith and so many more, rivalries renewed outside after the full time whistle.

I was not a Leazes Ender, well not really, it was my first season in there, going with new mates I had acquired when I joined Longbenton High School. I had previously gone in the A wing paddock with my dad, I think as a Brighton fan he was massively relieved when he felt I was old enough to go without him in tow, but I had watched in awe at this vast terrace and the entertaining goings on!

Anyway, I digress, the powers that be pulled it down and the fans were splashed to the four winds, some went into the ‘scoreboard’, others went into the ‘corner’, while some went into the East Stand Paddock, and while many of you will have great memories of those times, the noise without a roof was not ever quite the same.

So it was about this time that I first joined the official supporters club, you had to go upstairs in the Bridge Hotel to join and/or book away games on the bright yellow Armstrong Galleys, but with limited money and no paper round, I had to pick and choose and plan well ahead for which games I could go to.

I considered quite a few factors before booking, such as cost, distance, which mates were going and finally the most important factor…. did the visiting fans get a covered terrace?

I had seen first hand at Peterborough in 1978 how much atmosphere was created under a roof, when my older sister’s boyfriend tried to impress our family by getting 14 year old me on a notorious coach from Killingworth for the away FA cup game. Only tarnishing himself by getting arrested as the coach stopped off in Leeds for refreshments, it is a day that 46 years on is still fresh in the memory.

So back to choosing away games, which ones had the best roof?

Well you have to remember between 1978 and 1982, we were messing about in Division Two. However, places like Grimsby, Rotherham, both Sheffield Clubs, Blackburn, QPR, Derby County, Preston NE, West Ham, all had a covered terrace for visiting fans and these were the ones I looked forward to most.

Of course many other grounds were visited but it seemed no matter how many fans we took (and we always took plenty) the noise was better under a covered terrace. I would cite Barnsley as being an example of a game where we regularly took several thousand but somehow the atmosphere inside ( outside was very hostile) seemed flatter. Of course we reciprocated by giving visiting fans the tiniest of uncovered terracing where the Leazes End once stood.

So why write about this subject?

Well Boxing Day 1979 we lost 3-2 away at Burnley. Watching our demolition of them last Saturday I remembered the Armstrong Galley trip there. Turf Moor in those days had a huge roofed terrace that ran the length of the pitch, known as the aptly named Longside. Facing the terrace, home fans had up to the halfway line, with a small empty section and the rest allocated to visiting fans. What an atmosphere it produced, the attendance back in 1979 was only 16,000 but 5,000+ had travelled from Newcastle.

With home and away vocal support being so close, the atmosphere was both lively and loud, it is something that is missing from football today (safe standing in my eyes is neither use nor ornament).

I spoke to a Turf Moor regular recently and he waxed lyrically about the Longside and he did say it was a sad day in 1995 when it was closed forever.

These days every ground has a roof, modern stadia and seating however, do diminish the atmosphere a little, so do people who don’t want to be there but go because it is fashionable. Coming in late, waving at friends, posting on FB (or tik tok), coming back in when Newcastle are attacking and blocking your view (FFS wait until the ball goes out), I guess I am digressing again and turning into a grumpy old man.

So what is my point you may ask?

Well there is not one really, just sharing a few memories of how it was when it was.

Do I miss those times? Of course I do, but the sands of time wait for nobody and it is time I saw us win something of consequence, before those sands run out.

Would I swap anything though?

Absolutely not.

I was born and blessed to follow this magnificent football club stood alongside like minded magnificent people.