Natural progression of a Newcastle United fan | OneFootball

What is now the natural progression of a Newcastle United fan?

In a roundabout way, an article this Monday morning on The Mag promoted me to do something.

The article was called ‘Modern football is rubbish – Here is the proof’ by John Martin and well worth a read if you haven’t already (see HERE).

In the piece, John compared stuff back in the day with how football is now.

Which triggered a thought, my progression as a Newcastle United fan.

Let me explain.

Up to age of 12 or 13

I was a child of the 1970s and was taken to games in the early to mid-70s by the likes of my dad and older brothers.

We used to go in the E Wing Paddock I think it was called. This was in front of the West (now Milburn) stand towards the Leazes End. In front of the West Stand it was divided into three, with the centre paddock that cost more, then the A Wing Paddock I think it was towards the Gallowgate End.

I either used to sit on a barrier or go down the front where a lot of the other kids would be, so you could see the match. Not many seats in those days! Just the old wooden West Stand and the ‘new’ East Stand, though that still had a paddock in front of it as well.

Basically, the paddock was seen as the safest bit for kids to go, or at least that was my understanding.

13 and the moment came

Yes, that moment came at last.

At the age of 13 I was allowed to go with my mates, no family supervision!

This was on condition that under no circumstances I should go anywhere near the infamous Leazes End.

So of course, first match off the leash I was straight in there!

I had seen it from afar but it was exhilarating being in amongst it.

Well, when I say in amongst it, I mean on the fringes. Away from the rival gangs fighting, all Newcastle United fans! Just from different areas of Newcastle. It was mad. I remember at time fires were lit and it was just a cascade of excitement, the crowd surges, the singing, the characters. What a moment to be alive and watching NUFC.

All good things come to an end though, or most of them anyway.

The 1977/78 season saw United relegated and even worse, they pulled the Leazes End down.

That then saw us move to the East Stand paddock and then the Gallowgate Corner.

16 onwards

This was when away matches became a thing.

Nothing better. At the same time pure excitement and terror at times, the adrenaline pumping.

The greatest memories, turning up at another ground, in another city, one of a massive mob of Newcastle United fans.

Feeling you were part of something it was so special.

In my 30s

It was of course the early 90s that saw all seater stadiums become a thing.

We all know why. However, the atmosphere never really was the same. Maybe the odd time you could say that, likes of Barca 3-2, Man U 5-0 and similar.

Back in the day though when standing was the thing, turning up to the match was the same every game. Obviously some games were better than others when it came to the atmosphere but every match you could choose to go wherever the singing was, or alternatively go in the paddock or old man’s side of the Gallowgate towards the West Stand, if you didn’t want to end up 10 yards away from where you were standing originally when something happened.

When it became all seater, we got seats in the Leazes.

I will always be a Leazes Ender…

Of course, it doesn’t really make a difference now where you sit, all much of a muchness. Certainly when it comes to atmosphere.

I feel sorry for kids these days, who will never experience the days of the terracing and the old Leazes End in particular.

Not the only thing I feel sorry for them about…

What is the natural progression of a Newcastle United fan now?

In these days where season tickets dominate and pretty much all major clubs are sold out every match, with tickets at a premium, how exactly does any kid dream of doing what myself and others did?

If you are really lucky your family will have got you a season ticket for home matches, or to be brutal, you wait for effectively somebody to die in your family or get too old, to then pass their season ticket on.

For those with no family assistance available, then kids are truly knackered.

You are basically looking at best, becoming one of a massive number of Newcastle United members and praying for the odd ticket in the ballots.

As for away matches?

Zero chance if you don’t have a season ticket.

If you do have a season ticket, then minimal chance unless you have loads of loyalty points.

Plus anyway, maximum of 3,000 away tickets and for some far less, likes of Brentford, Fulham, Bournemouth and others.

The days of 10,000+ going and just turning up and paying in, at the likes of Man U and elsewhere, are long long gone.

Anybody who doesn’t see the need for a brand new 80,000+ stadium on Leazes Park/Castle Leazes, well, I don’t now what else it would take to persuade you?

If like me you are one of those lucky enough to be inside St James’ Park on a regular basis, I can’t get my head around why you would be so selfish to think you are more important and happy with the status quo, than generations of kids who will never stand a chance of joining us, unless a far bigger stadium is built.