{"id":59,"date":"2024-11-11T21:08:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T21:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/joseph-chisholm\/?p=59"},"modified":"2024-12-07T23:55:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T23:55:34","slug":"more-than-just-a-game-football-newcastle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/joseph-chisholm\/2024\/11\/11\/more-than-just-a-game-football-newcastle\/","title":{"rendered":"More Than Just a Game: My ups and downs as a football fan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The three lads pictured above (all stood in quite a strange manner, 12 years ago) are me and my younger twin brothers, Ben and Max, and if you couldn\u2019t already tell by the full Newcastle United kits, we\u2019re all huge football fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phrase, \u201cit\u2019s just a game\u201d is often thrown around a lot when discussing football, and at the end of the day, yeah, football is a game. However, to me, my brothers, and so many more of you fans, I think the game that we call football has shaped our lives massively, and maybe more than you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an account of some of my personal experiences following football throughout my life, and ultimately, the reasons why Leagues of Our Own exists, and the reasons why I love this sport so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life as a Magpie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it would be rude not to start with Newcastle United, the biggest blessing (and the biggest curse) throughout my lifetime so far. Seasons upon seasons of win, loss, relegation, swearing at the television, and an unfortunate lack of trophies, but I wouldn\u2019t change it for the world.<\/p>\n\n\n

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St James’ Park after Newcastle defeated Arsenal 1-0 a few weeks ago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The 22nd<\/sup> May, 2011. My first Newcastle United game. I remember climbing the steps into the Leazes stand with my dad, overwhelmed by the colossus that was St James\u2019 Park, and 6-year-old me feeling electrified by the chanting fans. I can\u2019t say I remember too much about the match itself, but since I was enlightened by the passion and support of the black and white army, it\u2019s safe to say that I never looked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to share two specific memories I have with Newcastle United, one being probably the best day of my life, and the other one of the most disappointing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newcastle vs PSG<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the fourth of October, 2023, Champions League football returned to St James\u2019 Park as we took on European juggernauts, Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day of the game, I got up, went to university as usual, and went about my day thinking, we\u2019ve got no chance winning against these. But still, I hopped on the bus into town, excited that I get to see Champions League football with my own eyes, and met up with my mate.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Parisian fans were in full voice, marching and chanting through the streets of Newcastle, as we nervously entered the ground about an hour before kick-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black and white flags were soaring, thousands chanted, and the players lined up to the famous Champions League tune. Newcastle United were about to play in the biggest competition in club football, and nothing could\u2019ve prepared me for what was to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 90 minutes, me and thousands of other Geordies were sent into dreamland as we tore PSG apart as if they were amateurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goals from Miguel Almiron, and local lads Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff nearly knocked the roof off St James\u2019 Park (and nearly sent me flying over the railing and falling down 4 rows). However, it was the fourth and final goal of the game for us that truly put the cherry on the icing on the cake, as Swiss defender Fabian Schar unleashed an absolute rocket into the top right-hand corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same Newcastle United that I watched get relegated from the Premier League 7 years ago had just beaten one of the best teams in the world 4-1, and in that moment, I felt like life could not get any better. Unbelievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An image I took after the 4th goal (I think I was so in disbelief that I had to note down the score) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

FULL TIME: NUFC 4-1 PSG<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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