Gallowgate Challenges
Gallowgate Challenges - NUFC
January (2022) I went to visit St. James’ Park. Now this wasn’t an uncommon thing, but both the reason and sitting position were.
Obviously, Newcastle United
being football flesh and blood. The FA Cup, 3rd round home tie against
a lower league club, a tasty day out.
Here’s an/the NUFC thing. An expected odds-on game does
not always go according to plan. And it didn’t. More about that soon.
The Gallowgate End.
If you do not know of the famous Gallowgate End of St. James’ Park
(hereafter SJP); you should! It is where I started my physical following as a
supporter of this brilliant football club. As a teenager, maybe 12 (maybe <12) and not formerly
a teen, life began at the South East side of the Gallowgate End of SJP.
Back to the match in question. Well, we lost. The richest
club in the world beaten by a 3rd division team. Embarrassing.
Newcastle United FC 0 – 1 Cambridge United
Soul destroying. Not without positives though. Given the shite
state of NUFC’s league (Premier League, and 2 above Cambridge) position at the
time of that match (and currently too (later January at time of writing)), not
thereafter having any further FA Cup games to ‘worry’ about is a small
blessing.
Last FA Cup we won (or 6). 1955.
The challenge.
That’s where it gets personal.
Unusual seat. Gallowgate as opposed to Leazes, a step
back in time. ‘Usual’ seat as opposed to a more friendly, and designed for
purpose, disabled seat. Thought it wouldn’t pose much of a problem for an FA Cup
match 1-off. It did.
It was only 3 steps. Shorter and shallower than the Leazes steps. Bladder doesn’t give a flying fuck! Got to go, go to go! I had to go. I did not expect the anxiety levels to rush for the sky. They did.
I managed the steps down and to the nearest toilet and to
return. With a big personal “phew” upon sitting back down, I was reminded of one’s
challenged physicality*. Cheers MS!
Half-time came and went – still scoreless – somehow as we’d
been shooting galore! Their ‘keeper was on fire. Fair play. 3 tremendous saves
as good as anybody. Grrrr.
Not too long afterwards – 11 minutes to be honest – they scored.
A header by Joe Ironside, a Cambridge player and a lifelong Toon fan for some
added wound salt into the wound.
On the up-side, at time of writing this the team are
receiving some warm-weather training and team-bonding in Jeddah with more
players on the way (hopefully) bought to add to NUFC!!!
HOWAY THE LADS!
*I left a few minutes before full-time with my match
carer to avoid a lot of the thousands (physical, and mental challenge) of
saddened exiting Geordies. Yet, around a corner where the steps start outside
the ground… steps from nothing, cornering up, building slowly… yep, a
stumble was had. Another bruise. Ha!
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