Walking on air back to Wembley tube station, 16th March 2025, is a memory I will cherish forever.
The queues didn’t matter, the pushing and shoving neither.
The night was going to last forever, and it very nearly did, thanks to an accommodating landlady in the back streets of Bloomsbury. Propping up the bar with a mate and reminiscing on our 58 year quest for the Holy Grail. Surely this was only the start…
When Eddie Howe arrived at St. James’ Park it seemed like the proverbial sleeping giant was stirring.
He had obviously done his homework. Within weeks the detachment between club and fans had gone. His investment in all things NUFC was staggering; hitting the training ground for 6am, and last man out the door at the end of the day.
As the players bought into the high intensity, performances ensured survival and ultimately greater prizes awaited. Leeds away, Jonjo Shelvey, the great escape had begun.
PSG home, quite simply unforgettable, PSG away, robbed twice !!
Semi-final first leg at the Emirates, 2-0, unbelievable.
And my favourite? Brentford away, Easter Saturday 2023, a brilliant second half turn around engineered by Eddie Howe.
Being present at all the above games and countless others gave us as Newcastle United fans our pride back.
Out of the darkness…we were here to compete. I always thought Eddie Howe and us were a match made in heaven, a manager who needed to prove he still had what it takes, and a club crying out for care and understanding. We were certainly good for each other.
PSR was always lurking in the background though, the elephant in the room for several clubs, yet for us it seems to have took up residency in every square inch of St James’.
Eddie Howe’s mood darkened when Elliot Anderson headed out the door in a bizarre deal that began to highlight the intentions of those running the Premier League.
The suits kept on changing on Barrack Road but the messages remained the same. Then, without a CEO and Sporting Director came the disastrous 2025 summer transfer window. Chaos ensued as our chief scout and Howe’ s nephew negotiated deals. Deals that would ultimately haunt Eddie Howe and ensure he carried the cross of Wissa, Woltemade and Elanga around. One dodgy shopping spree and the die was cast.
Which brings me to the Newcastle United owners. The Saudi majority owners and Jamie Reuben who think nothing of commandeering five star hotels for a round or two of back slapping and indoctrination, eulogising over the project and feeding fallacies to our buffoon of a CEO.
What exactly is the PIF Project at NUFC? Currently open for debate. We appear to have lost our identity as we head into a new managerial era. The fire sale that looks to continue right up until the transfer window closes seems to highlight the selling mentality the club has right now.
The new model of buying young inexperienced potential is worrying and when Bruno heads out to Arsenal our midfield will be left rudderless. And when Lewis Miley/ Lewis Hall eventually swap the black and white stripes for a red or blue shirt the phrase ‘feeder club’ is going to be hard to deny
I don’t think we’ll see the like of Eddie Howe again. His influence and legacy are cemented forever. For me, he dragged the club out of the gutter and gave us standing in the game. On a par with Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby for sure, but Eddie Howe actually climbed the mountain all others couldn’t, and for that he will always be a legend.
So, little did we know, the elation felt in that back street boozer in Bloomsbury was as good as it was ever going to get.
Eddie Howe has made mistakes. All good managers have their foibles, but the constraints imposed on clubs outside the cartel, are encouraging football clubs to ditch their dreams and sicken managers into the bargain.
Good luck Eddie, you deserve a job with no constraints.