The final paragraph of an excellent article on The Mag about the World Cup and the greed that has overtaken football, it sums it up for me perfectly.
When I read it I thought, that is me:
“I’m not sure it’s my advancing years that hasn’t got me reaching for a Wall Chart to plot England’s eventual demise, it’s probably more to do with where the tournament is being held and how FIFA under Gianni Infantino have approached these 2026 World Cup finals.”
A great summary. Couldn’t have put it any better.
So back to the pressing matter of the Newcastle United Season Ticket waiting list.
We (myself and my 15-year-old son) found out this month we are placed in the 13,000s in the queue.
Then last week I renewed me and my lad’s memberships. Fifty Nine quid between us for the chance of a home ticket. In the ballots last season we managed to get tickets in the ballots for two home matches (one in the FA Cup where the opposition couldn’t sell thousands of tickets of their allocation), having previously the season before been lucky enough to get five.
So using the law of averages, our chances of Newcastle United home tickets are pretty slim for the 2026/27 season.
Away tickets will be in their end next season. Again, oh for the days of turning up at away games and paying in on the turnstile.
On that depressing thought, it was time for a beer or three with my Forest mate (also exiled in London) who has similar struggles getting tickets for Forest at home.
The Forest owners have announced plans for The City Ground to be expanded. More importantly, when will we as Newcastle United fans get a stadium that can accommodate many more of us?
Sat in a boozer on Champion Hill, I purchased my first ever season ticket. Dulwich Hamlet are my local London team. Mid-table Isthmian Premier Division team. We were there when they got promoted to the National League South a few seasons ago with great scenes of pink and blue flares going off and a pitch invasion to top it off.
The 2026/27 season ticket prices for them are seventy nine pounds for me and fifteen for the daft lad. Is this our future supporting football?
As the Fifa World Cup rumbles on and the dollars roll into their coffers, me and my Forest mate agreed to put our hard earned cash into a community club that prides itself on inclusivity, everybody is welcome. Whether we go to the games is another matter.
The bonus is that if we do actually go to the games it is a pound off a pint in the clubhouse bar if you’ve got a season ticket. The way me and Mr. Haddock neck the Peckham Pale Ale I reckon the season tickets will pay for themselves before Xmas.
Bring on the first game. A very (un)friendly game against Millwall.