A few days ago I was doing my dog walk over the hills.
Only this time, as we go over the stile we are confronted by a herd of cows.
What the hell is going on in this country when a farmer thinks he can just put his livestock into his own field without any consideration given to me and my Cockapoo?
Anyway, I decided that we should try to wander past them and hope they are too busy doing their cow business to notice us.
Halfway along the track and things are going okay, until the dog decides to let out a “back off” bark .
Up come all their heads and they slowly start to walk toward us like a scene from a farming version of The Walking Dead.
For the next five minutes they stomp after me and basically chase me off their manor.
You may be thinking, what on earth has this got to do with Newcastle United Football Club?
Well I would have thought that was obvious, the League Cup third round draw of course.
Because I’m a very old beggar, the experience transported me back to an away day in London in 1978.
Millwall.
It is where this then 18-year-old kid was chased out of Bermondsey by a gang that looked and smelt similar to this herd.
Although on reflection, it did seem easier to reason with the cows than with those knuckle dragging halfwits .
As you well know, the recent cup draw has seen us draw Millwall away .
Our trip to South London will be the first time we have played this lot away since 1993. The 33 years between then and now has seen football change out of all recognition, it literally is a different world and of course the Old Den has long gone.
So, what kind of reception lies in wait for the thousands of Geordies who will be in the new ground in a couple of weeks’ time?
Our Mackem neighbours have been down there quite a few times recently and I can’t remember hearing any wild stories coming out of their trips, so will our lads (and lasses) be welcomed with open arms?
Will we be allowed to walk around the area and drink in the pubs like we know they would be allowed to do up here, or will Danny Dyer and Gary Oldman come out of retirement to lead their firm into battle?
I have to admit that I have no idea what the area is like these days. Is Bermondsey gentrified and full of million pound apartments, or is it still the hideous sinkhole it was back in the day?
Millwall on a midweek night with the possibility of finding yourself transported back to Rourke’s Drift really is an away trip for the truly committed.
Add on the issue about finding your way back home to civilisation at 10.30pm…
However, something tells me that our away allocation will swiftly sell out and if you are one of those going down to the smoke that night, I really do tip my hat to you.
That really is the epitome of supporting your club.
I reckon anyone going to Millwall should automatically go to the front of the queue for a Wembley ticket, when we get to walk out there again on 21 March 2027.
Well, with a bit of luck, why not?