I first went to St James’ Park in the early 1970s.
I took my son there for the first time ten years ago now.
We had seats in the Gallowgate. A Gallowgate that is incomparable to the Gallowgate End of the Seventies and Eighties.
When the New (East) Stand opened back in the ’70s, me, my mates and my brothers would pay our seventy five pennies to get in. We were happily rid of by our mams for the day. It was the East Stand Gallowgate paddock a short walk up the cobbled alley.
We would get to the ground and wait in an excited state for the doors to our afternoon escape to open. First people in the ground, with programmes in hand.
How times have changed from my Shoot League Ladder on my bedroom wall and Subbuteo collection, my lad now has the high tech football games and data on his iphone and ipad.
Today the “unfortunately” Newcastle United home tickets ballot email for the Brighton match arrived. My son took it on the chin.
Two home game successes this season and not holding our breath for the chance to “win” a ticket for West Ham.
I think I have stood or sat in every part of St James’ Park, from the old wooden seats of the West Stand for a Hibernian (un)friendly with my Mam, to the East Stand seats returned by away supporters not wanting them. Me and my older brother in amongst Arsenal, Forest and Coventry supporters. Unreal and hard to believe.
The open terracing and toilets of the Gallowgate end have now passed into folklore.
My favourite time was in the Leazes terracing next to the away supporters in the corner section. Lads from North Kenton, Kingston Park and Monty. Probably because it was a coming of age time with fashion, music and the politics of the day.
So the continued failure in the ballots for Newcastle United home tickets means more games for me at the seventh tier of the football pyramid.
When we first started going to Dulwich Hamlet we would get our spot at the side of the pitch, so the little ones could get to see the game. Now the lads are six foot tall we are in with the Dulwich Rabble. Right in the middle of the mess and mayhem you associate with behind the goal football supporters. Mess and mayhem.
If only we could get into the games at St James’ Park and create our own mess and mayhem. Over to you sanitised tourists and old folks with Newcastle United season tickets.
If only Newcastle United had been allowed to buy the title like Manchester City and Chelsea did, then the real working class supporters could have had their day in the sun before being bypassed by the Instagram generation in ten years time.
So it is back to Champion Hill with the equally disillusioned Haddock from the Forest Young Lads (Long Eaton) and permanently depressed Mr Leighton Evans from the Cardiff City Soul Crew. Looking forward to next week’s away day at Welling.