As Newcastle United fans I think it is our duty to still be there tonight when the lap of honour takes place after the West Ham match.
No heading off to the pub (plenty time for that on Sunday night with the game ending before 7.30pm).
No heading home to watch something on TV (set it to record).
No heading off because of what happened in the 90+ minutes of the match (win, lose or draw).
No heading off because this season hasn’t met your hopes and expectations (of trophies, glory).
No heading off just because you leave early (at every other match).
As Newcastle United fans we instead all need to stay inside St James’ Park after the final whistle for the lap of honour, the lap of appreciation, call it what you will.
Never mind what happens in this West Ham match, never mind what has happened this season, we need to still be there after the final whistle to thank some very special individuals that we won’t ever again see playing in black and white at St James’ Park.
We will never know how these past four and a half years would have turned out if Kieran Trippier hadn’t been persuaded by Eddie Howe to sign for Newcastle United back in January 2022. What I am confident of is that for sure NUFC wouldn’t have achieved as much as they have without him.
Emil Krafth a great servant to the club these past seven years, surely you want to stick around and give him a clap?
What we also know for sure, is that these are not the only two current Newcastle United players that we never see again playing for NUFC at St James’ Park.
The brilliant Fabian Schar has given us a magnificent eight years, up to now no news that he will be staying beyond 30 June 2026 when his current contract is due to end.
Question marks on a number of others as to whether or not they will be still playing for Newcastle next season and as our friend Alexander The Rat proved, you just never know when it might be the last time any player turns out for our club…