The first live Premier League Newcastle United match of the season for us.
Albeit sat in the supposed home supporters end at Craven Cottage.
I wake up early to a London pea souper. By midday the mist is starting to lift and we are on the train to Putney.
It is then a walk across Putney Bridge to Archbishop’s Park. It is on this walk over the bridge where we see our first half and half scarf. Oh dear.
After a few beers with our Fulham friends it is off to Craven Cottage which is wedged between the river and streets of beautiful Victorian housing. A classic example of a football club from a different era and hemmed in from that time.
Through the turnstiles at the rear of the Cottage and then we are in our seats in row ZZ, the back row to be precise.
Photo by Greg McPeake via The Mag
I have been in the Putney end many times but on this occasion there appears to be fewer black and white stripes on show than previously. But significantly there is a lot of half and half scarves. An awful creation which has a crest with the words Geordie Boys inside it.
We stand during the minute’s silence for Remembrance Day and a young man and his partner take their seats in the row in front of us talking loudly, mobile phones in hands. A woman turns around and tells them to “shut up and show some respect.”
We start the game brightly but it turns into another game like Palace. The highlight is the Dan Burn goal which we celebrate but are completely baffled at it being disallowed as we have probably got the worst seats in the house to make any reasoned judgement.
Twenty minutes into the game and groups of people start leaving their seats, some wearing half and halfs. This cycle goes on throughout the game, small groups moving in and out. Other spectators stand up and start recording with their phones, or taking selfies, blocking our line of sight as the game is happening.
At this moment I realise now why my Chelsea mates are so vexed, as this is what they have described to me, but even worse for them as it is happening in their main end, the Matthew Harding stand.
No wonder they are angry. I was getting angry and we were in the Fulham end.
Second half we start brightly and I am hopeful for another Palace-like after the break performance.
Before the game my son had said “I am going home if Jacob Murphy starts”, so down on the winger he is.
A big Geordie lad has spotted us and the adjacent tourist seat that has been vacated, he joins us. We have the perfect view of the Murphy goal and we celebrate like we were in the Gallowgate End.
Three minutes later and you are reminded of what it is to be a Newcastle United fan.
The trudge through the park back to Putney station, me and my lad debate how poor the referee was and the reasons for it.
First Newcastle United match of the Premier League season but hopefully not the last.