Your chance to win!
Last chance to get Newcastle United tickets this season.
So read the opening line of the email that dropped in my inbox on Sunday morning from the club.
The final two Newcastle United home ticket ballots, with the club informing me that the West Ham ballot will open on 13 April, whilst for Brighton it is 12 noon today (Monday 30 March).
Well we have only “won” twice in the ballots so far this season, so it is fingers crossed.
But this is not only an issue for Newcastle United fans like us.
My Mate is a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan and as a paid up member of their club, goes through the same routine as regularly as me.
In the past, he like me, had no problem getting to games home and away, but now our teams are playing in the land of milk and honey it is a different narrative. No complaints from me or him for our success on the field, well, less so for him.
On Saturday, as we discussed our respective teams’ performances this season and lack of live action, a solemn moment struck us.
As exiles living in London, stood in the Dulwich Hamlet clubhouse bar with pints in hand after a 4-1 demolition of Potters Bar and stood with the Hamlet players.
Is this it?
Is this our lot when it comes to live football?
If ever Newcastle United or Forest played Dulwich Hamlet, there is only one team we would be rooting for and that is our hometown clubs.
However, we are football supporters who love the game and all the social activities that accompany it. We don’t really support Dulwich as fans, but we do give support financially to the club by paying in buying food and drink and just being there.
The payback is live action.
OK, it is not Premier League, but on Saturday it kicked off in the ninetieth minute with a red card. Chaos on the pitch. No VAR or instant TV reaction from pundits with a lack of intellectual capacity that is beyond belief. Just live football. Great stuff in my book.
So back to the club that really matters.
In the ballot today for Brighton, that match is a Saturday afternoon 3pm kick off and a bank holiday weekend as well. Mini family holiday in Newcastle pending that NUFC email. Yes, that email where you see it and then tentatively open it in hope that it will say you were successful. Oh well. There you have it. Lifelong supporters clinging on in the hope of a ticket.
In a couple of weeks it is Welling away for the Hamlet Hipsters from Peckham. Think I might tag along, probably some good football without the nonsense that is VAR.