This Newcastle United season is all but over then and in my opinion it has been an indisputable washout.
Whilst I have been around for too long to underestimate the fickle nature of the football fan.
I doubt whether even a swansong of four straight wins would make very much difference to the feelings of frustration, disappointment and anger that have contributed to Newcastle United’s 2025-26 being a wretched and seemingly endless ordeal to endure.
There have been moments of course, but they have been all to fleeting and inevitably soon to be followed by a performance of such rage-inducing calamity that the memories quickly fade, buried under an avalanche of spoiled weekends and miserable cold evenings, trudging for a bus in a filthy mood.
It seems unfathomable that so many of the personnel involved in some of the greatest memories this club has given us have completely inverted those emotions this past year.
I think there are three types of really great memories you can have as a football supporter.
The first is the most obvious – what a result means to you, such as a derby win or the events of 16th March 2025.
The second is the excitement of a game, for sheer drama, quality of football or spectacle, such as the 4-4 with Arsenal back then.
The third is the most elusive, the one that means something to you personally, such as the first/last game with a loved one, or a match synonymous with a happy time in life.
This season has delivered a few of these for me.
As away trips go, Everton was a fine choice, the first ever visit to a new ground and a thumping away win that remains our only league success by more than two goals. The best trip for me though was Paris, which was basically a three day mini break in one of the world’s greatest cities with my friends, eating and drinking, taking in the culture, against the backdrop of a very respectable United performance gaining a decent draw. Aside from these adventures, I could only really make room for the sterling effort of defeating Man Utd with ten men thanks to an injury time wonder goal in the all time list. I am also grateful that my son got to see Barcelona after years of coveting them, although any mention of Barca in this campaign brings a bit of a wince after the way it all ended.
This is subverting the trend as I was just thinking about the legacy of Eddie Howe, should he leave this parish in the next month or so. As a long-term season ticket holder I have personally seen some magnificent eras. The Keegan days, Sir Bobby’s team and even the efforts under Pardew had their moments. All in between cup runs, promotions and memorable derbies. However, were I to compile a list of, say a top 50 matches of all time, I think the Howe era would utterly dominate.
For clarification, I’ve used the criteria that I had to actually be at the game and it can fit into any of the three categories above (importance, spectacle, personal) and I have zero doubt that the list of 20 below all make the top 50 (in no specific order but number one is at the top):
Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool (N, LC 24/25)
Newcastle 4-1 PSG (H, UCL 23/24)
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle (A, LC 24/25)
Newcastle 3-1 Everton (H, PL 21/22)
Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal (H, LC 24/25)
Newcastle 4-1 Brighton (H PL 22/23)
Leeds 0-1 Newcastle (A, PL 21/22)
Newcastle 6-1 Tottenham (H, PL 22/23)
Newcastle 2-1 Southampton (H, LC 22/23)
Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle (A, FAC 24/25)
PSG 1-1 Newcastle (A, UCL, 25/26)
Newcastle 5-1 Aston Villa (H, PL, 23/24)
Everton 1-4 Newcastle (A, PL, 25/26)
Newcastle 4-1 Man Utd (H, PL, 24/25)
Newcastle 2-1 Man Utd (H, PL, 25/26)
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle (A, PL, 22/23)
Newcastle 2-1 Brentford (H, PL, 24/25)
Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona (H, UCL 25/26)
Burnley 1-4 Newcastle (A, PL, 23/24)
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Newcastle (A, UCL, 23/24)
There are a few personal ones at the end there, as Dortmund was another tremendous personal adventure in spite of the poor result, and likewise the adventures for happy wins at Forest and Burnley bring the memories to life in a way that’s still a genuine novelty, after years of enjoying away trips in spite of the United result. For anyone wondering, Brentford is in there for being part of the post-cup final celebration and most other games mentioned will have resonated with most people for their respective timeless or even legendary status in Newcastle United canon.
I have said many times that I’m not sure what the right course of action is this summer. In a season where the division between fans has well and truly returned, there seems to be an unsavoury clamour to be proved right over wanting the best for the future of the club. As I’ve stated, this season has been little short of abysmal, but there’s surely folly in disregarding the litany of magnificent experiences above when demanding wholesale change?
Across the next year or so, someone will be proven right and others will be sadly wrong. Whichever way you lean (or fervently, mouth-foamingly demand), it’s prudent to bear in mind that the list above could be in danger of remaining static should you get your way.
Whatever happens, let’s also take a moment to remember and appreciate the good times. Life is all too short.
You can follow the author on BlueSky @bigjimwinsalot.bsky.social