Don’t delay it, unless you have to, life is too short – Forthright with his advice | OneFootball

“You’re never off duty if you support the Mags” was the advice Simon Ritter dispensed to 11 year old Lucas, whilst walking along the edge of Lake Garda, on his way back to Bardolino.

I know this because I read Simon’s article about his encounter in Italy with young Lucas on The Mag a couple of weeks back.

I also posted a comment to the effect that I was visiting those very same shores a few days later and would also keep an eye out for toon shirts.

Thanks to the Editor and a couple of email exchanges later, I had arranged to meet with Simon along with our respective long suffering partners on the evening of 17th July, that being my first day in town, with Simon leaving for home the following day.

The Yacht Club, situated as one might expect adjacent to the lake and where the boats dock, was our meeting point,

Simon explaining that the free crisps and savoury snacks they serve with Aperol spritz had meant it had become one of his favourite people watching spots during his stay in this lovely lakeside Italian town. “You never know, we might be celebrating the signing of Etikite”, I quipped when agreeing the meeting point.

Although we’d never met before, the thing we have in common is our love for all things Newcastle United and of course, writing for The Mag.

I think Simon does it better than me, but he has had formal training in this regard, attending journalism school in the late 70s before going on to write and edit for a number of newspapers, most of them household names, in what sounds like quite a distinguished career.

By contrast, my time served as a bureaucrat and administrator seems a tad uninspiring, so we didn’t speak much about that. Although when I explained my desire to step away in two to three years, Simon was forthright with his advice, “don’t delay it, unless you have to, life is too short.”

During the course of the evening we exchanged views on our fellow writers, the likes of Jamie Smith, Davey Hat-Trick, Jinky Jim, Wor Lass and many others, agreeing that everyone who contributes does so in their own inimitable style, and if you’re brave enough to seek publication, then you should be applauded, irrespective of what the comments section might throw up.

As the evening drew on, we inevitably touched on the events of 16 March and shared our respective stories from that glorious weekend.

Curiously, we both saw a pair of Magpies en route to Wembley (mine were near to the Cenotaph in Shipcote, Simon spotting his pair in Hyde Park). We both agreed that seeing two for joy was surely a sign and it was remarkable how many other coincidences and strange happenings occurred to us both pre-match, as if us winning that elusive trophy was somehow pre-ordained, something that was simply meant to be.

The only thing we disagreed on was Sir Edward himself, Simon explaining that he’s never faltered in his unstinting support of the guy, whilst I had to admit to not once, but twice, feeling that Eddie Howe had his shortcomings.

“Not now though, not after he won us that”, I exclaimed, much to Simon’s amusement, me feeling like a repentant sinner emerging from the confessional box, ready to offer up prayers for ever doubting our commander in chief.

It’s less then two weeks since we met up, but it’s been a tumultuous and chastening fortnight and I’m not necessarily talking about the back to back friendly defeats in Glasgow and Singapore, although the manner of the defeat at Parkhead was certainly very troubling.

No, it’s more the news that Alexander Isak is spoiling for a move that has caused me and the rest of us so much anxiety. And when the window has been as poor as it has (the signing of Tony Elanga aside) the prospect of Villa away followed by the Scousers at home in less than a month leaves me feeling cold.

Let’s see what this week brings, maybe a Sesko and a Scalvini who currently plies his trade in the lovely city of Bergamo where my Italian odyssey ended, which brings me back to where this started, with a young lad donning a toon strip on the shores of Lake Garda.

Gweiss Stadium in Bergamo, where Serie A side Atalanta play

There have been other sightings of Newcastle United shirts. Simon reported that he’d spotted a Northern Rock effort before heading to the Airport, whilst I saw the Sela version near the bus station before leaving Bardolino. That’s three in a few days, and three more than any of Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal spotted in those parts, I’m pleased to report.