My birthday arrived early this year – Exactly 101 days ago to be precise | OneFootball

I will let you in on a little secret, today (Wednesday 25 June) I turn 42.

Now I’m long since past the point of celebrating birthdays, they literally are “just another day”, the only thing that can make them stand out is if the occasion falls on a weekend or not.

As this year’s celebration falls on “a boring Wednesday”(*), there will not be much happening, but then again, that’s true of any other birthday when you consider that it’s in the summer and nowt much is happening as a Newcastle United fan, for the best part of three months.

I actually received my birthday present months ago, exactly 101 days ago to be precise, 16 March 2025.

Watching the football in a City centre bar is nothing unusual. If I can’t get a ticket to see the game, it’s what I and many others would likely be doing as the alternative.

Sunday March 16th was no different. Pints, chatter and the football, it could have been any ordinary weekend in any part of the country.

The difference this time is, from a purely selfish point of view, I got what I wanted.

The moment Dan Burn scored, it took me and thousands of others into uncharted territory. We took the lead, in a cup final and are playing well, against the soon to be Premier League Champions, Liverpool, a side we historically don’t do well against.

I’m usually like a cat on a hot tin roof as a Newcastle United fan watching the team, but on this occasion, I was eerily calm. Don’t ask me why. I still haven’t a clue.

The moment that stands out for me from that game came when, whilst stood in the bar, Alexander Isak scored the disallowed goal. A couple of fans in front of me looked genuinely afraid. It was etched on their faces almost to the point of tears. Thinking that must surely have been our chance to kill the game off, it had now gone and Liverpool will come back and win the game. I’ve got to admit, that would normally have been me in years gone by.

I moved to reassure them that the way the team get over it – and I used these exact words “They now need to go back out and score an “effing proper one.”

Within two minutes Isak was at it again and bedlam ensued. The usual fan scene erupted. Fans hugging other fans they’d never met before, friends congratulating friends and beer flying everywhere. We were all watching the telly but certainly not thinking about our holidays at that moment.

Emotional at the final whistle.

Some fans at the sight of all three club captains lifting the trophy, naturally.

Others couldn’t believe they were seeing a silver pot with black and white ribbons on it.

For me it was when the TV coverage flashed to the engraver carving “NEWCASTLE UNITED” on the trophy plinth. Never thought I’d see that.

“If it stays like this, are we away round to St James’?” a friend asked. The answer was “Too bloody right we are!” And so there it was.

I was stood outside MY football ground with thousands of other people having just been gifted the best present you could have ever given me on any birthday…Three months, 101 days, early.

“Shall we go in The Strawberry?” was the next question.

“Good luck getting in there!” came the reply.

But we tried and we made it. Guinness was the drink of choice until I chirped up and suggested that a celebration of this magnitude wouldn’t be complete without some fizz. “Gan on, it’s on me lads.”

Birthdays can be whatever you want them to be.

Some may like all the razzmatazz. I prefer them to be quiet, reserved affairs. I don’t kick up a fuss either way. I’m similar with Christmas. But you can’t plan occasions like Sunday 16th March 2025 and this individual that usually prefers his own company to mass get togethers, certainly enjoyed that day more than any birthday party you can throw in my direction.

As far as the 2024/25 season goes, qualifying for the Champions League AND winning that elusive trophy was some year, and a special thank you to Eddie Howe and his players for that particular present.

All that remains is for me to wish everyone a great summer, enjoy the prevailing weather and don’t get too hung up on transfer gossip and rumour.

I’ve got a funny feeling the club know what they’re doing.

Focus will be on providing more celebrations like the one we witnessed on March 16th right from the first whistle when the season kicks off again in August.