There’s only one United in the Champions League | OneFootball

This is it. The biggest home match in Newcastle United’s rollercoaster existence since . . . probably last Saturday’s encounter with a feisty pack of Wolves.

Let’s start with a song, from an era that sums up the thin and thinner times of life as a supporter.

Welcome To My World by Jim Reeves was released in the UK in May 1963 and on the other side of the pond in early 1964, while United were struggling in the second tier of English football.

After a rubbish start to the 63-64 season, they put together a decent run to reach the fringes of the promotion race. Hopes were raised and, predictably, dashed as the campaign ended more or less as it had begun. We finished eighth.

The cups brought no solace: a defeat by Third Division Bournemouth in the League Cup and a humiliation at St James’ Park in the third round of the FA Cup, knocked out by Bedford Town of the Southern League. Thank goodness Match Of The Day hadn’t yet started. Otherwise, those charming chaps at the BBC would have been spoilt for choice when picking their FA Cup intro clips: Bedford or Hereford. Hereford or Bedford . . .

So what did the silken-voiced Jim Reeves have to say?

Welcome to my world Won’t you come on in? Miracles, I guess Still happen now and then.

Anybody who listened to those wise words and stuck a few quid on United to produce a miracle sooner rather than later would have been richly rewarded in May 1965, when United won the Second Division title. Their return to the top table was masterminded by Joe Harvey and spearheaded by top scorer Ron “Cassius” McGarry.

For Harvey, whom many still rank as our greatest manager, life must have been particularly sweet. He had captained United to FA Cup glory at Wembley in 1951 and 1952. There was more to come, of course.

Four years after that promotion season, he steered the good ship United to a European triumph that for some strange reason reminds me of Debbie Harry singing Picture This.

I will give you my finest hour The one I spent watching you shower I will give you my finest hour, oh yeah.

Okay, perhaps we should draw a veil over that image, although there’s no denying Harvey gave the club his finest hours.

As supporters, all we want is players and managers prepared to offer their best shot, literally and figuratively. In Eddie Howe, we are fortunate to have a manager that understands the Geordie nation and does everything in his power to fulfil our dreams. Domestically, he has surpassed Harvey by winning a Wembley final. Foreign rivals await now, for the second time in three seasons.