Arsenal and Manchester United expansions – Newcastle United now desperately need to keep up | OneFootball

On Tuesday morning I arrived at work and the first person I saw was a colleague who supports West Ham.

He couldn’t believe his luck bumping into me first thing. Seeing me, his face lit up with a massive grin.

A quick football chat and he admitted to me that when Isak ‘scored’ early he expected a hammering and couldn’t believe what he had then seen.

On the Tuesday after the West Ham defeat there were two articles I read on The Mag that summed up exactly how I felt and thought.

The article (‘Toys out of the pram as usual – Embarrassing’) by Dale Thompson was in my opinion spot on and backed up by my conversation and agreement with my West Ham supporter and colleague.

As I watched the game on Sky, what disappointed me was the number of people leaving early, not our performance.

I had an article published recently on The Mag entitled ‘Never leave early’, which pointed out that Arsenal fans were leaving the ground with ten minutes to go with only one goal in it.

I would never leave a game early, no matter what, yet watched St James’ Park emptying at record pace. Embarrassing.

A week or so after that piece, I had an article published, which criticised certain old people on YouTube, who were doubting whether youngsters were as dedicated or as passionate as them.

This riled me, as I have a teenage lad who I try to get tickets to games for, two matches so far this season, in the Fulham home end at Craven Cottage and Arsenal at St James’ Park. Not a good return (one home game) after paying for membership but better than some I know.

So what trajectory are we on?

Newcastle supporters leaving early because the team isn’t winning. Complaining about performances not being good enough, even though decisions go against us and we don’t get the rub of the green.

When I was my lad’s age , or younger, we would be paying into the East Stand Paddock as soon as the turnstiles were opened. No parents/adults, just older teenage lads (my brothers and mates from our estate).

When I have been to away games there is no one happier than my 13 year old son when he is with the young lads from Forest Hall and Wallsend who are barely in their twenties. He doesn’t want to be with me, obviously, but knows it is the only way he can get into a game.

I read recently that Arsenal are exploring the possibility of expanding their stadium by some twenty thousand.

Man U looking to build new and expand, as are other Premier League clubs, as they know the financial race they are in.

The fact is, if these expansions go ahead, they will not be selling season tickets. Season tickets are a thing of the past.

My last contribution on The Mag reminisced about the 1970s and ended with me stating, bring back paying in at the turnstiles.

My feelings are even stronger now, when we get the new stadium no new season tickets and have a section for pay-in on the day, only for under 21s.

If the people who are running our football club are smart, they will understand that we need youngsters accessing live games so that they can fall in love with the whole experience, just as me and my mates did back in the day.

We need to safeguard the club, we need to go back to the future, we do not need old people leaving early from their guaranteed season ticket seats and then complaining about the team.

The future is my son and daughter and all the other daft lads and lasses that should have the opportunity to get in to see their idols live. Trust me, the kids are the future, like it or not.