People who I know, that are not into football, have asked me all week if I’m nervous? | OneFootball

So this is it, the final countdown. Sunday 16th March 2025. It could actually happen. Do we dare to believe?

Now, Newcastle United have had near misses over the years.

We’ve had cup runs, top four finishes, Champions League campaigns and moments where you think we might be on the verge of something.

But incredibly, a whole generation of fan had never seen Newcastle United even get to a final before 2023.

Eddie Howe changed that. He also delivered Champions League qualification in the same season.

I was 15/16 in 1998/99 when we made Wembley two years running in the FA Cup. Time has allowed most of the memories from those matches to fade and bar a few moments, they were pretty forgettable anyway. We had the misfortune of coming up against double chasing Arsenal and treble chasing Manchester United in both finals. They had fantastic sides back then, just as Liverpool do now. You seldom play mugs in cup finals.

To say we didn’t turn up back in the 90s was an understatement. Fast forward to 2023 and that’s three cup finals in my life and we haven’t scored in any of them. Never laid a glove on the opponent bar Alan Shearer skimming the post in 1998 against Arsenal. We also choked when getting to the latter stages of the UEFA Cup under Bobby and Graeme Souness. In short, we haven’t done finals very well in my lifetime.

Under Sir Bobby Robson in 2000 we gave Chelsea a right good scare in the FA Cup semi-final, again at Wembley. Alan Shearer putting a cross in for best mate Rob Lee to head in the leveller. Pride restored but you don’t get a trophy for that.

People who I know, that are not into football, have asked me all week if I’m nervous.

My answer? Not in the slightest.

We’ve lost finals before. We’ve lost against Liverpool before. And on Sunday Liverpool will be the favourites. But it’s a one off game and anything can happen. Nervous? I’ll be nervous if we take the lead. And IF that does indeed happen, I’ll be a gibbering wreck, so if the lads are going to do so, please make it happen in the 95th minute.

Sunday morning I’ll be in town. Being without a ticket, there’s no other place I’d rather be.

If there is to be any tension, it’ll start to build up the second I cross the Tyne Bridge. Either side of a Wetherspoons breakfast, a few pints of Guinness may just have to be sank. As it’s served me reasonably well in matches so far, my “lucky” pink polo and grey fleece will be on.

There will be no tears if we lose. But if we WIN…

Across town, champagne corks will be popped, songs will be sung. Children may well be conceived. And they’ll likely be named Alexander, Bruno, or Eddie.

I like many other would love to see a trophy with black and white ribbons on it. Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn, they’re all captains. Which one and how they’ll lift the trophy will be interesting to see. We’ve just got the hard part to get out of the way first.

But it’s that word “How”. Or rather EDDIE Howe, that I’ll be pleased for. You can never picture a Newcastle manager lifting a trophy, because it’s such an alien concept. That’s what I’ll be delighted to see.

We all loved Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby but Eddie Howe is getting closer than both of those to delivering something and in such a short space of time. Not bad for “The fella that got Bournemouth relegated”.

Older fans will remember the Fairs Cup in 1969. Very few will remember the FA Cup successes of the 50s. And if you were around when we last won the top flight then you’ll have many a letter from the King/Queen. Apart from brief dalliances with success, we’ve never achieved it.

On the other hand, lose and the game gets consigned to history. Another notch on the bedpost of disappointment.

In the meantime, I hope those that represent our hopes play well both on and off the pitch. Wor Flags will stir things before kick off as they always do. And our lot in the stands will make it a damn good sound and vision for the global audience. Then it’s over to the players. A chance to achieve the unthinkable and write themselves into club history.

If you’re down in the capital, enjoy it. I’d give anything to have been there. If you’re in Newcastle tomorrow, you’ll be a stone’s throw from me in the best place for a celebration if ever there was one concerning Newcastle United.

I’ll leave you with that. It’s radio silence from me from here on in. London or Newcastle, Scotland or Australia, wherever your support is coming from- Enjoy it.