We always have each other

I hope you will forgive me for being sentimental, over the top even. I write this going through some real life struggles. I write this with back to back Sky Sports documentaries about Kevin Keegan and The Entertainers on in the background.

I write this struggling to understand my feelings about Eddie Howe going and the current state of Newcastle United. I write this as a man getting older, and feeling it.

I didn’t know how I felt when my daughter broke the news that Eddie Howe was gone. My first words were “oh you’re joking”, so on reflection I was probably gutted.

I admit to growing frustrated at what I perceived to be a stagnant team falling behind, due to a manager who stubbornly stook to his system despite its apparent failings. But I still viewed Howe in the same company as King Kev and Sir Bobby, the only three managers in my lifetime that I have truly loved.

The memories of the last five years will remain with me forever. Eddie Howe’s black and white army gave something to me and my daughter which brought us back together, my daughter who was being taken from me by teenage, by boyfriend, by growing up. My eternal thanks to the man for that.

The way he has gone about things, the manner of his departure, has made my already high opinion of the man soar. He didn’t wait for a massive pay-off, he held the fort and kept things together until he knew there was a successor. That is absolute class and the mark of the man.

As much as I’ve loved his footballing side over the years, I love that dignity and honour even more. An absolute class act, worthy of Keegan and Robson.

In reflecting, I have come to realise something. Something that is THE most important thing. We are the Toon Army and we are United.

Depending on your age, we have all been through the same experiences, good and bad. For those of my years, the promotion to the Premier League in 1993. The Entertainers era of glorious failure, but love. The post-Keegan years of false hope and disappointment under Dalglish and Gullit. The cursed Ashley era, and the relegations.

Then the joy of Ashley going, and the new era, back in the Champions League, Sam Fender concerts celebrating Newcastle United at St James’ Park, the sheer joy and relief of the trophy win. Then the apparent stagnation, the disappointment at heroes like Isak (at the time the rat!) Gordon, Tonali, and probably Bruno leaving us. Then Eddie Howe going, one of the Toon holy trinity, and the confusion that resulted.

So much change, so much contrast, so many ups and downs. Constant churn, constant change. But not amongst us. We remain, us supporters. We stick around through good and bad, through the years, the Toon Army, rich or poor, old or young.

This is what unites us, as we embark upon yet another new era. Let’s hope it’s a great one.

Proud to be a Geordie.

We celebrate, whinge, fight, but we do it all together. God bless Eddie Howe, Kevin Keegan, and Newcastle United. And here’s to the future, together.

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