No, I’m not making a bid for one of those super cute scarf pin badges Lee Marshall, but I am using the acronym to express my immense pride, emotion and privilege to have been part of a tiny bit of history yesterday.
If ever an occasion showed what this fantastic Club of ours can achieve surely yesterday was it. Yes, we have Eddie Howe, yes we have Big Dan Burn, Tripps and the Braziliaint duo of Bruno and Joe but we have Wor Lasses too and they deserve our praise and plaudits and then some.
Eddie and his magnificent bunch of men on and off the pitch have led us to safety and increased he boundaries of our dreams for the Men’s team no end. There is now a sense that we’re on the verge of something big and have finally got our Club back.
Meanwhile bubbling away under the radar at times but finally bursting through in dramatic style are The Lady Mags. They, perhaps more than anyone at the Club epitomise the effect our new ownership has had.
An FA Cup tie back in January against an Ipswich side top of the division above drew 2,700 fans to Kingston Park and The Lasses didn’t deserve to go down to a 1 – 0 defeat. But in front of that huge crowd, with Mehrdad Ghodoussi in attendance and in their bright shiny new Castore kit there was a sense the tide was turning.
Yesterday proved that in abundance and promises so much more. Kick-off delayed 15 minutes to get all of the 22,134 fans in, yes, read that again, 22,134! Amanda joining her husband and even Eddie came along to be homage to Wor Lasses. The sky is now their limit and considering the WSL is shown on Sky Sports, it really is.
Unfortunately, despite only losing twice all season and finishing second in the league, The Lasses can’t get promoted. They have to dig deep, re-group in the summer and come out all guns a-blazing next season. I for one can’t see them being where they are now for long.
The torch has been lit and carried by these brilliant bearers and what happened yesterday will live long in the memory. A centre forward in Katie Barker who’s from Wallsend and scored the first goal. Skipper Brooke Cochrane and the other goal scorers Georgia Gibson and Beth Guy are all huge NUFC fans so what a moment for them all playing in the hallowed turf.
For me it was emotional. I have had a lifelong football ambition to watch a game from the Press Box and St. James. That dream came true for me yesterday. I thank Nova Radio NE and NUFC Women for making a 61 and a half years young daft Geordie supporters’ dream come true.
I’m not afraid to say when the Lasses walked out to the sound of ‘Local Hero’ blaring and that magnificent support waving the flags and cheering them on I shed tears and not just a few. When Katie and Brooke scored there were more and talking and interviewing them afterwards it was hard to keep it all together. Good job I’m not a professional!
But in the end what this all showed is what is possible. That crowd, 22,134 if you need reminding was actually bigger than the crowd at Watford v Burnley in the Premiership the day before and the biggest crowd in Women’s football this season even outstripping any WSL game.
It shows what these new owners have brought to the Club. It shows to what lengths the city and the region will go too to support Wor own and it goes to show what can and WILL happen when we are all United As One.
Jeff – it’s truly remarkable make. The lass I work with was also there with her young daughter – who supported Man City ladies. But as under 18s we’re free & adults only £3 for Wor Lasses my friend took her along.
As a result a conversion has happened and her daughter now desperately wants a season ticket for Wor Lasses next season – I think she said it would have been £25 for adults & £10 for kids – cheap as chips!!.
I know it’s 4th tier woman’s football, but that makes it all the more impressive imo.
If Mandy promotes our ladies team the right way – and I’m absolutely certain she will – then I think that’s just the start of our breaking records mate. I can see us packing out SJP for the ladies matches too.
You hit the nail on the head mate. It’s PRIDE – a word not known to the region for such a long time.
I was fortunate to be there when Sir John started to work his magic & introduce the rugby, basketball & ice hockey to the region – whilst growing the football club & expanding the stadium. It was GREAT times for the city & the whole area around Newcastle to be fair.
When PIF took over it was my vehement hope that they would bring that feeling back to the area – that over heavy investment to the mens first team in all honesty.
This is definitely a sign that that is their plan, and I’m honestly as buzzing as you mate – and a great many more I’m sure!!
Sharpy17(Quote)