I can’t believe it. The 70 year wait is over. Newcastle United have won a domestic trophy!!
It’s been an emotional 24 hours to put it mildly and the celebrating won’t stop. Whether you were at Wembley – which was electric, emotional and dominated by black and white all day – watching on your sofa, in the crowds around St James’ or anywhere around the world, we just witnessed a moment in Newcastle history. A moment that will live with three generations of Toon fans. Finally, for once, this was our time and we grabbed it with both hands.
Sat alongside my dad and brother amongst 32,000 Mags, I shed tears after both goals and cried from sheer joy, relief and unparalleled euphoria when that full time whistle went. Everywhere you looked there was raw emotion, strangers hugging and utter disbelief at what we’d finally witnessed after 70 years of hurt.
A man sat next to me was 73-years-old and said this might be his last chance to witness a trophy as the players came out and his eyes glazed over. 98 minutes later, we were celebrating one of the great Newcastle United moments, where years of bottled up hope, hurt and fear we’d never see the day were released in one almighty roar.
The momentum shift we saw at the start of last week felt significant and we took that into the final, and then some. We were everything we had to be to win. Aggressive, brave, disciplined, determined and the fans delivered too, backing the lads from first minute to last to drown out the red side of Wembley.
Howe also got it spot on. He clearly worked on managing emotions in the build up to the game – a behind the scenes message was ‘play the game, not the occasion’ – and his selections, which all worked in a 1-0 win over West Ham last Monday, were justified once again.
Pope was superb – his save to deny Jones from making it 2-1 on the hour mark was huge – and Livramento was incredible at both ends, bombing down the line while keeping Salah as quiet as I’ve ever seen him at the other end.
Barnes stepped up to in Gordon’s absence with driving runs to stretch Liverpool’s right side and our midfield three were absolutely colossal, as Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno outworked, outmuscled and outmaneuvered a Liverpool three that couldn’t cope with their pace, power, skill and intensity.
Bruno was superb and got the better of Mac Allister, Tonali was all action and Joelinton’s power was summed up midway through the first half as he bullied Quansah off the ball before giving it large in front of 32,000 Mags who drowned out the red side Wembley for the first 45. Not for the first time, Big Joe was the tone-setter and muscle behind an almighty Newcastle display.
Trippier was also excellent, rolling back the years with some dogged pieces of defending to snuff out Diaz; who would’ve immediately knew he was in for a tough afternoon. His calm headers back to Pope in the opening exchanges helped settle us down and he showed that same sort of warrior spirit that helped blow away Arsenal in that semi-final at St James’.
Last but certainly not least, the centre-backs. Schar had his best game in months after a tricky period and Dan Burn was a man mountain, capping of a dream week with the goal (which was some header!) that kickstarted our historic win and a gigantic defensive effort.
Burn’s opener had us dreaming and Isak’s strike, which came via a brilliant Tino cross and Murphy knock down, was THE moment it felt like our 70 year wait would finally come to an end. Iconic celebrations, tears of joy, a mighty roar and scenes of sheer euphoria followed as the full time whistle went.
Me, my dad and my brother came together in one big huddle of ecstasy and emotion. ‘We did it!’ I shouted in pure elation and disbelief while my eyes were full of more happy tears. The players knew what it meant. Bruno cried during his post-match interview on the pitch, Joelinton roared and Howe’s trophy lift was iconic and the perfect reward for his fierce determination to turn us into winners over the past year. You couldn’t help feel a sense of pride that this group of hard-working, close-knit and lovable Mags had delivered history before their time on Tyneside was up.
Whether it’s our high-profile post-takeover signings we’ve grown to love like Isak, Bruno and Tonali, the boyhood fans like Burn, Murphy and Longstaff or those who have been here through thick and thin such as Schar or Lascelles (who held the trophy in our dressing room photo), this was the moment they all deserved.
This was our moment. 16th March 2025; the day years of hurt ended. The day legends were made. The day Eddie Howe established himself as a trophy-winning manager. The day the Toon Army took over Wembley and witnessed that magical trophy lift.
Newcastle United; 2025 Carabao Cup winners!
Olly, God bless you – you called it just right! 2-1 you crazily predicted. Who’s crazy now!
That win was for all of you who bring us this excellent blog, written for no personal gain and in your own time, and for all of us who read it, for better or worse. It was for all supporters the world over, from the Tyne to the USA, to Australia, to South Africa…..for the young and old. For those, like me, who remember watching us beat Ferencvaros on grainy black and white TV.
Most of all, it was for those who are, unfortunately, no longer with us.
I felt it growing during the day – that feeling of confidence. As I cycled in the morning I fantasised that we were 2-0 up and they scored an injury time goal to make it a horribly nervous ending, but we held on. No, that wouldn’t happen, would it.
As my wife and I later took our seats in front of the TV I looked at her and with a steely face, said “let’s do this”.
As the camera focused on Dan Burn before THAT corner, I said “come on Dan, do what you should do from every corner and never do” and he bloody well did it. He bloody well did it!
My wife and I stood up for the few minutes. At the final whistle she burst into tears and threw herself, ruddy-faced with emotion, into my disbelieving arms. An hour later we went round to a neighbour’s house and had a delightfully drunken evening, four of us singing The Blaydon Races at the top of our voices.
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
The Panther(Quote)
An amazing day and amazing performance from all. Was so emotional not least because I wish I could of celebrated with my Son.
I like to think he had a word with the almighty Olly
Great post match write up by the way.
kimtoon(Quote)
Typo – please read ” the last few minutes”. Sorry!
The Panther(Quote)
I was watching from my sofa.
Couple of random things. A couple from Cheshire, near me, said that they saw two magpies as they left their house which they took to mean we would score twice.
The half time stats. Liverpool shots 0, Zero, Nil.
Sean Neave on the bench.
Great game. Big Joe, BDB, Eddie, everyone.
PremAndUp(Quote)
i was there in 55 to see us win,what a long wait for another one
icedog(Quote)
Amazing Ice, did you watch this one with pup?
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Os9kGlRo1U&ab_channel=TheRestIsFootball
kimtoon(Quote)
No pupis in the isle of wright but he saw game,how’s Helan these days days?
Icedog(Quote)
Just incredible. I’m out in South Africa visiting my birth father and we watched it together with my wife on his tiny old fashioned TV. What a match. And so chuffed for Burn. A local lad who’s fought his way up through the ranks to a pinnacle of Wembley final win and a first England call up. He must be Euphoric.
I wish I’d been able to record it on my big Uk tv to watch again when I get back. That win is a huge monkey off our back. Eddie’s tactics were spot on.
I’d love to know what the Fat Man was thinking watching that. Assuming he watched it. It was in his grasp but he abused it and bruised it. Had he put money into it, well I’m just glad he sold us to PIF.
Over the moon!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Hope you all had incredible days on Sunday watching the game and drinking it all in – tears were shed, I’m sure!
Appreciate the comments on the match report. I was sat in my hotel room writing it up in the early hours of Monday morning while my dad and brother were sleeping after hours of tears, celebrations and sheer disbelief at what we’d just witnessed!
What a day. The monkey’s off our back now, we’ve finally done it, Howe’s a trophy-winning manager and the players have got the moment all of their efforts thoroughly deserve.
Here’s to more, hopefully!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Ice, Hazel is fine, she’s been a bit up and down since we lost Lew but seems better at the moment.
Gilly, I was thinking the same thing about Ashley on Sunday , he bought us for all the wrong reasons.
kimtoon(Quote)
I still can’t believe we did it on Sunday – I’ve been a mess!!.
I’m not emotionally equipped for winning!! Give me a good relegation battle and I know where I’m at – not this 😂😂.
What a way to win it as well – we were bloody brilliant!!.
So many people spoke about Howe being the stepping stone manager but he completely out done Arteta in the semis & done Slot in the final. He’s absolutely in the mix!!.
Everything about our club, our city & Geordies across the globe – absolute class man.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m still buzzing and reading every match report I see.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What was so special was the manner of the win, no lucky fluke like a ball going in off someones **** or something. A real battling performance, proper cup final and no one can say we didn’t deserve it.
Any potential signings from abroad would of looked at that display, looked at the fans and the atmosphere and surely want a bit of that.
Interesting fact, Dan burn scored a beaut of a header for Yeovil town in the lge one play off final at Wembley 12 years ago, he’s got history. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Big Dan Burn starts for England, but Tino and Gordon on the bench. Go on big Dan!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What’s happened to the blog chat? ?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Site was better when the team wasn’t!
Must be we just like moaning!
Only kidding!
nutmag(Quote)