Pilgrimmage to St. James' Park

When I was seven, my dad took me to my first baseball game at Connie Mack Stadium.  The thing I remember most was the almost overwhelming sea of green as we got to our seats.  Childlike wonder probably isn't possible at age 60 but the sight of the St. James' pitch after a long trip took me close.

The trip itself was largely uneventful.  We met an extremely helpful woman named Sibon, who made sure we did not miss our train connection in York (less than 10 minutes to get from on platform to the other) and waited for us on the platform in Newcastle to walk with us halfway to our hotel.  We soon found her hospitality to be the the rule in Newcastle.  Except maybe the guys on the train who were feeding Don bad info on how to be a good Newcastle fan.  When I told Don what was happening and played the Newcastle theme for them, I had instant credibility.

Outside the stadium, on the way to collect our tickets, we were accosted by a roving reporter who wanted to ask some questions about the team.  Everybody pointed to me.  I fielded questions on the keeper situation (stay with Darlow because he's in really good form even if Eliot is healthy), Lascelles (Premier League quality center back who might play for England someday) and biggest threat to Newcastle's title chances (Brighton because they were so close last year and understand the rigors of the Championship season).  Hopefully the interview was shown somewhere and that people said he knows a lot for a bloody Yank.

Onto the store to buy Newcastle swag then a picture with Sir Bobby Robson (not him personally but his statue). Then into the stadium.  Fans sitting among us were both curious and pleased about five men from the USA who had traveled far just to see their Magpies.

The place was nearly full (52k fans) and very loud.  Could barely hear the Local Hero music.  From the tap, this game belonged to Newcastle.  Numerous chances but no goals in the first twenty minutes.  Two excellent runs down the right wing followed by two quality crosses set up two goals for Dwight Gayle.  From our perch high in the Gallowgate end, we could see the plays unfold in their entirety.  Going in with a 2-0 lead we speculated that Rafa's halftime talk would be something like don't let up.  Sure enough, Gouffran added a third barely a minute into the second half.  Gayle later would add a fourth to complete his hat trick. Yeah, this was as good as could get.


Sunday included walks and/or runs around
town, then some football at Akens pub, which is named for the "interesting" man described in the picture to the right.  A totally awesome experience and we're a little sad to be leaving Newcastle on Monday.


Top picture below is the crew outside the Newcastle store.  Bottom picture below is at El Torero restaurant with the owner, a Madrid native who came to Newcastle for university and never left.


Sorry if the post looks funky but I did it on my phone.  Will check back in on Tuesday or  Wednesday.