Why I support Newcastle United

Growing up in the United States, I had innumerable choices when it came to selecting my favorite club, but Newcastle United chose me.

Note: You are probably wondering what prompted this article to be written. Let me explain. Yesterday, the Twitter account @NUFC360 shed light on a so-called Newcastle United supporter who tweeted that people who are not from Newcastle are not true supporters of the club. That person has recently deleted their account, but I am here to prove that individual has it all wrong.

Supporting Newcastle United Across the Atlantic

Living in a country where football is not even close to being the most popular sport is difficult when you are so passionate about the beautiful game. As many of you can imagine, most football fans in the United States support the big boys of European football like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and so on.

So, you can imagine the reactions I get when others hear me say, “I support Newcastle United.” I was a toddler when King Kev took over at St. James’ Park, but I remember watching the Magpies in action as a child and my eyes followed Alan Shearer’s every move like the defenders who tried staying in front of him.

I started following Newcastle because of Shearer’s legendary goals and performances, but I began to admire the club because of the Toon Army. I have never seen a group of supporters consolidate loyalty and vocal expression the way that Newcastle fans did, and still do.

One particular moment that sticks with me from 16 years ago was the night the Toon Army took the San Siro by storm in a Champions League clash between Newcastle and Inter Milan, a match which ended in a 2-2 draw. This was just one of several moments that left me speechless.

One City, One Team

Another major reason why I support Newcastle is centered around the club’s identity. Most cities in England are spoiled with the presence of at least two local clubs and they live for their local derbies. Everyone knows about the derbies in London, Manchester and Liverpool, to name a few, but for the Toon Army every weekend is a derby match, regardless of the opponent.

Yes, Newcastle have the Tyne-Wear Derby with their regional rivals Sunderland, but the people in Newcastle upon Tyne live for the Magpies. Knowing that Newcastle are often geographically isolated from the other 19 clubs in the Premier League made me support the club even more. The North East has what I believe to be the most passionate fans in England and Newcastle is the grandest club in the North.

Final Words

Every Newcastle fan has their own unique reasons that shape and fuel their passion for the club. It is only natural that those who live in the city feel the direct and immediate impact of the club’s success and failures, but every fan around the world shares the same joy and frustration. With that being said, these are my final words for the individual whose tweet incited this editorial…

I may not be in Newcastle, but I AM NEWCASTLE UNITED.