Carabao Cup final: Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe hails city’s ‘truly incredible’ passion and support for team
It’s been 68 years since Newcastle United tasted glory in a major cup competition.
Since their triumph in the 1955 FA Cup, life in this country and the city has dramatically changed, but one thing has endured – the love so many local people have for the team. A passion that is at fever pitch as the side take on Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final today.
The sense of anticipation in the city was not lost on their head coach, Eddie Howe, who spoke to Sky News at a media day held at the club’s training facility earlier in the week.
“From the people that I meet around the city and any interactions I have with supporters, whether that’s 6 o’clock in the morning outside the training ground or when I’m leaving,” he said.
“The passion here and the support for their team is truly incredible.
“So, I think the players know the responsibilities that they have, to be the best.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates the team’s win against Leicester City in this year’s Carabao Cup quarter final
The side today will be captained by England international Kieran Trippier, who has played 40 times for England, including in the 2020 European Cup Final at Wembley, where today’s final will be held.
Despite his experience at the highest level, Trippier, 32, says playing in front of Newcastle’s fanatical fanbase still amazes him.
“You don’t even realise till you actually play for Newcastle, how passionate the fans are, how crazy the atmosphere is,” he said, “even I sometimes get butterflies when we’re walking out.”
Kieran Trippier celebrates winning a penalty shootout against Crystal Palace in the third round of the Carabao Cup last November
That fervour was on full display at The Back Page, a memorabilia shop a short walk away from the club’s St James’s Park Stadium.
There, the shelves are lined with trinkets from the club’s past, from vintage shirts to old match day programmes and scarves.
Even if they’ve been nearly men for nearly seven decades, Newcastle United has a rich history – a fact the television screens in the shop remind you of, as they play highlights on repeat.
This Wednesday, it was packed with fans looking for more memorabilia to add to their collection before the final.
Magpies fans pictured at the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi final against Southampton in January
‘Newcastle United is in our blood here’
Anas Hassan, who regularly travels from his home in Fife, Scotland to Tyneside to see the team play, said he was feeling “warm in the heart”, about the club’s recent run of good form.
“Knowing there’s a unity here, people are behind the team and want them to win their first major English Trophy since 1955. I think obviously, the excitement levels are going up,” added Hassan, who said he’d be in Newcastle for the celebrations next week if they can win the cup today.
Meanwhile Stephen Cook, who works at the shop, put it simply: “Newcastle United is in our blood here, it matters so much.”
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
The context around Newcastle United’s success this season, challenging for a top four finish in the Premier League which would mean qualification for next season’s Champions League, hasn’t come without controversy though.
Last year the club was taken over by a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – a process that saw questions raised about alleged human rights abuses linked to the Saudi Arabian regime.
The debate around that will continue, but the shop window displays and lines of fans waiting for a glimpse of the players on the way to the training ground this week are reminders that the ties between the club and the community are longstanding and strong.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has hailed fans ‘truly incredible’ passion ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final
‘Everyone wants them to win’
In the city centre, you could sense the excitement among people of all ages.
An elderly woman said: “It’s fabulous what it does for the city, everybody wants them to win, there’s a buzz about the place, which is always good.”
A young mother summed up the love a place renowned for its grit has for the beautiful game: “Now we’ve got a team that’s come back soaring, the magic’s back.
“So, what does Newcastle as a team mean to Newcastle as a place? It’s magic.”
A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.
“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”
Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield
Read more from Sky News:
Fresh appeal over student’s murder
100 firefighters battle flats blaze
The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.
A “British man” has died after being beaten and set on fire by a mob in Ecuador, according to reports by media in the South American country.
According to reports, the man – who has not been officially identified – had been detained by police after being accused of being involved in a fatal shooting.
Ecuadorian news outlet Ecuavisa reported that the man had been taken to a police station Playas del Cuyabeno, a remote village in the Amazon rainforest.
While there, a group broke into the station and took the man away. He was then set on fire in the street, it is reported, and died from his burns.
The incident reportedly happened in the Playas del Cuyabeno area of Sucumbios province
Another local report, from EXTRA.ec, said that specialist police units had been slow to arrive due to the geographical conditions of the area – which is accessible by river.
Read more from Sky News:
IDF finds ‘failings’ over attack on aid workers
Pope blesses Easter crowds from popemobile
According to reports, police officers at the station apparently decided they could not intervene when the mob arrived out of concerns for their own safety.
It is understood the UK Foreign Office is following up reports about the incident and working with local authorities to confirm the details.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway