I have a dream… | OneFootball

It was reported during the early 1950s that productivity in The Pits, Shipyards and Engineering Factories on Tyneside went up exponentially, because The Magpies all but owned the FA Cup.

As Newcastle United fans, the anticipation has often been better than the outcome.

However, during those heady days of cup glory, Newcastle United fans basked in it.

Not since the 1920s had we experienced such success and the future looked rosy, but the expectations fell flat as the Stan Seymour days evaporated.

In the 1960s we flattered to deceive but then in 1968 we gained back door entry into the Inter Cities Fairs Cup.

The Black and Whites qualified from a tenth place finish in the old First Division because of the one club per city rule. Manchester City had won the title for the second time in their history, Liverpool qualified for the Inter Cities from a third place finish, which meant Everton in fifth couldn’t qualify, Leeds in fourth place qualified along with sixth place Chelsea, Spurs were seventh and didn’t qualify because of Chelsea, West Brom qualified from eighth, Arsenal who were ninth missed out because of Chelsea, which gave The Toon the last Inter Cities place because of the tenth place finish.

The 1969 Fairs Cup triumph is etched in Geordie History, the two leg ties with Feyenoord, Sporting, Zaragoza, Vitoria Setubal and Glasgow Rangers, saw us being swept along by our magnificent supporters to the two leg final against Ujpest Dozsa.

After winning the Fairs Cup, the Geordie Faithful expected that Joe Harvey’s Boys would kick on from there, but once again the expectations were greater than reality.

Although we look back on those days with fondness, as the last success enjoyed by the incumbents of St James’ Park, let’s face it, the Inter Cities Fairs Cup doesn’t sit that high on the barometer of success.

At the time, the Fairs Cup was ranked third of the European Trophies after The European Cup (for all domestic league winners throughout Europe) and The European Cup Winners Cup (for the winners of all the various European football federations domestic cup competitions), both were ranked above the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, which later gave way to The UEFA Cup (which didn’t have the one club one city rule).

Through the years we have had brief flirtations with the three main English domestic competitions with second place finishes in the top division and final appearances in both the FA and League Cups, but again the expectations outweighed the reality.

Then a couple of years ago Eddie Howe’s lads turned a relegation certainty into Champions League qualification, along with a League Cup final appearance. Again we dreamt of success, especially after the great win against PSG, only to be cruelly let down by a run of injuries that made our treatment room look like a battlefield hospital. Again the expectation gave way to the reality, at the end of last season we didn’t even qualify for any European Competition.

As things currently stand, once again our expectation levels have been lifted, Newcastle United sit fifth in the Premier League, plus we look forward to a League Cup semi-final. In two weeks time we will embark on another FA Cup quest, beginning with a game against lower league opposition, when we play Bromley (let’s hope it’s not another Hereford).

How many times do the greatest supporters in the land have to endure the let down of expectations. Will the current squad prove to be worthy of the expectations of a support who always fulfil any expectations laid on THEM.

I have a dream, call it an expectation if you like.

In 2025, Newcastle United will win a domestic trophy for the first time since 1955 and also gain Champions League qualification via the Premier League.

In 2026 we will see further domestic cup success and a top three league finish, along with a decent run into the latter stages of the Champions League.

In 2027 we will lift the Premier League title, a full 100 years since we last won the top league, followed by winning the Champions League trophy.

My expectation, my dream, is of the St James’ Park maintenance staff having to build a new larger trophy cabinet in a redesigned, or new, St James’ Park.

Realising the expectation of the Frank Watt days of a team enjoying success after success. A team truly worthy of the expectations of the Geordie Nation and making us truly Newcastle United.