The Seven-Year Itch

Last time Magnus made the trip from Norway to watch United, he vowed he wouldn't leave it as long next time. It didn't work out that way.

The last time I wrote one of these was in February 2019. We had just gone to see Miggy’s debut for the club, as the Magpies beat Huddersfield 2–0. That was my first visit to the North East and Newcastle upon Tyne in seven years—far too long. So I made myself a promise it wouldn’t be another seven years before the next one.

Well… that didn’t quite go to plan.

Luckily, my oldest boy is also a Toon fanatic. So, for a combined Christmas and 16th birthday present, I got us a trip back to the Toon. The best date was the first weekend in May, so the match that stood out was the home game against Brighton on May 2nd, 2026. Seven years and about three months since the last visit.

Now, the worst thing about being a Toon supporter living in Norway (aside from the awful results this season) is how difficult and expensive it is to get there. There are no direct flights from the eastern part of the country, so we either have to take connecting flights—which I really don’t like—or fly to England and then travel by train. I opted for the latter.

We flew into Manchester Airport in the evening and spent the night there. The next day we took the train to York, then finally a connecting train to Newcastle. By Thursday midday, we arrived at our destination.

This time I chose the Royal Station Hotel, which is lovely. On our last visit, Alex from True Faith kindly offered us accommodation, which we really appreciated. After checking in, it was time for some shopping—Eldon Square, Grey Street, and Grainger Market are must-visits for me. And of course, The Back Page, where I picked up a Woltemade scarf for myself and a Bruno scarf for my son.

Friday

On Friday, I had booked us a stadium tour, something Jonathan really wanted to experience. It’s a great way to spend a few hours and learn more about the club’s history and the stadium. I didn’t know that a lone magpie symbolizes sorrow—perhaps that explains the lack of success under the old badge? Shame I didn’t know that before getting it tattooed on my arm just a couple of weeks earlier. Ah well—I still like it.

After the tour, it was time to visit the club shop. One thing that had changed for me since last time: in 2019 I didn’t want to spend any money there because of Mike Ashley’s ownership. I know PIF have their critics, but I don’t think they’re making their fortune from the NUFC club shop. We managed to get out without going overboard—just a Bruno poster, a small kids’ kit, a water bottle, and a cap.

After a few pints at The Strawberry, our match tickets finally came through on my phone. As you probably know, getting tickets for a home game is almost impossible unless you’re already a season ticket holder, and the cheapest hospitality tickets start at £240—and those were sold out too. After unsuccessfully trying to get tickets through some True Faith contacts, I had to go against my principles and buy through a third-party site. They took a £100 commission, but at least we got seats in the Gallowgate—the best part of the ground, in my opinion.

Saturday

I usually spend matchdays in the pub, but with a 16-year-old in tow, that wasn’t an option. So we went for a walk in Leazes Park, which I’d actually never visited before, despite having been to the city several times. Probably due to the pub routine.

I struggled to get a stable internet connection on my phone, and after trying to meet up with Alex and a fellow Norwegian, we went into the stadium about an hour and a half before kickoff. That meant I could sneak in a few pints inside while Jonathan watched the players warm up.

Our seats were in the lower Gallowgate, just to the right of the goal—really close to the pitch. We could clearly hear the roar from the standing section and had a great view of the flag displays. Credit to Wor Flags—brilliant as always.

Given our recent form, we didn’t dare hope for much—especially after seeing the team sheet. I thought this was Eddie Howe throwing in the towel. So we simply hoped for at least one home goal.

We got more than that.

Bruno looked back to his best, Osula was too quick for the Brighton defence, and Dan Burn was an absolute beast in the air. I thought the Seagulls would equalise, but Harvey Barnes sealed the win. We left the ground ecstatic.

I’m sorry to report there wasn’t much celebrating afterward; we were both completely knackered. We spent the evening in the hotel room watching EFL highlights before finishing the day with Match of the Day to see our beloved Newcastle again.

On Sunday, we had to leave our train early in Preston due to an accident that shut down the line. We barely made it to Manchester Airport in time, thanks to a kind English couple who helped us get an Uber.

Thank you so much, Jeff and Lynette. Needless to say, I won’t be taking the train to/from Manchester again.

We had a fantastic time in Newcastle upon Tyne. It’s such a wonderful city.

And we’ll be back—hopefully long before another seven years passes.

Magnus Møller

About the author:

Magnus Møller, long-suffering NUFC supporter for 30 years, from Norway. Former True Faith contributor, former editor of Toon Army Norway’s fanzine, former co-host of a Norwegian NUFC podcast, and current board member of Toon Army Norway.