Paul Dixon has been following Newcastle United for more than 35 years, 17 of which have been as a season ticket holder in the Gallowgate End at St James’ Park. Each week in his column, he takes a wry look at all things football – from a black-and-white perspective.
ACCORDING to a study from the Mental Health Foundation, on why we follow a particular team:
“People will continue to support their team even if the team lets them down. This would suggest that the psychological value derived from this social identity is greater than that derived from a good or bad performance.”
As a lesson in the blindingly obvious, it would be harder to beat than Max Mosley on a stag night.
It doesn’t, however, explain defeats to Brighton.
This football club infuriates the hell out of me. I know I should be immune to this by now, after all, with the latest Cup defeat in mind, I remember us going to Old Trafford after losing at Hereford, and winning in the league.
We probably weren’t going to win the wretched trophy, but for heaven’s sake, why can’t we at least lose to a decent team?
We can’t fault the team selection. We created enough chances to win, but it highlights the fact that whilst we have decent first XI, it’s fairly ordinary after that, as well as they’re doing in the league.
There isn’t a game-changer on the bench. Fortunately we have another game quite quickly, Blackburn tomorrow night, and it would be nice to see the Dembas.
Saturday also gave me another reason to hate Brighton, as if I needed one. I had a horrendous 28-hour round trip to the old Goldstone Ground in the late 70s, at the time it was going to be accorded the honour of being ‘listed’ . . . by the Albanian prisons dept.
We lost 2-0, our only incursions into their half to kick off. No drinks taken beforehand, and hustled back onto the Armstrong Galley within seconds of the final whistle.
A 600-mile journey with no prospect of scoring, which pretty much set the tone for my singles holidays at the time. I did, though, if memory serves, win a photo of Alan Gowling in the raffle.
This result also completed an unwanted double. A thumping at Fulham to commemorate my birthday, and a Cup exit to commemorate my wedding anniversary.
I’ll now have to go and get my long-suffering wife a present.
I’m sure I’ve got a photo of Alan Gowling somewhere . . .
blackadderboy@yahoo.co.uk
