The end of an era?

Good times.

When Newcastle United were relegated to The Championship in 2009 my world was turned upside down. Like many readers on this blog this football club is my life.

If we win on a Saturday I’m great company, I get really proud of the lads and I’m on a massive high. When we lose I’m slightly less pleasant and normally need a bit of time to get over the defeat. As drastic as that sounds that is how seriously I take football and supporting my team.

I remember being at home when we were relegated as I couldn’t get tickets for the game at Villa Park. When the final whistle blew and I saw Steven Taylor kick the ball away in anger I remember the feeling of disgust, sickness and dread.

My mobile phone wouldn’t stop ringing with people who couldn’t wait to have a pop and mock me. Of course the people who were ringing to give me stick are the usual plastic, armchair fans. Liverpool and United ‘supporters’ who haven’t ever attended a match before. You know the types.

The fact is I saw the sorry state the club were in at the time and although the relegation was almost inevitable and far from surprising it still hurt to learn we were going to be playing our football in the second tier of English football.

To make matters worse I strongly believed that we would struggle in the Championship. With a lack of stability seemingly from top to bottom how would we possibly bounce back? I certainly didn’t think we would be crowned champions. Call me pessimistic but I thought we were on the downward spiral.

I was forced to eat my words as the club were able to keep hold of high profile players who genuinely wanted to right the wrongs of the relegation season. We saw a clutch of senior players that rejected the chance to walk away from a sinking ship and instead hold the group together and get Newcastle United out of the mess it was in.

Many people, admittedly myself included, were sceptical about Chris Hughton when he was originally placed in caretaker charge. After all Chris had found himself in caretaker charge on a few occasions in the top flight and didn’t fair that well.

Luckily Chris also made me eat humble pie as he led the team back to the Premier League at first time of asking. Unlike some of the ego maniacs the club had employed prior to Chris, he had a modest and mild mannered approach to management, which earned him a lot of respect .

In the end the Championship season was a joy for us to watch as fans. It was nice to see a group of players care so much for the cause and each other. None more so than former captain Kevin Nolan. Whatever really happened with his transfer to West Ham, the player will still hold great affection for the club and it’s magnificent fans.

For me the sale of Kevin yesterday felt like the end of an era at Newcastle United. An era that I enjoyed and felt positive about. Newcastle are now under different management and are seemingly trying to change the type of player they want to attract to the club. It seems as though we are starting a new journey.

No longer are we under Chris’ management, no longer is a local lad banging in goals on a regular basis and no longer is Kevin Nolan our captain. With Alan Smith, another influential voice in the dressing room, set to leave and even question marks over the future of Steve Harper it just really feels like the end of a chapter.

Those mentioned above are people who showed a bit of loyalty when the club were relegated. They were a huge part of a dressing room with big heart and tremendous team spirit and for that I’m grateful to all of them. I just hope the excellent team spirit remains despite the loss of some big characters.

Onwards and upwards, No matter who is pulling on a black and white jersey in the future they will have my full backing. If indeed we can expect a new era at St James’ Park, let’s hope it’s a successful one.

If only to stop me moaning!