Who Put The Ball In The Mackem's Net?

I'm not sure where to start with this one, I've tried writing this a few times and don't seem to be getting very far. Write a few sentences, delete and start again, write a few different sentences and repeat.....

I can't think of many bigger games in football, either the men's or the women's game, than the Tyne Wear derby. In what has already been a historic week for the club, Newcastle United men winning the first major trophy in many fans' lifetime, could there be a better weekend for derby day to fall on? The existing Women's Championship attendance record of 15,387 set earlier this season when we won regional bragging rights at the Stadium of Light more than doubled, the club attendance record of 28,565 set against Barnsley in the Adobe Women's FA Cup on 27th November 2022, my first lasses game, surpassed, a 30,000+ crowd for the lasses for the first time ever and practically all of St. James' Park sold out bar level 7. Things you love to see. And contrary to some of the comments on social media, over 28,000 tickets had already been sold before their was any mention of displaying the Carabao Cup at the match. It promises to be such a memorable day on Tyneside, one that in years to come people will be proud to say "I was there".

Back in 1999 Ruud Gullit couldn't have got it more wrong when he suggested "It's just another game, not a derby of the city". Whilst it may not be a derby of the city it's far from just another game. As soon as the fixtures were announced for this season almost everyone's first thoughts were when do we play the mackem's at home? and will it be at St. James' ? Beating the Wearsiders, I can't put into words what that means. Their's been highs this season, there's been lows, but everything that's gone before will pale into insignificance if we get 3 points tomorrow. Football is in the Geordie DNA, it might as well be a religion up here. Everything revolves around the football club and nothing is more meaningful than beating our closest, geographical, rivals. I've had conversations all week with people at work who've never been to a lasses match but are aware it's derby day this weekend. A big NUFC win and that's all people talk about for days after. Buying a paper, going for coffee, going to the pub.... football is EVERYWHERE in Newcastle and no result gets more attention than beating tomorrow's opponents. 

Blyth's own Big Dan Burn has rightly become a national hero this past week. I'll come back to this in a moment but, whatever else a player might do in their time at the club, a big performance or a winner against Sunderland guarantees a player immortality amongst the fans and a place in Geordie folklore forever. 

As much as I want a home win tomorrow I have to compliment Sunderland as a club. For many years they have been the giants of Northeast women's football. Not only have current and former Lady Mags Emma Kelly, Charlotte Potts, Liv Watt, Katie Barker  Georgia Gibson, Daisy Burt, Grace Boyes and Tyler Dodds previously represented Sunderland they gave career starts to future England captain Steph Houghton, Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott, Euro 2022 winner and current Lioness Lucy Bronze, WSL appearance record holder Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth. I may not have any love for our regional rivals but I have to give them their flowers, they've done well by their women's team.

But back to the previous paragraph. I can't talk about the Women's Tyne & Wear derby without mentioning Wor Mackem Slayer, "Super" Beth Lumsden. She may not have been born in Newcastle but for what she did at the Stadium of Light on 13th October 2024 she is forever more a Geordie, not even an adopted one. In all honesty, I think I was happier reading yesterday that Beth had signed a long term contract with the club than when the final whistle went at Wembley last weekend. My favourite footballer, a very special player with a tremendous future ahead of her, hopefully taking us to the top of the WSL, I have everything crossed she'll once again put the ball in the mackem's net tomorrow all being well in front of the infamous Gallowgate End. 

On a personal note, I don't know if you'll ever read this Beth but thank you for signing my ticket from the SoL match and my Wor Flags "mackem slayer" flag. Never in my almost 40 years following NUFC did I think a contract extension for a female footballer would overshadow us finally winning a trophy but, honestly, I was so pleased to read you're staying. 2025 has certainly not been a great year so far for me, this news hasn't half cheered me up. Enjoy the match. 

So, to wrap things up, I know this hasn't been my best written blog, it's a bit rambling and I'm not sure I've done the occasion justice but I hope everyone has a great day at the Cathedral on the Hill tomorrow, all 30,000+ get behind wor lasses and create an incomparable Geordie atmosphere, there's no bad feeling like there was last weekend, it's a memorable match and we show the Championship, the WSL and the whole country that the loyalest football supporters the world has ever had love their women's team just as much as the lads. Can't wait to get in to Strawberry Corner tomorrow. We don't do quiet. 

35,628 at the Emirates tonight for Arsenal vs Liverpool. Tier 2 Newcastle United just might achieve the highest attendance in English Women's Football this weekend. 

HOWAY THE LASSES.