WHAT I FORGOT TO MENTION...

... Yesterday, in the aftermath of yet another gutless show by Newcastle ( I can't say 'performance' because that would hint erroneously at a bit of effort) was that the saddest aspect about the afternoon was discovering an empty seat next to the young teacher who sits in front of us and who goes to every home game with her Dad. They share the same ritual at every game. Always having a flask of coffee and a chocolate biscuit at half time. We've got to know them well enough to have a good chat when we all arrive at the ground, and have bumped into them in Morpeth on occasions. But the seat was empty because Sarah's Dad has died since the last home game. A routine operation, carried out successfully, led to a heart attack from which he didn't recover. She was there with her brother yesterday. Other fans who sit close by were as devastated as we were when she told us the news. It puts the rest of the afternoon into some sort of perspective.