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Why beating Man Utd meant so much to Newcastle fans

Why beating Man Utd meant so much to Newcastle fans

BBC News15-04-2025
I cannot overstate to you quite how important it is to Newcastle United fans for us to beat Manchester United.It is true that Manchester United fans might not consider Newcastle their rivals per se (well, how can they this season... rivals normally sit close together in the league table) but Newcastle fans have considered Manchester United the thorn in their side for a long time.This goes back to the 1990s, when Kevin Keegan's "Entertainers" were routinely thwarted by Manchester United and unable to secure the top spot in the Premier League.It was compounded in 1999 when we lost the FA Cup final to them.For younger fans, it was the 2023 League Cup final loss. It was last year, when we finished the season so close to getting European football at St James' Park again - ahead of them on goal difference - only for Manchester United to win the FA Cup and take the coveted spot.So then, you can understand the deep, deep joy we all felt on Sunday as we, for the first time since 1931, did the double over Manchester United. It was fitting, too, that Wor Flags did a Kevin Keegan-themed display in three of the four stands before the game. How far we have come!And how far we still have to go. This week sees us making up a game (against Crystal Palace at home) and going away to Aston Villa.Neither game will be easy, but we are in excellent form. Our eyes are on the prize of Champions League football, and the team look like they understand the assignment.All eyes on Harvey Barnes, who has taken the opportunity to turn into an end-of-season goal machine, as we continue to right the wrongs of the past and end the season in glory.Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
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