A Geordie by association only I'm afraid. My mother was born in Burnopfield and my father in Consett so critically speaking neither of them are Geordies and in fact surrounded by the hated Mackems. My cousin, dare I say it....is a Sunderland fan, spit, what a bitter taste I have after that dirty word. My parents emigrated to Yorkshire and that's where your's truly comes in. I'm a hybrid Yorkshireman who worships the Toon! I currently live in North Carolina and my two sons, both avid Toon fans, living in Chicago. They both go to an Irish bar every Saturday/Sunday to watch the games.

My one claim to fame is after traveling to England 3 years ago I was playing golf at Slaley Hall. Having a few pints with a fine lunch consisting of mammouth Yorkshire pudding and Beef and who should I see getting ready to play 18 holes.....the man himself, the messiah of football, Big Al! He was playing with Gary Speed and Shay Given. I was playing with that Sunderland cousin of mine but even he had to get Big Al's autograph on our scorecard. What a moment!

I've never had the opportunity to watch Newcastle play in St James but only in Leicester when I was a student. Been around the stadium many times and only dreamed. My father actually went to the 1955 FA Cup final to watch the Toon beat Man City. He recalls watching Jackie Milburn, in his eyes the greatest ever striker in England, score a goal. Actually scored within 45 seconds of kickoff. For his trip to London my Mother made him a monster black and white rosette. He traveled on a coach damn full of light blue Man City fans! After a bunch of choice words they had a fine time. Not sure that would happen today :-)

Mark Telford