Even though I read The Mag every day, I only sometimes submit articles. Usually, this happens when I have a burning question in my head and I open a beer on the spur of the moment, write (or rather, type with my fingers on the computer), and then hit “send” to feel better.
To begin with, I must admit that I write under a pen name.
When I first began contributing essays many years ago, I was a Northumbria Police officer in service, therefore it seemed logical for my identity and job to remain anonymous.
The primary motivation was to avoid being singled out and mistreated due to my line of work. Keeping myself out of trouble with the Senior Management Team (SMT) for whatever I may write under my own name was a secondary motivation.
I’m happy to have retired after serving my entire police career and no longer need to utilize acronyms like SMT.
Throughout my service, I worked the streets during the miners’ strike, the Tyneside riots in 1991, and several football games at St. James’ and Roker with the SPG. I was also posted to some of Tyneside’s most impoverished neighbourhoods.
Like most others, I discovered from life experiences that there are always some areas that are safer after dark whether traveling or on vacation in a foreign city. But one thing I did learn from working in law enforcement is that people’s fears of crime are frequently more intense than the actual circumstances on the streets. While I acknowledge that heinous crimes are done on a daily basis, the great majority of people go about their everyday lives without ever experiencing criminal activity.
This brings me to this weekend’s Sela Cup Newcastle United friendlies at St. James’ Park; two games where, finally, parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts can purchase tickets to bring young children to the game and possibly start them on the lifelong Newcastle United journey that most readers have experienced. Those poor kids!
Not to get into politics or the right or wrong of what is going on in society, but during the past week or so, there have been some reprehensible sights on the streets of numerous UK towns. Fortunately, Newcastle has not seen a recurrence of similar spectacles. Though I don’t use Twitter, X, Instagram, or any other social media, I have friends who do, and it appears that a lot is promoted or encouraged there.
It is a truth that a lot of the families I know who bought tickets for this weekend have now chosen not to go to the Newcastle United friendly due to the possibility of problems. Furthermore, who am I to contest their decision given that it is theirs? They could be entirely accurate, and it would be advisable to stay away from any large-scale disruptions that are expected to occur in Newcastle on Friday or Saturday.
It is also a truth that, on a typical matchday, everything in the City could be calm (although with slightly louder pitched voices yelling in the ground).
It could just be a little less scary for a tiny child since I’d also put a good amount of money on the idea that there won’t be as many drunk people screaming and cursing in the stands.
Additionally, I would wager that there won’t be any possible unrest near the football field during the games, especially on Saturday.
We have now regained our life after being under lockdown for over a year because to COVID-19.
Decide for yourself whether or not to take
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