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Another treat for Callum today – a behind the scenes tour of St James Park. We were all looking forward to it! We caught the Metro from Hebburn into the city rather than battle with the traffic and find somewhere to park.
We found Alan Shearer’s statue and the old NUFC gates.
We started on the 2nd Floor – the waiting area with cabinets full of club memorabilia. Lots relating to legend Sir Bobby Robson including his SPOTY award and his CBE.
From here, our guide – Carole – took us to the highest point in the stands to look out onto the pitch.
We then moved down a level to the best seats in the house (boxes excepting) and where the big bosses sat, watch the match from the stands looking out over the half way line. Reserved seats for the late Sir Bobby Robson and his wife – which can only be used by his family. Also a life-time seat given to Steve Harmison, an honour for the part he part in England winning the Ashes in 2005. There was also a seat reserved for the England Manager should he ever come to a match!
We then headed back inside to take a peek inside one of the boxes, at the function rooms and then onto the dressing rooms. Away first – fairly basic and like the Reading FC dressing rooms, they made things as uncomfortable as they could get away with for the visiting players. Nice touch in the fact they had a shirt from all the teams in the Championship on display.
Then onto the Home Dressing Room – palatial in comparison. All players had their own booth with a safe in the cupboard at the top for their valuables!
From the changing rooms we all walked through the tunnel out onto the pitch. A really nice touch here – the kids that wanted to could run out down the tunnel with Local Hero playing.
The dug-outs were all covered over and we were all under strict instructions not to step on the grass.
Tour over and a fab morning. Carole was brilliant and very knowledgable about all things Newcastle and really made the tour for us. May be next time we’ll do the tour where you can walk on the roof of the stadium.
Lunch next in “Nine” – what used to be Shearers Bar. Michael came and met us for lunch as he worked close by.
After lunch we headed out to try and find some Snowdogs on the Great North Snowdog Trail. We weren’t going to see as many as we hoped as they were all fairly well spread out but saw the majority in Newcastle City Centre.
