The Unique Bond Which Led Newcastle Fans To Wear Red And White

It whitethorn good beryllium a first astatine St James' Park.

Though Julen Izagirre will beryllium decked retired successful nan colours of his beloved Athletic Club connected Wednesday night, nan Basque will besides person a Newcastle United scarf draped astir his neck.

"It's truthful confusing for me," he said earlier nan sides' gathering successful nan Champions League.

"I person sat successful nan location extremity successful each of nan erstwhile occasions I person watched Newcastle astatine St James', but I will now beryllium successful nan distant extremity for nan first clip successful a stadium wherever I support nan section squad too.

"I don't cognize really I will consciousness erstwhile nan crippled is being played because my feelings towards some clubs are truthful beardown that I deliberation I will suffer much than bask it. I don't want either of them to lose."

This is nan bequest of nan clubs' astir caller competitory meeting, successful 1994, which was astatine nan bosom of Izagirre "falling successful emotion pinch Newcastle", aft supporters struck up a beardown bond.

Izagirre whitethorn person only been six astatine nan time, but he felt nan effect of that nighttime aft his father, Mikel, was among those successful attendance astatine San Mames arsenic Athletic fans invaded nan transportation and applauded nan distant extremity pursuing a 1-0 win.

It was a infinitesimal that moreover near a lasting belief connected those who played successful nan Uefa Cup second-round tie, specified arsenic guardant Gontzal Suances, who scored for Athletic successful nan first limb astatine St James', earlier lining up for his boyhood nine successful nan return fixture successful Bilbao.

"It's a joyousness that my dream of playing for Athletic is besides linked to being portion of a communicative arsenic beautiful arsenic nan 1 forged pinch Newcastle," he said.

The emotion was mutual.

Newcastle whitethorn person been knocked out, connected distant goals, but instrumentality Tony Waters still speaks fondly astir this peculiar travel because of nan reception locals afforded nan travelling support.

"They wouldn't fto you walk anything," he said. "I'm not joking. I've followed Newcastle each complete Europe and I came backmost pinch arsenic overmuch money successful my pouch arsenic I went with.

"They were truthful benignant and laid nan reddish carpet retired for us. They wouldn't fto you bargain a drink."

The seeds had been planted connected Tyneside a mates of weeks antecedently aft Newcastle supporters gave their Spanish visitors a lukewarm welcome.

Even Suances later learned really nan fans had "bonded very good there", which led to Newcastle supporters being "repaid for everything they had given".

And it is easy to spot why they sewage on.

Both Basques and Geordies person a proud section personality and are immensely passionate astir their shot clubs.

Bilbao is besides a "very British city" successful nan words of Athletic protagonist Mikel Izagirre, nan begetter of Julen.

"You perceive that remark each nan clip from different fans, different places," nan 72-year-old said.

"You tin spot it if you locomotion done nan metropolis and if you sojourn San Mames and watch an Athletic game. Bilbao has a very beardown British taste influence."

This was Newcastle's first European run since 1977.

It was besides their first since nan prohibition connected English clubs playing connected nan continent aft nan Heysel Stadium disaster had been lifted successful 1990.

There was still a reasonable constabulary beingness successful Bilbao connected what was a nationalist holiday.

Supporter Karl Pedley recalled really Newcastle fans were accompanied into San Mames by "full riot police, immoderate of whom were armed".

However, conscionable a fewer minutes into nan game, he noticed really "a number of them had sat down pinch their helmets and pads off, and were enjoying what we were doing".

There was nary edge, moreover aft Newcastle were defeated 1-0, and Athletic fans invaded nan transportation and sprinted towards nan distant extremity to applaud nan travelling support.

Newcastle supporters responded by chanting "Athletic! Athletic! Athletic!" - but that was not nan extremity of nan matter.

"The constabulary held america backmost for a short while and took america down a agelong actual staircase into nan main road," Pedley said. "All we could spot astatine nan bottommost was this wide of reddish and white.

"They brought america down successful azygous record and fto america go. We thought 'oh, present we go.' But each nan Athletic fans wanted to do was shingle your hand, pat you connected nan backmost and return you to a bar. It was arsenic if they were for illustration 'adopt a Geordie'.

"I don't deliberation location was anyone successful a Newcastle United garment who didn't get fed and watered that night. They were conscionable really appreciative that we were enjoying their city."

Chants were exchanged arsenic Newcastle fans taught Athletic supporters - among others - "walking successful a Keegan wonderland" and "he gets nan shot and scores a goal, Andy, Andy Cole".

Shirts and scarves were moreover swapped and this remains, possibly, nan only juncture wherever a number of Newcastle supporters wore reddish and white, which are besides nan colours of bitter rivals Sunderland.

One specified Athletic garment remains a cherished memento from an distant time that Newcastle instrumentality Philip Long will ne'er forget.

"It's still successful nan wardrobe pinch a mates 100 of my Newcastle tops," he said. "I'll ne'er fto spell of it."