So, stayed over at my parents Monday night as my mum was going with Jo and I to Newcastle to see the main man.
We get up a little later than intended, rush to get ready and head off to Lime St Station.
We manage to catch the 6:18 train to Newcastle.
Not a bad journey by train (certainly not as bad as the day before when I had to go to London and back by coach to pick Joanne up from her mums) and we arrived in Newcastle about ten to ten.
Went to St James's park first so we knew where the hell we were going, then wasted some time at the shops until we went back to the ground at 11:30.
We heads upstairs to the family enclosure, high above the ground and overlooking the pitch where meet up with some of our fan friends that had had their bids accepted.
We waited for what seemed to be forever, and every time the door opened we jumped a mile
In the end, myself and the other tobacco hounds went for a quick ciggie.
The nerves were a little on edge, and the heat in the room was not helping.
While we were gone, Meat was seen on the pitch doing an interview for the press (luckily mum got footage on her vid camera
)
A little more waiting ensued while we waited for Meat to come up to the family enclosure.
Then, the far door opens, and a familiar figure wearing a Newcastle United shirt walks towards us.
Thought i'd give Meat a welcome, so I started clapping and set everyone else off
The plan goes a little to pot here
We were all given number stickers to put on, and it's assumed that this is the order that we were supposed to shoot, however, Stuart (who's bid had been the highest at just under £2000) was selected to shoot first, and then it was just a case of people shooting in random order.
It was a far more relaxed way to do it though, and felt much better
I was still a little awestruck (as I was the first time I met him) so have no idea how many people went before me.
In the end I was shoved unceremoniously by mummy in the back to go next.
That moment in front of Meat seemed to go on forever
Now although not a football fan, I HAVE seen penalties taken on TV.I've taken a few against my brothers kids as a matter of fact, and my batting average is pretty good.
I'd watched people in front of me take penalties, but then, stood in front of Meat, I completely forgot what the hell I was doing
The fact that the wall to my left was filled with press and TV cameras was doing nothing to make me feel a little less grounded either.
So, i'm stood in front of Meat, and I don't know what to do.
Am I supposed to say "Hi Meat" or "Hello Meat" or "Good luck Meat" or "nice weather today huh?" or am I supposed to just kick the fooking ball and get out of the way?
In the end, the little squirrel who was now at the controls in my brain opted for "Are you ready, Meat" before swinging my foot in the general direction of the ball.
Meat didn't have to try too hard as I wasn't exactly on target, missing the goal just past the post.
I immediately turned round and walked very quickly away feeling very embarrassed and feeling more than a little giddy.
Luckily, out of all the people who took penalties, only three people scored, so I shouldn't feel too bad
.
Unluckily, Jo was one of the three, so i'm never going to hear the end of it
Peter Beardsley was there to support the event, and a couple of shooters after me, Peter took some shots at Meat, who did a fine job of saving every one of them
Meat then demanded Peter get in goal, which he gamely did and let Meat shoot some shots at him.
The press loved that part, especially when Meat got a bit over enthusiastic and started booting the ball blindly (think he liked my earlier shooting style and wanted to emulate it
) and hitting more than one camera/reporter of the assembled press.
Then it was back to the rest of the folks still waiting to shoot.
One of those was Joanne.
I game her a cheer of encouragement, which was soon to become an even louder cheer as she took her place, kicked the ball, and sent it sailing past Meat
I ran around to where shooters were coming around after taking their goes, and saw a rather extatic Joanne, grinning from ear to ear, and clutching the tickets and T shirt she had won.
I was given a sympathy T shirt
After everyone took their penalties, Meat announced loudly to the room that even if you didn't score, you would still receive two tickets for the concert.
I went back to the table and asked for my tickets to go with the T shirt
Meat then took the time to pose for photos with everyone who took part.
An official photographer was there to take the pictures, as well as people being able to take them on their own cameras.
The officially taken pic of Meat with Jo and I can be seen
here
While the one of Meat and mum can be seen
there
Peter Beardsley was also kind enough to sign a ball that Jo and I took to the event, which will be auctioned off at a charity event in aid of Demelza House that Jo's mum is helping to collect for.
All to soon, it was all over and time to go.
We left Meat sitting on a couch in the room, already halfway through another interview for the radio.
After the main event, it was off to Shearers bar, where the folks of the fan club had got together for a good post event natter.
Little walk around the shops, and it was back home to Liverpool.
Was a great day in aid of a very worthy cause, ans we loved every minute of it.
.