A disabled Newcastle United fan who was subjected to vile abuse as he made his way from the match was delighted when he was invited to be a special guest at St James' Park on Sunday.
The Chronicle revealed in December how, Luke Walker, who has cerebral palsy, was mocked by a by a cruel bus passenger in October following the Toon's victory over Aston Villa.
The 36-year-old season ticket holder told how the incident, which Northumbria Police is treating as a suspected hate crime, had put him off travelling from his home in Yarm to St James' Park.
But after seeing ChronicleLive's story Newcastle United has stepped in to help restore Luke's love of the city and the game.
The club invited him to be a special guest in the Directors' Box as his beloved team took on Fulham.
And Luke, who also received a video message from defender Dan Burn, told the Chronicle he was "overwhelmed" by the gesture.
He said: "I received a letter from the football club and they invited me to the match to sit in the Directors Box. I was overwhelmed and lost for words.
"It was an amazing experience, the food was lovely, the staff were lovely and I even met a few celebrities such as Tim Healy, Bob Moncur, and Supermac- Malcolm MacDonald.
"It was nice of them to invite me but I wasn’t expecting it and I wouldn’t have thought they would do that for someone that was a victim of a disabled hate crime but it was lovely that they did and I really enjoyed it."
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects movement and co-ordination. It has left Luke using a wheelchair and he needs the help of carers to get around and communicate.
On Saturday, October 29, Luke and and his partner Sophie Garner, travelled to Newcastle by bus from Teesside, as they do for most home games.
After enjoying the Toon’s 4-0 victory over the Villa the couple returned to Eldon Square bus depot to catch the X10 home to Yarm.
But while waiting to board the bus another passenger took exception to Luke and Sophie not joining the same queue as everyone else, they said.
“As we always do while we are waiting for the bus, we go to the side of the waiting area so the bus driver could see there is a wheelchair that would like to go to the bus,” Luke has explained previously.
“Then a woman started to get annoyed with us as she thought that we were jumping the queue to get on the bus first. When the bus came the woman went to the front of the queue to go on the bus first. She told the bus driver to not let us go on as we jumped the queue.”
The couple said the stranger then then started mocking Luke, whose condition causes him to make involuntary movements.
He added: “She was taking the mick out of me as I have got involuntary movements.”
Sophie, 26, who is a full-time carer for Luke, said the woman also blocked the seats closest to his wheelchair meaning she could not sit next to her partner for the journey.
And the 26-year-old was forced to watch on helplessly from the back of the bus as Luke was abused.
Sophie reported the incident to Northumbria Police and a spokesman today said: "Enquiries are ongoing."
Helen O’Rourke who accompanied to the match.
She said: "It was an amazing experience. Luke even received a video message from Newcastle defender Dan Burn on the morning of the match. From the steward expecting us as we arrived in the car and the delicious food and drink served to us in the Moncur Suite, the whole experience was something I know Luke and i will never forget.
"We had football legends on our table and actor Tim Healy too. Everybody was so welcoming and helpful. Luke's smiling happy face was a sight to behold. Only bettered when Newcastle scored the winning goal where Luke was ecstatic. Amanda Staveley came over and spoke to us both too. I know Luke enjoyed his day immensely and will never forget the experience."
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