There was nowt better when a bairn than a canny game of happy families and Newcastle United have played it to perfection this pre-season.
Grandad Geoff is as chuffed as he can be and Dad David will be more than pleased with his family lot. I know both Geoff Allen and David Longstaff and they have every right to play the proud chief of the clan.
Why? Because Elliot Anderson and Sean Longstaff have boosted their standing at a time when it is difficult to make a telling impression. Pre-season friendlies are often written off as no more than a vehicle for attaining match fitness and that is true but two of United's outsiders still attempting to make a lasting impact upon a new manager have taken a difficult opportunity to polish their burgeoning reputations.
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In some ways they are running on similar lines. Two Geordies who adore NUFC as thousands of their ilk do and two midfielders jockeying with Brazilian giants Bruno and Joelinton for a place in the engine room.
Young Anderson is a player I love. A teenager of true potential who has become a man physically during the year he spent away on loan at Bristol Rovers. This could be his time and he confirmed that with a telling performance against Italian Serie A team Atalanta.
It ought to see him stay in-house rather than be farmed out on a short term learning lesson down the ladder. Joey Barton, his Rovers boss, christened Elliot 'the Geordie Maradona' which while well intentioned only heightens the pressure on young shoulders but, hey, it's better than being labelled run of the mill.
As for Longstaff he began his career with flamboyance then dipped after a bad injury but is coming again, a second wind in his sails. Such was his initial impact that he was compared to another Geordie Michael Carrick with his upright stance and passing and indeed touted as a potential Manchester United signing but he lost his way under Steve Bruce. Howe has cleared his vision and boosted his confidence as he has done with so many.
Where it was expected that Sean would leave United along with his brother Matt he has now signed a new contract and will be crucial to the cause early doors in a new season especially with Jonjo Shelvey injured. Both Anderson and Longstaff have sporting pedigree of course.
Geoff Allen was part of United's squad that won the European Fairs Cup in 69 only for injury to cruelly kill a blossoming career. Elliot is the son of Geoff's daughter Helen and her husband Iain, a one-time non-league centre-forward who went on to coach at local youth level.
Allen used to travel from his home in Mansfield to watch Elliot whenever Newcastle's under 13, 15, and 16 academy sides played in South Yorkshire. Now the big stage is calling.
I closely followed David Longstaff's ice hockey career and interviewed him at regular intervals. He was the business _ the first man to reach 100 international caps for Great Britain who played over here with Whitley Bay Warriors, Newcastle Vipers, Sheffield Steelers, Manchester Storm, and Guildford Flames during a career as long as it was distinguished. It led to him being inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.
Longstaff, a forward, also played for a Swedish team Djuyrgardens who were the Man United of hockey. Sean may well have excelled at dad's sport - and others. He played cricket for Tynemouth's first team at 16.
Oh, and mam Michelle was a quality netball player! The excitement being felt by Geordies deprived of joy for so many barren seasons is colossal and was confirmed over an eye-popping weekend.
Friday night's crowd of 40,596 was the highest for a pre-season friendly at SJP (barring the testimonials of Shearer and Harper) since the visit of Barcelona in August 2002 drew 51,257. Then less than 24 hours later that bar was further heightened against Athletic Bilbao when a figure of 46,856 was recorded.
That's almost 87,500 over a couple of days of nothing more than friendly endeavour. May the balloon never be pricked!
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