A dad is set to travel across the world so he can watch the Carabao Cup final on Tyneside.
Paul Cameron, who lives in Singapore, will travel for 20 hours each way, notching up more than 13,400 miles, so he can watch the Toon take on Manchester United on TV in Newcastle.
The 48-year-old, from North Shields, was a Newcastle United season ticket holder for many years. He followed the Magpies to home and away games, including European nights in Milan and Barcelona.
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Around 10 years ago, the dad-of-two reluctantly gave up his seat in the Gallowgate End after moving to the southeast Asian country for work. However he continues to visit St James Park during his trips back to home.
When Newcastle reached their first cup final at Wembley for more than two decades, Paul was ecstatic. He decided that he needed to return home so he could watch the match surrounded by Geordies.
Paul will arrive in Newcastle at 8am on Friday and return back to Singapore at lunch time on Monday. On cup final day, he plans watch the game with friends in a city centre bar.
Paul, who has paid £1100 to return to home for the weekend, said: "It just felt like the right thing to do. I just feel like I have got to be back with Geordies watching this. Maybe this is the start of something fantastic!
"I had already been checking out flights on the off chance and I thought I'm going to do it. It's going to take me 20 hours door-to-door each way. I will sleep as best as I can on the flights!
"I'm looking forward to it, I can't wait! It will be a joy to be in Newcastle, I think the atmosphere will be amazing."
Paul lives in the Bukit Timah area of Singapore with his wife Jenny, 48, and their two daughters Isobel, 11, and Sophie, seven. The scientific director recalls many happy memories while following Newcastle and hopes to one day take his children to watch the team.
Paul said: "I had a season ticket for years and years. I have so many great memories of the Keegan era and the Robson era. We would go to all the European away games like Milan and Barcelona. They were fantastic.
"I kept my season ticket on when I went to Singapore and my sister would use it. I was only meant to be over here a few years and then come back. When it became clear I was staying, I gave up my season ticket. At the time I felt really bad doing it.
"I try to come back twice a year. Whenever I come back I try to see Newcastle play. I was at the Leeds game on New Year's Eve."
Paul said he's impressed by the club's new owners and the appointments which they have made. He said: "I'm really, really happy with how things have gone since the new owners came in.
"You can feel from afar that there's this buzz. It's not just about the football, they are investing in the community. The way they have engaged with fans and Wor Flags is amazing. They are just so open.
"You see videos after the games in the dressing room and you see the togetherness of the the players. Eddie Howe is just amazing, he's such a good manager. We're lucky to have him!"
Paul, who has previously watched the Magpies lose at Wembley, is unable to attend the final due to not being able to attend games this season. However he hopes that this time Newcastle will return home with the trophy.
He added: "I would take the cup final win over a Champions League place. I think every fan will say the same. We have always been so close before but we've never got over the line. I just hope we can perform on the day and win."
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