Sunday marks Newcastle United's first appearance in a domestic cup final since 1999 and it's safe to say that fans are making the most of the occasion.
One fan is flying from Singapore just to be here for the final, while another has sold his Vauxhall Corsa to fund his flight home from Australia. And now, a Newcastle United mad couple are cutting short their Caribbean holiday so they can watch Eddie Howe's Mags take to the field against Manchester United this Sunday.
Jim Cruddas and Linda Wright, both 50, from Washington, flew out to the Couples Negril resort in Jamaica on Monday February 13, for a two-week holiday at the all inclusive resort. However, when they booked "around six months ago," it wasn't even on their radar that Newcastle would have their biggest game so far this century as they lounged by the pool in the Caribbean sunshine.
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The season ticket holders had already made the difficult enough decision to miss Saturday's 2-0 defeat against Liverpool for their holiday. But there was no way that they weren't making that final, though both expected a difficult conversation.
Jim, who has his own flooring business, told ChronicleLive: "When we won the semi-final, I went in from work one night and said to my partner, I've got something to ask you. How would you feel about cutting the holiday short to go to Wembley?"
"She said she was thinking the same thing, but she was too scared to suggest it! So it worked out we were both really keen to go."
Jim and Linda were confident that they'd get tickets as they were in Group 3 for the ballot, and had already booked a Travelodge in London with some friends before the semi-final against Southampton. They'll be proudly sporting their Toon tops and some specially made Hawaiian-inspired shirts for the Delta flight home to Heathrow via Atlanta in the US.
Jim continued: "Linda has got a tropical shirt with Joelinton on, and I've had a shirt made with Eddie Howe on the back which says Eddie Howe's Mighty Mags and the number 23. There aren't loads of Brits in the resort, but a few have recognised them and wished us luck - we've got a Wembley scarf hanging off the balcony as well!"
And both Jim and Linda are hopeful the trophy will be heading home to Tyneside, despite a goalkeeping crisis and an injury to Joe Willock. He continued: "I think we could have done without the disaster on Saturday.
"But just fingers crossed if we play at our best and avoid injuries, and avoid any bad refereeing decisions which unfortunately, Manchester United always seem to get the rub of the green with, we'll get the win!"
Win or lose come Sunday, the couple say they'll have no regrets about cutting their holiday short. Jim finished: "We can go back to Jamaica anytime, but we might never see Newcastle in another cup final!"
Would you cut short a holiday to watch Newcastle United play? Let us know!
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