Jaegerbombs, ‘Supermac’ and Amazon Prime cameras hoping for the mother of all parties… but it all ends in tears and even fisticuffs for the Newcastle faithful who didn’t make the Wembley pilgrimage as agonising 54-year trophy wait goes on

Some 300 miles north of Wembley, the last man to wear the No 9 for Newcastle United in a League Cup final is roared on to the stage.

‘It’s like being back playing,’ beams 1976 runner-up Malcolm Macdonald after he is greeted to the sort of reception the club’s current frontman Callum Wilson could expect running out at St James’ Park.

Kick-off is still 90 minutes away but NX Newcastle – the music venue hosting the biggest screening of the match – is already at its 1,500 capacity.

From as early as midday, there is a party mood throughout the city centre, which is heaving with those black-and-white revellers who were not among the 50,000-plus Geordies to make the pilgrimage to London.