Newcastle United legends John Beresford and Warren Barton at Newcastle United Fans Event
Newcastle United legends John Beresford and Warren Barton at Newcastle United Fans Event
As the huge banners were draped over the iconic stone balcony at the Punch & Judy pub in Covent Garden stunned onlookers watched the black and white swarm get bigger by the hour on Saturday afternoon.
Usually, the balcony is the ideal spot for Londoners to glance down at street performers with a glass of wine. Saturday was different.
As one shocked and well-educated observer queried: "Oh is this for the rugby?" To which one black and white clad tourist replied: "No, it's the Geordies, and we're taking over for the day!"
That felt like an understatement as chants of: "EI EI EI OH Up the Premier League we go!" reverberated around the main square that was originally laid out in 1630! The wait for a domestic trophy stretches back to 1955, but as one fan told me: "It's not even about that, we're here and we're determined to enjoy it, we're challenging and having a go again, that's all we want."
At some stage, that has to change, and Newcastle must become more ambitious, and who knows? That could have changed by teatime tonight.
Just around the corner, there was optimism it could, but also an acknowledgment that Newcastle were back. Black and white cult hero Warren Barton needs no telling and told a packed audience: "We've got our club back! We were going nowhere in 2008 under Mike Ashley and I joined the fans who tried to buy the club. Now it feels like we're going places again."
When asked by Chronicle Live about the game Barton told me: "We've got a great chance. Obviously, key players are missing, but that gives others a chance to step up and take their chance.
"The players are starting to become legends anyway. Players like Alexander Isak up front, Bruno in midfield and big Dan Burn doing so well and getting the England squad. All I'd say to the players is make us proud."
Newcastle have been hit with injuries and suspensions with Lewis Hall and Sven Botman out and Anthony Gordon suspended. It means Tino Livramento may have to carry out the job at left-back - a task Barton knows only too well after having to slot in at left-back a few times in his own Toon career.
Newcastle United legend Warren Barton high fiving a young Newcastle fan at in Covent Garden (Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
But Barton has spotted what could be a late tactical switch to deal with Mo Salah. He said: "That will be a challenge (for Livramento) but you have Kieran Trippier too. Tino is learning from a top player in Trippier.
"I watch all the games I can't tell Tino how to deal with Salah, he's a top player. There might be a twist in the tale, it might be Kieran Trippier at left-back. He has played for England at left-back. You never know."
Also addressing fans at the The Conduit just around the corner from Covent Garden, was John Beresford. An emotional Bez said: "I just want us to have a go. That first tackle will be vital.
"If they smash a Liverpool and there's a reaction it could set the tone. "Being involved with Newcastle as a player or a supporter, you always have that affinity. We're here again and to be part of any get together like this is brilliant.
"We now hope we finally get what we have been waiting for a long, long time. It is all about little defining moments, and now you see how people react. We lost Hall, Gordon and Botman for the game but now somebody else stands up. I am just desperate to see us win now."
And then it was back into the madness. Thousands of Geordies partied into the night last night. As one neutral observer put it perfectly: "My God what's it going to be like when you do win something?"