A lot was said about the drop in attendance as Newcastle drew 1-1 with Watford at St James’ Park.
After the boycott against Arsenal somewhat fell flat, there were noticeable holes in the stands against the Hornets. While a small away support contributed, seeing just 44,157 fans inside the stadium is certainly a concern for Steve Bruce.

And now there is more talk of boycotts when the Magpies welcome Brighton to St James’ Park on September 21st.
All the talk is about fans walking away from home games, rather than desperately trying to get in. It seems like a sell out at home is a long way away. Unless Bruce gets his team to go on a fantastic winning run, many fans won’t return.
People want to see a competitive side that can win games and entertain fans. Under Rafa Benitez, there was always a chance of that. As things stand, Bruce has not earned that right.
So while a St James’ Park sellout seems far away, one man is dreaming of a stadium full of supporters. That man is Sam Fender.

When asked about what Newcastle United means to him, Fender said: “It’s the lifeblood of the city and it’s where heroes are born. I want to sell out a show at St James’ Park before I die.”
With the way he’s going, there’s a fair chance that Fender might be able to do it. The Brits Critics’ Choice award winner is set to play four nights at the city’s O2 Academy in December, all of which are sold out.

He’s not the only music star to discuss his love for Newcastle United with the club’s official website recently. Another Brits Critics’ Choice award winner in James Bay was spotted in the away end as Newcastle beat Tottenham the other week.
While he isn’t from the area, Bay is a big Newcastle fan because of club legend Alan Shearer. Weirdly, no one credits Michael Owen as the reason they support the Magpies…
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