No matter what happens in the future, the 2022/23 season will have a special place in the hearts of Newcastle United fans.
It was the first full season since Mike Ashley’s departure, and it truly was the beginning of a new dawn on Tyneside, guided by the genius of Eddie Howe and a committed group of players who performed beyond expectation.
Before a ball was kicked, there was excitement, but no one knew how well Newcastle would do. The hope was for a top half finish and a decent cup run.
What we got was Champions League qualification and a trip to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final.
It was a wild ride, and one that likely won’t be repeated. The expectation has gone up now – better players will arrive and cup finals and European football will hopefully become the norm.
But the 2022/23 season was special, and now fans have the perfect chance to relive it.
The Entertained
Newcastle United fan George Dixon, best known as @FloodlightsOn on Twitter and Instagram, is set to release a photo book surrounding Newcastle’s incredible 2022/23 season.
‘The Entertained’ follows FloodlightsOn’s journey through last season, with incredible photos from every Toon game he attended. He captures the raw emotion in the stands, the togetherness on the pitch and the renewed sense of unity running through the entire club.
Ahead of the book’s release, George has spoken to Geordie Boot Boys about the project, explaining how a case of ‘right place right time’ has created a glorious memento for fans to buy and treasure a season to remember.
“No one saw the October takeover happening and it’s been crazy ever since,” he said.
“With my photography, I really just took the camera as a bit of fun initially. It feels very ‘right place right time’ with a lot of the shots I got. I only really got into photography around lockdown.
“This book I’ve pulled together – it was never a plan. I’ve just had a surprising amount of followers reach out on socials, where I’ve seen my accounts grow over the past year. Quite a few people have said ‘are you going to do prints, are you going to do a photo book, we’d love to have a keepsake for the season’. That’s where I started to work on the book and it’s been a really fun project.”
Newcastle’s incredible form ‘fueled the addiction’ to watch the team and photograph every moment, and that really culminated with the trip to Wembley in February.
“To go to Wembley was special.
“That Trafalgar Square meet-up – part of the Wembley weekend which the book features alongside home and away games – was very memorable. Not just the game but the time at Trafalgar Square. The week after I was bed ridden because I inhaled so much pyro!”
The name of the book ‘The Entertained’ pays tribute to Newcastle’s past, with Kevin Keegan’s side dubbed the Entertainers. They were the team everyone wanted to watch, and we had that distinct honour.
But it is also a nod to the present, making reference to a quote from Eddie Howe that said he wants fans ‘to be entertained’ with his side’s attacking football.
We certainly were entertained last season. In fact, we were spoiled. The 2022/23 campaign was special, and should live long in the memory.
This book is the perfect way to ensure the memory lives on, capturing the greatest fanbase in the country at their very best.
The Entertained is available to pre-order from July 20th until August 17th, costing £20. £5 from every order will be donated to Wor Flags. For more details, visit floodlightson.com.
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