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Tears, drama and jubilation at the Utilita

Newcastle United fans flocked to the city’s ‘biggest ever’ fan zone yesterday to celebrate their team’s dramatic Carabao Cup final triumph over Liverpool.

Held behind the Utilita Arena, the fan zone saw over 7000 supporters gather, split between a 5500-capacity adult-only area and a 2000-seat family section, complete with 350 benches, 12 street food vendors and 200 metres of bars – all set up to offer fans an unforgettable experience.

The event was organised by Gateshead’s Evnt Inspirations, who scrambled to set the fan zone up after all 2000 tickets of their other fan zone in Newcastle’s Times Square sold out in under 24 hours following the Magpies’ semi-final win over Arsenal.

Thankfully, the match did not disappoint.

Early nerves quickly gave way to euphoria when local hero Dan Burn, recently named North East Football Writers’ Association Personality of the Year, powered in a header from a Kieran Trippier corner. 

By half-time, the fan zone was rocking, so much so that you would have thought Newcastle had already won!

And after star striker Alexander Isak’s strike ten minutes after the break had put Newcastle 2-0 up, the party had well and truly started, with people dancing on tables and hugging one another in disbelief and sheer joy.

A late Liverpool goal threatened to dampen the mood, but Newcastle held firm, securing their first domestic trophy in 70 years.

As the final whistle blew, the air erupted in deafening jubilation, accompanied by tears and many shaking heads, as fans, so accustomed to heartbreak and near-misses, struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

One thing was certain: the fan zone, much like the match itself, had been nothing short of a triumph.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Bdaily Publishing .