Toonverse Chronicles

⚽ “Blaydon Races and Baby Rattles”

As Newcastle pulses to chants of “Blaydon Races,” my home echoes with the sound of mini maracas and teething-related growls. It’s a different kind of match day—less crowd roar, more cuddles and caffeine.

Still, there’s beauty in the balance: cheering on NUFC with one eye while rocking your future Magpie with the other. It’s a reminder that team spirit isn’t confined to the terraces. It’s in how we show up—game day or sleepy Tuesday—and share our passions with the next generation.

Highlights from the Baby Dugout:

Match stats are swapped for nappy counts
Chants now include “Where’s your sock gone?”
But the love for the badge? That’s hereditary.

⚽The Toonverse Chronicles — Week 4⚽

⚽ NUFC Meltdowns vs Toddler Tantrums

Two sides. One storm. You’ve seen it: the chaotic ripple of a missed penalty mirrored in a living room meltdown because the toast was “too triangular.” NUFC and toddlers—iconic tantrum twins.

Let’s break it down:

⚽ NUFC Meltdown	👶 Toddler Tantrum
Missed opportunity	Lost toy
Tactical error	Snack injustice
Ref drama	Nap resistance
Emotional roar	Screaming floor dive

What do we learn? Emotional regulation starts with us. Whether we’re pacing over Bruno’s bookings or pausing for a cuddle during chaos—both require grace under pressure.

Being a fan and a father are parallel paths. You cheer when it’s messy. You believe when it’s hopeless. You show up, game after game. Tantrum after tantrum.

⚽ The Toonverse Chronicles — Week 3

Matchday Magic: Rituals I’m Passing Down

Before my kid even said “Dada,” they could recognize the black-and-white stripes. Football isn’t just a game in this house—it’s rhythm, tradition, and home.

This week I’m diving into the matchday rituals that shape our Sundays—and the little ways I’m passing them down.

🎽 The Dress Code:

We both wear our kits. Doesn’t matter if we’re watching on TV or just heading to the park—if it’s a matchday, we’re geared up. (Bonus points for matching socks.)

🎧 The Soundtrack:

We blast “Local hero” before kick-off, always. It sets the tone. Even if naptime means we miss kick-off, the anthem plays.

🍿 The Snacks:

Matchday snacks matter. My little one doesn’t care about kick-off—but they do care that “crispy football day things” are on the menu.

🗣 The Chants (Modified):

I’ve edited some terrace chants into family-friendly versions. Turns out singing “Toon Toon, bottle of milk!” goes down surprisingly well.

⚽ Full-Time Thoughts:

It’s more than goals and scores. It’s the moments—tiny, intentional, repeatable—that build legacy. And if my kid grows up associating NUFC with love, laughter, and shared time? That’s the real win.

⚽ Sunday: The Toonverse Chronicles: 001

Week 1

Why I’m Raising a Black-and-White Wizard

The first item of baby clothing I bought? A mini NUFC shirt. Not a bottle, not a onesie. A Toon top. Because for me, football isn’t just about sport—it’s about belonging.

Welcome to The Toonverse Chronicles, where passion meets parenthood, and raising a Newcastle fan becomes an emotional training montage worthy of the empire strikes back—but with more wafer thins.

🪄 The Magic of It All:
Our bedtime stories alternate between Alan Shearer and Albus Dumbledore. We celebrate goals like spell-casting victories. Somewhere between match replays and wand battles, my little one started to get into it.

⚽ Lessons from the Gallowgate End:
– Loyalty isn’t about never losing—it’s about never walking away.
– Tradition matters—rituals like wearing black and white or doing silly half-time dances are part of family identity.
– Hope, even when we’re 2–0 down in life, makes everything worthwhile.
– Raising the little one like the Carabao Cup whilst she is giggling and I like every other Geordie is on cloud nine – Priceless.

💡 Favourite Moment:
The day I got to put my youngest in her first proper toon top. there is nothing like it.

🏁 Full-Time Thoughts:
It’s not just football. It’s not just parenting. It’s shared belief. And that, to me, is a kind of magic. It is going to be a magic we all feel when we start going to the lasses matches next season as the youngest is just about old enough now.