Of course, it is impossible to completely escape a city’s feelings and expectations, especially when the club’s all-time leading scorer, Alan Shearer, texts the club captain, Bruno Guimaraes, on the eve of the game. His message was not one spewing emotion, but a clinical instruction: “Bring that trophy back.”

Growing up, Gary's father had encouraged his sons to support Newcastle United as a cousin, Bobby Whitehead, used to play for them. As a family, Gary, his dad and two of his sons would go to every home game - driving the 652-mile round trip from his home in Farnborough to Newcastle.

"When we see the chairman celebrating with the trophy, it is very difficult to separate the success of the club from the ownership." John Hird, a founder of Newcastle supporters group NUFCFAS, also reflected on the Magpies' EFL Cup victory with his own personal statement.