ISABELLE WESTBURY

Almost 20 years ago I made my first pilgrimage to St James’ Park. It was the start of the 1999 Premier League season, Alan Shearer was making his 100th appearance for Newcastle United and after a couple of near misses this was, surely, the start of something special.
Seventy-five minutes in and those dreams had been shattered; Shearer had been sent off for the first time in his career, Aston Villa were 1-0 up and I was now a bad omen, certain to be banished from attendance for evermore.
“Get behind the team,” my uncle encouraged, nervously clutching...