Toon back in the Champions League – Union SG in Brussels

A Eurostar away trip staying in the Pullman at Brussels station – not a dodgy council estate…

The Union Saint‑Gilloise vs Newcastle United match in the UEFA Champions League league phase was played on 1 October 2025 in Brussels (at Lotto Park). Newcastle produced a dominant away performance. 

Final Score

• Union Saint-Gilloise 0 – 4 Newcastle United  

Goalscorers

1. 17’ – Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
   
   • Opened the scoring with a deflection from a powerful shot by Sandro Tonali.  
3. 43’ – Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, penalty)
   
   • Penalty awarded after Anthony Elanga was fouled in the box.  
5. 64’ – Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, penalty)
   
   • Second penalty after a VAR review for handball.  
7. 80’ – Harvey Barnes (Newcastle)
   
   • Finished a fast counter-attack to seal the win.  

How the Game Went

• Newcastle took control early and scored in the 17th minute through Woltemade.
• They doubled the lead just before halftime when Gordon converted a penalty.
• Union SG had some chances and managed 17 shots but couldn’t score, with Newcastle defending solidly.  
• Gordon added another penalty after the break to make it 3–0, effectively ending the contest.
• Substitute Barnes scored late on a counter-attack to complete a convincing 4–0 victory, Newcastle’s biggest Champions League win.  

✅ Summary: Newcastle dominated the match in Brussels, scoring twice from penalties and controlling the game comfortably to record a 4–0 away win.

Newcastle Fans in Brussels

• The official away allocation was about 1,058 tickets.  

• However, because Brussels is easy to reach from the UK, it was estimated that 1,500+ Newcastle fans travelled to the city.  

• Many supporters who didn’t have tickets still came for the trip and watched the match in bars in the city centre.

Where Fans Gathered

• Police and supporter groups directed fans to gather in the La Bourse / city-centre area of Brussels before the game.  

• That area is full of bars and cafés, and it effectively became a Newcastle fan zone throughout the afternoon.

Stadium and Atmosphere

• The match was played at Lotto Park, home of R.S.C. Anderlecht.

• Union SG’s usual ground, Stade Joseph Marien, was too small to host Champions League games, so the fixture was moved there.  

Inside the stadium:

• Newcastle supporters were placed behind the goal in the away section.  

• The away end is steep and close to the pitch, which meant the travelling fans created a very loud atmosphere despite the relatively small allocation.

Overall Atmosphere

• Thousands of Geordie fans filled central Brussels hours before kick-off, singing and gathering in bars.

• After the 4–0 Newcastle win, the away section stayed loud well after the final whistle as fans celebrated one of the club’s biggest Champions League away victories.  

✅ In short:

• Around 1,500 Newcastle fans travelled.

• ~1,058 were inside the stadium, with others in the city.

• The atmosphere was lively in central Brussels and loud in the away end, especially after the convincing 4-0 victory.

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England v Senegal – Friendly in Nottingham

An excuse to meet up with the Leicester and Derby lads for a nice spot of lunch. There’s a train back as far as Sheffield after 11pm so some of us can get partially home after the game…

Quick Recap

• On 10th June 2025, England played Senegal in a friendly at The City Ground in Nottingham.
• Senegal won 3–1.

Crowd

• 26,322 fans turned up.  
• It was the first time England’s men played at the City Ground since 1941.  

Goals

• England: Harry Kane (7′)  
• Senegal:
  
  • Ismaïla Sarr (40′)  
  • Habib Diarra (62′)  
  • Cheikh Sabaly (90+3′)  

Why It Was Big

• This was the first-ever win by an African team against England.  
• England were using this as prep for the 2026 World Cup.

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#EnglandAway – Andorra in Barcelona

It might be only Andorra but once it was announced it would be in Barca we had to go. A great city by the Sea and a lot of fun!

One of the best “Long Lunches” we’ve ever had at our favourite Salamanca outdoor restaurant near the beach followed by sunset at a beach bar with sand under our feet (and no spoiling the day with the match the following day) A MISTAKE… We spoilt the next day!

One of the worst hangovers ever on match day. And the less said about the game the better. Our worst win ever? But a great group, good to see the Wolves lads again and some other fans we hadn’t seen since the Germany tournament.

Andorra 0–1 England – World Cup Qualifier
(7 June 2025, Barcelona)

England squeezed out a 1–0 win over Andorra in their World Cup qualifying match at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. Harry Kane scored the only goal early in the second half.

Match Summary

• Final score: Andorra 0–1 England
• Goal: Harry Kane (50’)
• Venue: RCDE Stadium, Barcelona
• Attendance: 8,872

Why the game was played in Barcelona

The bigger ground also made it easier to host more fans—especially the travelling England supporters.

Andorra’s Estadi Nacional wasn’t available because it was being used for the Games of the Small States of Europe.

The RCDE Stadium (home of Espanyol) was chosen instead.

That cruise ship we spotted? Only the one we stayed on moored up on Doha (when it was brand new) for the Qatar World Cup!

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Dear England – Play Review

Finally got around to see this play at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle last night and it was absolutely superb.

So many memories of England games home and away with the original commentaries of super tense moments, great victories, the dreaded penalty shootouts (but then actually winning one) and then getting to semi-finals and finals.

The story is told of Southgate’s philosophy, team building and psychology efforts with his back room staff. A bit of politics of the time thrown in too A really great stuff and very, very emotional. It really was some trip with Gareth – He’s the One!

Script and cast were fantastic and the portrayal of Gareth, Kane, Lineker and Pickford as a nutter plus load of others was so good. Managers including Big Sam, Sven, Capello and Graham Taylor were played so well – even a bit of Thomas Tuchel at the end!

Highly recommended.

Dear England is a play all about Gareth Southgate — yes, the England manager with the famously calm vibes — and the huge pressures that come with elite football. It dives into how the England men’s team fits into the national mood, and how Southgate managed to shake up old ideas of masculinity within the squad.

Written by James Graham, it first hit the stage at the National Theatre in London back in June 2023, with Joseph Fiennes taking on the role of Southgate and Rupert Goold directing. And the title? It’s taken from the heartfelt open letter Southgate wrote to England fans in 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic.

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#EnglandAway – Latvia

Quite a surprise getting tickets for this one so we had to go. A 3 night mini break, a lovely hotel and spa but appalling weather….

A first England visit to Riga so a lot of old school here ticking it off. The usual range of Irish Bars, a fake Hard Rock Café and an English Guinness establishment.

Not of a lot of sightseeing with the weather but we struggled on through! Never book an early flight after an England win away… yes one of our lot missed his flight on the Wednesday morning after the game – schoolboy error!

An impressive 5-0 victory that secured
England’s place in the 2026 World Cup finals.

Match Summary

• Result: Latvia 0 – 5 England
• Date: 14 October 2025
• Location: Daugavas Stadions, Riga, Latvia
• Significance: England became the first UEFA team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. 

Goal Scorers and Key Events

• Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 26th minute.
• Harry Kane scored a quick brace just before halftime, with a goal from outside the box and a penalty kick. This took his international goal tally to 76.
• A Maksims Toņiševs own goal extended England’s lead in the 58th minute.
• Eberechi Eze completed the scoring in the 86th minute with a goal into the bottom corner.
• England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford achieved a record ninth consecutive clean sheet. 

Under the management of Thomas Tuchel, England maintained a perfect qualifying record up to that point, with five wins, zero goals conceded, and an impressive goal difference. 

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