Newcastle United fans celebrate 'brilliant' Carabao Cup win

Catherine Lee

BBC News, North East and Cumbria

Adam Powell

BBC Look North

Reporting fromNewcastle city centre fan zone

Fans at the Strawberry pub, next to St James Park, were ecstatic

Reuters Group of people in a pub - most sporting Newcastle United strips or scarves - with the main focus on two women smiling and crying at the same time. — Fans at the Strawberry pub, next to St James Park, were ecstatic

Geordie dreams have come true after Newcastle United won the league cup.

The Magpies beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

The last trophy for the club was the old Fairs Cup in 1969, but the 1955 FA Cup was the club’s last domestic success.

Thousands had made the trip to London for the game, with crowds in Newcastle also following play from the city centre fan zone and other pubs across the city.

Fans gathered outside St James’ Park as celebrations continued into the night

Reuters Newcastle United fans celebrate outside St James' Park after winning the Carabao Cup — Fans gathered outside St James’ Park as celebrations continued into the night

The crowd at the fan zone in Newcastle erupted when the first goal was scored

The Newcastle United fan zone - hundreds of people standing, with many raising their arms into the air in response to a goal. Two large screens depict player Dan Burns running down the pitch after scoring — The crowd at the fan zone in Newcastle erupted when the first goal was scored

Speaking from the fan zone, Jackie Gordon said: “Absolutely brilliant, they’re bringing it home.”

Her friend, Tracy Smith added: “I’m so happy. What an amazing day. They’ve been brilliant.”

Many fans were not alive the last time the club won a domestic trophy 70 years ago.

There were tears and cheers in the fan zone

A scene from the Newcastle fan zone. On the left a young man in a black hoodie holds aloft a mobile phone. His left arm is around the shoulder of an older man wearing a Newcastle United strip and who appear to be crying. — There were tears and cheers in the fan zone

‘Howay the lasses’ – Jackie and Tracy celebrate in the fan zone

Two women celebrating at the Newcastle fan zone. Both are wearing black and white scarves. The one on the right is holding a glass of beer. — ‘Howay the lasses’ – Jackie and Tracy celebrate in the fan zone

Gordon Rayner, who had travelled to Wembley for the game, told BBC Radio Newcastle: “I’m shaking.

“I’m 55 so was born just after they last won anything… I’ve waited my whole life for this.

“It’s going to take a long time to sink in.”

Graham, also at the game, said: “I just can’t describe the feeling.

“I never thought I’d see the day. We’ve been in so many cup finals and we’ve lost.

“It’s unbelievable.”

Brian Ramshaw, 65, said: “We have always been the bridesmaid, never the bride… but not today, not today.”

Also at the fanzone, Kelly Wood, 39, from North Shields, was wearing a plastic poncho and said she had been swilled with beer when the goals went in.

Her friend joked: “Tomorrow should be a bank holiday, we deserve it.”

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “It’s all for these fans.

“I don’t have any words. It’s the best day of my life.

“For them [the fans] it’s like the World Cup.

“People have grown up and not seen us as champions. This is unbelievable.”

Fans at Wembley were holding their breath before the final whistle went

Reuters A sea of black and white scarves held aloft, with one man visible in the centre. He is bald, bearded, wearing glasses, and appears to be singing or chanting. — Fans at Wembley were holding their breath before the final whistle went

Fans celebrate the win in the Strawberry pub

Reuters Newcastle United fans celebrate in the Strawberry pub in Newcastle after winning the Carabao Cup — Fans celebrate the win in the Strawberry pub

Other fans who did not make the journey South watched the match in homes and pubs across the city.

There were scenes of jubilation as the final whistle blew.

Reuters Fans run around the street outside the Strawberry pub after winning the cup — There is a party in Newcastle tonight

Fans were hoping for ‘Pandamonium’ at the game

Owen Humphrey/PA Wires Two men and a women in Newcastle United strips with another person dressed as a giant panda. They are holding aloft a banner and Wembley Stadium can be seen in the background — Fans were hoping for ‘Pandamonium’ at the game

TV presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were at Wembley to take in the historic result.

Donnelly said on Instagram: “I cannot believe it, this is the best day of my life… apart from the wedding and the kids and all that, but apart from that it’s the best day of my life.”

Michelle Mercer/Getty Images A bulldog wearing a Newcastle United shirt — All kinds of fans got in on the action

Alan Shearer, who captained Newcastle in the 1999 FA Cup final, said before the game he would be “as nervous as any supporter”.

“I know I am biased but if any set of fans deserves a trophy it is the Newcastle supporters because of their passion, their loyalty and how they have stuck by the team over the years,” he wrote for BBC Sport.

Afterwards he said on X: “Ah man. Did the Geordies deserve that or what.”