A YOUNG Newcastle United fan from Northumberland graced St James' Park's hallowed turf this week, starring as a mascot against Barcelona alongside some of the world's greatest players.
Seven-year-old Cole, a pupil at the Sele First School in Hexham, lined up as a mascot as the Magpies welcomed the reigning La Liga champions, in what Toon boss Eddie Howe described before the game as "the biggest in the club’s history".
Cole, a "huge" Newcastle fan with a soft spot for Barcelona, walked onto the pitch with Spanish starlet Pau Cubarsí. The youngster has said he was "buzzing."
Newcastle took a deserved lead in the 86th minute through a scuffed Harvey Barnes volley.
However, just ten minutes later, Barcelona levelled the tie through superstar Lamine Yamal's penalty, in what was the last kick, with the game ending 1-1.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told PA after the match he felt his team deserved more from the game.
"A really good performance from the team, very, very good in all phases, really. I thought we limited them with a really good defensive performance from the team, and I thought we attacked really well, too.
"Although we didn’t create an abundance of clear-cut chances, I thought there were chances all through the game for us.
"It was great to see us finally score, and then the last attack of the game, the last kick of the game, it’s a tough one to take."
The draw sets up a tantalising second leg at the Camp Nou on March 18.
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