Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win over Liverpool, one year on

A YEAR on from Newcastle United's historic Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool - reliving the famous, curse-lifting, Wembley win.

Excitement, fear, hope, commiseration, tribulation, and despondence; all feelings every true football fan will feel during their enduring, lifelong supporting bond.

Across sport, wherever you are, unless you support one of the conventionally 'bigger' teams in your country, fans will generally experience more heartache and pessimism than joy and jubilation.

However, for one day, Newcastle United fans all over the world finally experienced what it was like to win.

Exactly 365 days ago, Newcastle triumphed... at last, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final - breaking a decades-long voodoo.

Fans took to Covent Garden the day before the final (Image: EWishart)

Of course, before that day, Newcastle's last trophy win was in 1969 - over 55 years ago - when the Toon won the old Fairs Cup, a defunct competition, whose contemporary equivalent is widely regarded as the Europa League.

Before March 16, 2025, it had also been almost 70 years since Newcastle had last won a domestic trophy, the 1955 FA Cup. Magpies legend and then talisman Jackie Milburn was the fulcrum of that team, which really illustrates how long ago it was.

Generations of Toon fans have been born and lived since a trophy was last lifted. Many were not alive to witness, or old enough to appreciate, the 1955 or 1969 wins - the latter of which was even a month before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had stepped foot on the moon; so yes, a long time indeed.

In the ensuing decades, although there were moments of ecstasy, notably the Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson years, Newcastle fans, more than anything, felt and experienced years of anguish and 'nearly' moments.

There were four lost cup finals: the 1974 FA Cup (3‑0 v Liverpool), the 1976 League Cup (2‑1 v Manchester City), the 1998 FA Cup (2‑0 v Arsenal) and the 1999 FA Cup (2‑0 v Manchester United).

They also famously blew a 12‑point January lead in the 1995/96 Premier League title race, and suffered two miserable relegations under Mike Ashley’s disastrous stewardship.

Supporters were dressed for the occasion (Image: EWishart)

The point I'm making is that Newcastle fans, young and old, have felt their fair share of pain. That feeling of eventually winning, as soppy as it is, really showed the true magic of football.

The game itself was a masterclass in drama; a thunderous header from local lad Dan Burn, then a superb Alexander Isak volley, before Federico Chiesa's 96th-minute goal gave Liverpool hope and left Magpies fans with their hearts in their mouths. Then, after what felt like a lifetime, victory was confirmed.

It's hard to put into words the emotions that were evoked after the referee blew the final whistle against Liverpool. For me, one of the fortunate few present at Wembley, it was initially waves of euphoria, swiftly followed by an outpouring of emotion.

Tears flowed when songs like Local Hero, Home Newcastle and 17 Going Under belted out of the tannoy, which I'm not embarrassed to admit, especially as I wasn't the only one.

Everywhere in sight, men, women and children of all ages were weeping, and I mean bawling; it was quite the spectacle. I still find it incredible how memories, emotion and football can all be so intrinsically linked to music.

That night, I remember feeling shattered, used and spent - the fans had been the 12th man that day, living vicariously through our heroes on the pitch.

Winners... at last (Image: EWishart)

A year on, Newcastle have just held the mighty FC Barcelona to a draw in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, with many fans feeling somewhat aggrieved at just taking a point at St James' Park, really depicting how far we've come since the dark days of Ashley.

Yes, Newcastle are struggling in the Premier League, and yes, Newcastle have been knocked out of both domestic cups, but this is just the beginning, and more silverware will undoubtedly follow.

If it comes, amazing; if it doesn't, it doesn't. Of course, I am still desperate for success, but I relent that whatever we win, I don't believe any feeling will ever come close to the feeling of lifting the first trophy of the new era.

To non‑football fans, it might sound nonsensical, but it genuinely was one of the best days of my life; the memories that I and all Newcastle fans made will be cherished forever.