Walk to Cathedral will be a Champion On the hill feeling
TV COMMENTATOR JON IS EXCITED AT RETURNING TO HIS ROOTS FOR BIG CLASH
HIS voice is one of the most familiar in football and during his time in the commentary gantry he has witnessed the highs and lows of Newcastle United’s checkered history.
Born in Harrogate, Jon Champion has roots in our region and has a special affinity with St James’ Park too - meaning his walk up to the “cathedral on the hill” will evoke strong emotions as he starts his shift on Amazon Prime tomorrow evening when Newcastle take on Liverpool in a much-hyped Premier League fixture.
Champion, who has called games for the BBC, ITV, ESPN and now Amazon Prime, knows how emotions run high on Tyneside but is excited ahead of the clash on Gallowgate.
It is the morning after the night before as we settle down to have a chat with the dust still settling after Newcastle’s abject League Cup exit at Brentford, the experienced World
Cup commentator’s icebreaker summing up what unfolded before the festive programme: “It is never dull is it?
“Looking to the Liverpool game, I don’t think this is the type of game which will define Newcastle’s season.
“Very good sides can be taken apart by Liverpool.
“So I don’t see it as a barometer for Newcastle, it is almost a free hit.
“Anything they get is a bonus, which I know is not what Newcastle fans think it is about, but it is a dose of reality at this stage.
“Liverpool are the eminent team in the Premier League.
“Newcastle are where they are, which is pretty much where they should be given the resources they have.
“They have improved the squad and Callum Wilson is a terrific player to have and a lot of pieces in and around are upgrades.
“H owe v e r, they are also still struggling to get over the Covid outbreak which is having a lingering effect on the players. “This is one of those seasons and one Newcastle just have to try to get through without too many dramas and then look to go again when the world is back on its axis.”
For now, Newcastle fans have no choice but to focus on what is in front of them - which will be Amazon Prime’s live stream against the Reds, a fixture which will sign off an emotionally-charged 2020 for the Magpies.
Champion has called many of these fixtures before and recalled: “The first one I did was the Andy Cole hat-trick in Newcastle’s first season in the top flight.
“The two 4-3 games in the 1990s, Collymore at the end, and Kevin Keegan leaning over the advertising hoarding in despair when the goal goes in in stoppage time.
“I also remember vividly doing Alan Pardew’s first game in charge which was a 3-1 win with a goal from distance from Andy Carroll.
“I was at Anfield when Joey Barton was sent off under Alan Shearer too.
“I was also at the microphone for the 6-0 defeat, their worst defeat since 1925, in 2013.
“My favourite match was a 2-1 win for Newcastle in 1995 when Steve Watson scored the winner in the last minute.”
Champion’s experiences of climbing the steps at the Milburn Stand before taking his place in the commentary box amid a swirling atmosphere are fresh in the memory.
Yet this visit to St James’ Park will be very different as the media and playing staff go through the rigmarole of temperature checks and form-filling before taking their seats.
Champion, who signed for ESPN in 2019 to work in the States, reflected: “It is tough, I cannot be seen to favour any Premier League team but for lots of reasons St James’ is my favourite top-flight stadium.
“Partly because I have family from Blyth, my mother is from Blyth and my grandfather was the treasurer of Blyth Council.
“My grandmother is from Gateshead. I used to be taken to St James’ as a kid.
“I used to remember when we were out shopping on Grey Street and you could hear the roar of the crowd from St James’ at the top of the hill and wondering: ‘What would it be like inside there?’
“To then go on to commentate on so many big games is some
Newcastle are where they are, which is pretty much where they should be given the resources they have
Jon Champion
thing else and I always look forward to games with enthusiasm.”
Champion knows how much of a blow it is for Newcastle not to hear that roar this season.
He added: “Newcastle as a team have been more grievously hit with the absence of a crowd.
“Just because they are a wonderful 12th man.
“I cannot wait to walk up the hill, past the Sir Bobby Robson statue, but then at the same time it will not be the same experience for me.
“Just before I left for America my last Premier League game was Newcastle 2 Manchester City 1 and we had the full experience that night.
“I was very happy to walk away wistfully knowing I had seen St James’ Park at its very best on a big night when they performed above and beyond expectations.
“That is what I cannot wait to see return.”