A LIFETIME Skipper’s desperate for a party to rival Mancs in ’99
KIERAN TRIPPIER wants the Toon Army to party like it’s 1999. The Newcastle defender is prepared to do whatever it takes to bring a trophy back to Tyneside for the first time in 54 years – even if that means upsetting his Manchester United-mad family. Bury-born Trippier was eight when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side clinched the Treble and sparked manic celebrations that brought Manchester to a standstill. And he reckons the Geordie nation will party even harder if Newcastle land the Carabao Cup at Wembley. “The celebrations would be even bigger than back then,” said Trippier, 32, who will captain the side if club skipper Jamaal Lascelles is on the bench. “Ask the Geordie boys here, like Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn (both right). They say the city will be in lockdown if we win a trophy.
“It’s good to have players like them because they can relate to us exactly what it means to the fans. We will give a good account of ourselves to try and win it.
“To win a cup would be…well, put it this way, even when I take my kids to school, the headmaster is coming out and saying, ‘Thank you.’
“The city is just so passionate. As players, all we do is try to put a smile on everyone’s face.”
Trippier has played in European Championship and Champions League finals, won La Liga and appeared in a World Cup semi-final.
But mum Eleanor and dad Chris will be there with brothers Kelvin, Curtis and Chris to see him feature in the first domestic cup final of a career that started with Manchester City and took him to
Burnley, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid before he arrived at St James’ Park.
Trippier said: “My brothers still go to Old Trafford and if we weren’t playing United, they would be supporting them.
“They will be supporting me. Well, hopefully they will!
“They’re all proud to see me reach a cup final in England.
“It’s been crazy. There’s been a real feelgood factor around Newcastle.
“So many parents of my kids’ friends have come up to me to say how excited they are and that they might just go down to London for the occasion.”
Newcastle fans can be sure Trippier isn’t going to Wembley just for a day out. He could become the first Newcastle captain to lift a trophy since
Bob Moncur hoisted aloft the Fairs Cup in 1969.
No Toon skipper has walked down from the Royal Box at Wembley with some silverware since Jimmy Scoular with the
1955 FA Cup.
Trippier said: “I haven’t even thought about who will lift the trophy. I have to blot that out. The fans can dream but, for me, it’s all about how we can win the game.”