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Life Is Toogood For Facepaint Fan Pete
Written by Newcastle Utd
Pete Toogood was plucked from the crowd to train with his heroes, and said it was one of the best days of his life
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Perhaps the enduring image of Friday's open training day was the sight of a fan, his face painted black and white with a Newcastle United flag tied around his waist, taking part in the session.
Pete Toogood was plucked from the Gallowgate End by Alan Pardew, who hailed him the club's "number one fan," and even scored when he smashed a penalty past Rob Elliot during a training game.
The 19-year-old, from Shieldfield in Newcastle, wears his distinctive uniform to every game and regularly waits outside the club's Benton training ground to meet his heroes. So when Pardew spotted him in the crowd, he was given a morning he will never forget.
"It was a total shock," he told nufc.co.uk. "He just said 'do you want to join in?,' and I was like, 'aye - of course!'
"I was worried that I'd sweat so much my facepaint would run but I loved every minute of it. I joined in the warm-up - and slipped over in front of everyone - and then got to play in the game.
"At the minute, Hatem (Ben Arfa) is my favourite player so to play alongside him and talk to him and shake his hand was brilliant. I was over the moon - and to score was an amazing feeling.
"Then Alan Pardew gave me the microphone and I didn't know what to say. I was overwhelmed. I just wanted to praise every person who came - they're the greatest fans in the world.
"It was just absolutely brilliant and I'd just like to say 'thanks Alan, thanks a lot.' It was one of the best days of my life."