For the 30 strong members of the Toon Army who made the trip to Trinidad and Tobago the majority were in general agreement that the games they witnessed more than matched any experienced at English football grounds.

In particular, the reception in Tobago was extraordinary, with the Toon Army mingling with the steel band and playing the drums side by side with locals as the game progressed. 

Our South American duo were obviously at home with the incessant beat as both Diego and Nobby (2) netted. Gallacher got the other goal.

Tobago 2 NUFC 4 Match Summary

From the stands the fans, with cans of local brew Carib in hands, kept the singing going with a string of hastily thought up songs especially for the occasion. "Whoa, Toon Army’s in Tobago, whoa with Nobby and Diego" was a favourite, so was: "Tell me Ma me Ma, I won’t be home for tea, we’re staying in T&T tell me Ma me Ma."

The match finished four-two to the Toon with players and fans alike swapping shirts with locals, and bottles of rum were bought as a thank-you for the band. One of the high spots, in a day when the football was merely a background, was the highly unusual rendition of "One Love" as a football chant, started by the Newcastle fans and quickly joined in with by the Tobago locals.

Earlier the more urban environment of Trinidad was a completely different experience. An impressive stadium was largely empty save for a few curious locals and some ex-pat Toon fans. Particularly impressive were the youngsters with Jamie McClen the pick of the crop. (Another song: "Jamie Mac, superstar, a million times better than Fumaca).

On that occasion a well-organised Trinidad select side kept the game close with Newcastle snatching it one-nil thanks to Kevin Gallacher.

PFL All-stars 0 NUFC 1 Match Summary

One of the funniest moments was at the training session, when after putting them through their paces for an hour and a half in 90 degree heat, he refused to let them at the cold drinks which had been laid on, believing the freezing liquids would give them stomach cramps. It may be true but it sounded closer to an old wives tale than modern sports science.

Elsewhere the Toon Army blended well in T&T, hardly surprising as the two islands pride themselves on the amount of beer their menfolk can drink. Three fans bought a goat to race in a locally held competition. With a name like "Toon Army" hardly surprising that it, complete with black and white shirt, came second.

There were a few tales emanating from the Newcastle camp, all to libellous to put into print, luckily for the lads Sheffield United had been out a week before and had behaved so disgracefully that Bobby and the boys in comparison couldn’t look any worse.

For the most part though they were perfect gents, happy to pose for photos buying beers for the fans, signing autographs and ensuring that the children in the party got shirts and other souvenirs. Here we can see an obviously over-generous Warren Barton and Steve Howey enjoying a refreshing beer, reduced to wearing old rags.

Ultimately however, it’s the ground in Tobago that will remain in the memory. The United contingent were in agreement and told impressed locals that it was much better day out than Wembley. 

Of course that may not have been true had we ever won there...but they appreciated the sentiment anyway.

Next year organisers Sports Caribbean plan to make a similar trip to Barbados. I reckon it’s worth starting to save now.