AMBER-KEEGAN STOBBS will fulfil a childhood dream when she plays at St James’ Park for the first time on Sunday.
The Newcastle skipper, 31, was named after Toon icon Kevin Keegan by her dad.
And Stobbs cannot wait to lead her team on to the hallowed turf when the Lady Magpies host Portsmouth in the Women’s National League Cup semi-final.
The London-born midfielder, whose playing journey began in Arsenal and Chelsea academies, first went to St James’ as a seven-year-old to see Newcastle beat Aston Villa 2-1.
Stobbs recalled: “It was 1999. I remember walking into the stadium and feeling, ‘This is unbelievable’.
“We were sitting in the K section at the time where there were grey seats.
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“My dad turned to me during the day and said, ‘You know why we’re in the K section?’
“He kept saying ‘Keegan, Keegan’, and it made me feel very connected.
“That’s my favourite memory growing up being a Newcastle fan because the St James’ Park atmosphere just engulfs you.
“As a seven-year-old I didn’t know these places existed.”
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Stobbs’ career has seen her take in nine clubs including Reading, Everton and Crystal Palace — and she joined Newcastle last summer.
Dropping down to the third tier from Championship side Lewes has paid off for Stobbs, with boss Becky Langley’s team top of the Northern Premier Division.
The midfielder believes her experience can help Newcastle — who last year became the first team at their level to go full-time — to make the leap into the Championship.
Stobbs added: “When Becky said that I was going to be captain I was blown away.
“I don’t draw on my experience a lot for what went well, more the situations where I’ve learned the best lessons.
“I’ve been in sides relegated from the Championship, a club that won the Championship and a club that missed promotion to WSL by one point.
“Experiences like that make me question where we fell short and what to do right next time.”
Newcastle women’s last St James’ Park game saw them thrash Bradford 6-1 in front of a 24,000 crowd last April.
Stobbs, who is studying for a counselling diploma, has spoken in the past about the impact the sport can have on mental health.
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She said: “The transition for the team going from part-time to full-time was a big one but the group handled it really well.
“My biggest passion is supporting people’s well-being and making sure everyone is enjoying life as well as their dream of playing football.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
