Dan Burn read out a poignant speech to Newcastle United players on the eve of their Carabao Cup final clash against Manchester United in 2023.
There was a real sense of Newcastle players feeling the need to play up to the Amazon Prime cameras as directors and producers followed the Magpies around in the build-up to the club’s first cup final in 1999. Burn read out Theodore Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena to his team-mates as they got a feel for the dressing room and their illustrious cup final surroundings.
But sadly it didn’t do them any good and they lost 2-0 to Man United with the game pretty much done and dusted before half-time. Now Newcastle are heading back to Wembley with a different attitude and a different approach.
There will be no speeches, no cameras and less talk before the match when it comes to the media. Newcastle have even opted against a media open day, something which consumed the energy and the time of the players in an important week.
Former Darlington, Birmingham and Fulham star Burn said: “I think we have that experience of getting there now. And knowing what it took to get there.
“Obviously, we have already played Arsenal – one of the best teams in the league – but we were confident. Our fans were desperate for us to get to another final.
“When we reached the final a couple of years ago I feel like it was an emotional moment for the whole city.
“It has been so long since we’d been in games of that size – and subconsciously, maybe we were thinking about what was coming up. But we now know how important it is to focus on the here and now.”
For Burn winning a trophy would be a dream come true given he is a boyhood fan that used to sit in the East Stand during the Sir Bobby Robson era. However, it would be fitting for the 6ft 7in Blyth lad given he has probably had his best ever season in a black and white shirt.
Burn suffered a torrid spell last season when fielded at left-back and was made the scapegoat for a poor run early in 2024. But he has lived to tell the tale and said: “Yes, I feel confident. I think I’m surprised that people are surprised that I was doing well at centre-half because that was my position. I still feel that I can perform as a full-back, but obviously, I’ve played centre-half my whole life
“So I was confident in my ability. I think the competition for players is obviously there too. So I think everyone just keeps pushing each other, but yes, I feel in a good place.”
When asked about the critics, Burn said: “I think that’s obviously people’s opinions, isn’t it? I think for me, I’m just really competing against myself. I still feel as if I’m getting better as I’m getting older. I don’t really feel as if I’ve started to dip.”
One thing that will be for certain at Wembley will be that Burn’s hometown Blyth will get a shout over the weekend. The “He’s from Blyth” chant is well known to the fanbase and there is even a huge banner in the same colours as his beloved Blyth Spartans.
Burn said: “I always dreamt of growing up and wanting people to have a song at Newcastle and people singing it. So, yes, every time it happens, I enjoy it.
“Our fans sell out the away sections in every ground they go to. They have travelled through storms, train, engineering works, everything, but they are amazing.”
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