A nine-year-old Newcastle United fan was caught skipping school when he was spotted on Sky’s cameras celebrating his team’s victory against Arsenal.
Sammy Scott, of Forest Hall, North Tyneside, travelled to London with his father Mark for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
His mother Claire, 40, told his school that Sammy was ill and would not be able to come in as he headed to the capital for the match on Tuesday evening.
However, they were exposed when Sky cameras showed Sammy celebrating with the label ‘Geordie Joy’ after Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored in Newcastle’s 2-0 victory.
Sammy was beaming in delight with his fists clenched as Mark’s phone erupted with texts telling him they had been on the television.
An email from Sammy’s school was also received saying that his absence would be marked ‘unauthorised’ after the family were caught out.
Speaking to the Sun, Mark revealed that the school had actually ‘been really good with Sammy’.
‘His teacher is a big Newcastle fan – we even bumped into him at the Spurs game at the weekend – and he was making a joke of it with Sammy,’ he said.
Sammy Scott, aged nine, travelled to to travel to London with dad Mark for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium
An email from Sammy’s school said that his absence would be marked ‘unauthorised’ after the family were caught out by the Sky cameras
‘It’s gone crazy online. It was one of those things that snowballs and absolutely blew up. People were sending me screenshots of accounts that had millions of followers that were posting about it including ex-players.
‘It has been unbelievable. But Sammy is only nine and doesn’t realise how big it has become. He hasn’t got a care in the world and is just getting on with stuff as normal.’
After posting it online thousands of football fans responded to support Sammy with former England striker Peter Crouch saying: ‘You’ve got to cut this boy some slack here. Memories for a lifetime.’
The email from Benton Dene Primary said: ‘Just to let you know that Sammy’s absence from Tuesday 7th January 2025 will now be marked as unauthorised.
‘This is due to media footage showing him away in London at a football match. Please contact us at school if you wish to discuss further.’
Mark went on the reveal that Sammy, who plays twice a week for his local side, has an ‘almost 100 per cent’ attendance at school putting him in the ‘outstanding bracket’.
Newcastle’s win puts them in charge of the semi-final clash with the second leg at St James’ Park next month as the club look to win their first trophy in 70 years.
The Magpies made the final in 2023 but lost out to Manchester United in a 2-0 defeat with Casemiro and Marcus Rashford scoring the goals at Wembley Stadium.
But Sammy is praying his heroes make it to the final again and go on to lift their first cup in 70 years.
Mark revealed he was unable to get tickets for last season’s final leaving him ‘devastated’ but he is ‘hoping we get there again and get tickets this time’.
