A screenshot of Sammy Scott celebrating Newcastle United’s goal against Arsenal on live television on Jan. 7, 2025.
Sammy Scott, a nine-year-old Newcastle United fan, was caught on live television celebrating his team’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the stadium after telling his school he was sick to take a day off.
Scott, a big fan of Newcastle, convinced his mother, Claire, 40, to request a sick day from school so he could travel with his father, Mark, to London to watch the first leg of the League Cup semifinals at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Jan. 7.
However, Sky Sports cameras captured Scott enthusiastically celebrating Anthony Gordon’s goal, which secured Newcastle’s 2-0 victory. Relatives and friends also recognized the duo on TV and sent them messages.
Mark, a plasterer from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, told The Sun: “The cameras panned round to us but obviously we didn’t know at the time that we had been on TV. Soon after my phone started going mad and people were sending us videos and messages saying: ‘We’ve just seen you and Sammy on tele’.”
Scott’s school, Benton Dene Primary, soon found out about the story when it went viral. The school sent an email to the family, marking his absence as “unauthorized.”
“Just to let you know that Sammy’s absence from Tuesday 7th January 2025 will now be marked as unauthorised,” the email wrote.
“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 posted about the incident on social media, which drew support from football fans across the country. Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch chimed in, saying, “You’ve got to cut this boy some slack here. Memories for a lifetime.”
The victory at the Emirates gives Newcastle a strong advantage heading into the return leg at St. James’ Park on Feb. 5. Mark is optimistic about the team’s chances of reaching the final and potentially winning the League Cup to end their title drought.
“It’s on a Sunday so there won’t be any problem with school,” Mark added.
Newcastle United have won the domestic league three times and FA Cups six times. However, their last trophy came in 2006 when they lifted the now-defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup.
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