Andy primed for ‘Goode Sunday’ finale
As he prepares for what would be his final game as a Newcastle Falcon, Andy Goode says the club and the region has left an indelible mark.
Sunday’s Aviva Premiership visit of his former club Wasps rounds off a three-month stint for the former England fly-half, who said: “From day one the players and staff were all brilliant.
“Dean took the Mickey out of me in the first team meeting, everyone joined in and that settled everything for me. Through training and playing I have earned the lads’ respect, and just tried to have a positive impact any way I could.”
Goode started for the Falcons in their home wins over Harlequins, Leicester and Northampton, and has made six appearances so far.
Speaking in Sunday’s match programme, he said: “The fans up here have been brilliant in adopting me as one of their own.
“I don’t know how many people get honorary Geordie status after six games but it can’t be many, although I have to say a lot of the plaudits I have received are on the back of the efforts of players elsewhere in the side. But Mike Delany is back fit now, I have had a couple of good nights out in Newcastle and all in all it has been a success.”
Adamant the Falcons have what it takes to avoid dropping down a division, Goode said: “I am 100% confident we will stay in the Aviva Premiership and there is nobody here talking about relegation.
“We have got ourselves in to the position where it is in our own hands. When I arrived at Christmas we were bottom of the league but we have got some players back from injury, slowly grown in confidence and the coaching has been good.
“There is now a decent understanding of how we are trying to play the game, that has come from a settled team and we have three huge home games left. Our record at Kingston Park has been pretty good since the turn of the year and it’s important we take that form into these games with the fans right behind us.”
Starring as the poster boy for #GoodeSunday with a campaign featuring him standing in front of the Tyne Bridge with a copy of the Chronicle, he joked: “Yeah, I’ve had a bit of banter about that but I think people know by now I don’t take myself too seriously. It was done with a smile on my face and was just a little bit of fun to help promote the game.
“The whole ‘Goodey is a Geordie’ thing really meant a lot to me after such a short spell up here, and hopefully once I am back into retirement I can come and have a few pints and watch the Falcons from the stands with our supporters.”
For the full interview with Andy Goode get your copy of Sunday’s match programme, priced just £3. Tickets for the game (kick-off 3pm) are available by calling 0871 226 6060, from Kingston Park in person or by [**CLICKING HERE**][1].
Supporters are advised that the stadium ticket office and telephone hotline are open from 10am until 4pm on Good Friday and Saturday, and from 9am on Easter Sunday.
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/default.aspx
