Sean and Matty Longstaff are the current darlings of the Newcastle United faithful.
Whilst the season isn’t going completely to plan, with the Magpies currently in the relegation zone, the Longstaff brothers have been a very bright note.
Matty’s goal against Manchester United will long live in the memory for fans of the Premier League club, and the pair represent some hope for the future.
That they’re local gives Newcastle a better chance of keeping them for longer, with there already being claims of interest from elsewhere.
Sean was born in Newcastle, whereas Matty was born in Rotherham but still fits in the Geordie mould. Both of them also spent time elsewhere in their childhood, with father David a former ice hockey player.
That’s why Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has spoken to the pair. They haven’t been back to Sweden since their father left Djurgården Hockey, having been the first Englishman to play in the country’s top division.
Sean is keen to return: “I told my dad that we have to go back now that we are adults. It is definitely on the “bucket list” to go and see a match again.”
David is currently the coach of Whitley Warriors, and the brothers continue to follow ice hockey, with Sean saying: “We are always at his games. We have been hanging out at ice rinks and changing rooms since we were 3-4 years old, so hockey has been there all my life.”
Asked why they chose football over ice hockey, Sean said: “Haha yes, maybe… But you know, in England football is the one. Especially when coming from Newcastle. Then we were probably a little better at football than hockey too, so in the end it was a pretty easy decision.”
Matty was asked about all the media attention he got after the goal against Manchester United, and explained things have calmed down now, and he’s glad to have the company of his brother in the Newcastle team: “To be honest, it was so fun that it happened. But here we are, two weeks later, and we lost at Stamford Bridge. Now you just feel disappointed, that’s a bit how the Premier League works.
“It’s better when you win. At the same time, there is no better feeling than being out there on the pitch with someone who means so much to you. Someone you grew up with.”
