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Seventeen and going up on the stage with Sam
The Journal
|June 19, 2025
A TEEN says he “still feels like he's dreaming now” after being asked by Sam Fender to join him up on stage at St James' Park.

Alfie Rickard performed on Sunday night after 50,000 fans descended on Newcastle United's iconic stadium for the final of three gigs.
Sunday night saw an electric atmosphere to round off the last show, as United defender Dan Burn made a surprise appearance with the Carabao Cup.
But it was 17-year-old musician Alfie performing The Boarders — his favourite song - with Sam that captured the audience's hearts.
Now living in Longhoughton near Alnwick, the teen who originates from Sam Fender's own home town of North Shields - had queued up for hours, eager to get a front row view of his favourite singer perform for the first time with a sign reading “Sam can I play with U”.
Alfie said: “I held a sign up and then heard him shout, ‘Howay, son’ and was given a guitar and asked to join Sam and the band on stage. Once I got up I told Sam I was originally from North Shields and he shouted to the crowd, ‘He's one of our own!’”
This story is from the June 19, 2025 edition of The Journal.
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