In Forest Hall, North Tyneside, nine-year-old Sammy Scott lived for Newcastle United as a devoted young fan, he dreamed of seeing his beloved Magpies in action, especially in a high-stakes Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
On January 7, 2025, that dream became reality, but it came with a risky family plan.
Sammy's mother, Claire, called Benton Dene Primary School to report him ill, granting him the day off.
Instead of resting at home, the bright youngster traveled south with his father, Mark, a plasterer who shared his son's passion.
The pair soaked in the electric atmosphere as Newcastle delivered a stunning defensive masterclass, with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon securing a historic 2-0 win, Newcastle's first away victory over Arsenal since 2010.
As the final whistle blew, joy erupted.
Sammy's beaming face and wild celebrations flashed across Sky Sports' live broadcast, instantly recognizable to friends and family back home.
Mark's phone lit up with messages: 'You're on TV!'
The message from Benton Dene Primary was direct: 'Dear Parents, 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 this further.'
Mark later reflected on the whirlwind: "It was nice but his school obviously got to see it because we got an email saying his sick day was now an unauthorised absence."
Social media exploded with support for the family, many praising the moment as priceless.
One fan summed it up, "Memories like these are worth more than a perfect attendance record."
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