Arlo, the five-year-old pointer-labrador mix, is stealing the hearts of Newcastle United supporters as he makes his rounds at every away fixture. This dedicated pup travels the length of the UK on the fans' coach, serving as a furry symbol of loyalty for the club.
Owner John Rush, alongside his daughter Jenna, runs North East Coach Travel, organising journeys for fans to away games. This partnership ensures that Arlo regularly accompanies supporters, injecting warmth and a sense of camaraderie into their travels. On special occasions, they would dress him in black-and-white club colours, but Arlo’s devotion reached a new height recently.
He made a notable appearance in the away section of Den’s stadium during the EFL Cup tie where Newcastle triumphed over Millwall with a narrow 1-0 victory. A video capturing the composed pooch amidst the joyful celebrations went viral on social media, showcasing his calm demeanour amongst the excited fans.
Following this unexpected fame, local pet shop Leazes Bark in Gateshead, styled with the club's themes, invited Arlo for a visit and gifted him a personalised Newcastle shirt.
Owner's daughter Jenna shared her feelings on the surge of attention towards Arlo:
It seems like everyone loves Arlo. The fans who travel with us know him well, and even the police outside the stadium come over to say hello. His presence at the game was just incredible—it's another cherished memory for him and my dad. They share a remarkable bond; my father calls Arlo the 'love of his life' and wouldn't want to go anywhere without him. The dog absolutely adores the bus rides and seeing familiar faces. Now he's being dubbed the ultimate 'football dog' as he never misses an away match.
Dressed in his new club kit, Arlo is set to travel to the next away clash against Leeds United at Elland Road, where he'll once again take his usual spot on the coach, spreading optimism among the supporters before kick-off.
