St James’ Park – It’s Official!

Posted on April 18th, 2012 | 50 Comments |

SJP Forever!
Some United supporters it has to be said were fairly laid back about the attempt by the current “southern-based tenants” to consign the name St James’ Park to history. The geordies amongst us, who were brought up the correct way, refused to give up our history without a fight. The name means a lot to us. It did to our fathers and grandfathers. There’s too much of our lives, our memories, our passion and our families histories tied up in the cathedral on the hill. It will always be St James’ Park.

Some people wondered about Newcastle City Council’s support for the fans’ view – in refusing to change any of the signage in the city – all signs still point to St James’ Park. A publicity stunt? No – an acceptance of reality? yes. The southern tenants squatting in St James’ Park have even muttered about taking legal action against the City Council – now that would be a popular move Mr Ashley – NOT!

The point is that the naming of the ground after a T-shirt shop is transitory, temporary. Even the current tenants admit it, and claim to be actively seeking another sponsor, another name to plaster all over St James’ Park and point at the TV cameras, in return for a fast buck. So why should the city council spend ratepayers money changing the signs, just to have to spend even more ratepayers money changing them again when a new sponsor is found? And all of this when the country is allegedly skint, and the London Government is taking money away from our council (and the NHS, the schools etc) to pay for their 6-week Olympic extravaganza?

One of the benefits of the City Council’s stance on signage, it has emerged, is that St James’ Park is to remain on Ordnance Survey maps. That’s right folks – St James’ Park – it’s official – it says so on this here map!

In a letter to a local Newcastle MP, Government Mapping Overlord-ess Vanessa Lawrence has confirmed that they will side with public opinion on this matter – and St James’ Park will continue to be shown on Ordnance Survey Maps.

“Wor Vanessa” told the Shields Gazette:

“If the new name is adopted by the owners of the stadium but this does not lead to a change in direction signage by the local authority, then the Ordnance Survey would not change its mapping because the new name lacked evidence of longevity and extensiveness of usage.”

“Ordnance Survey takes the view that the change of name is temporary, and it will not change the published name of St James’s Park at this time.”

MP Chi Onwurah said: “I am very happy that Ordnance Survey recognise the importance of St James’s Park, and that they will be joining fans in keeping that name alive.”

“I will now be writing to Google and others organisations to seek to ensure that whenever people see Newcastle on a map, they see St James’s Park. It is an important part of our city’s heritage, and should be recognised as such.”

If you bump into “Wor Vanessa” before I do, tell her from me there’s a drink waiting on the bar for her any time she’s passing this way. Well done lass.

NUFCBlog Author: UTD111 UTD111 has written 59 articles on this blog.

Related Posts:


50 Responses

  1. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet.”

    That’s what davey shakespeare said anyhoo.

    What’s important is what we/you/me call it.

    Although, some really care what others think.

  2. Clint “What’s in a name?” – if I ever have a son I’ll call him Bill or George or Tom – anything but Sue !

  3. supermac,

    i get the J Cash reference mate,
    but i don’t get what ya’ mean by it, if y’knowarra’mean?

  4. ask John Wayne why he didn’t call his son Marion – your name is your identity, be careful with it, it says who you are – change it and you change yourself – change your house name & you don’t get any more post.

    If not convinced try telling you wife that you have decided to change her name cos you don’t like her existing one !

  5. How much would Newcastle City Council accept to change their name to Sprout’s Direct dot com Council?
    – well, it all depends what’s in it for them doesn’t it !

  6. We all use ‘different’ names on here.

    Interchangeable names happen all the time now.

    I’m sure we all know people that have changed their name.

    It’ll always be St. James’ Park or Gallowgate or Barrack Rd or SJP or the cathedral on the hill.
    It’s nowt new, it’ll probably change again at some point.

  7. If you put “St James’ Park” into Google Earth, it takes you to some place in London

    If you change it to “St James’ Park NE1” it takes you to St James’ Park (the proper one)

    If you put “Sports Direct Arena” – it kind of hovers over the Atlantic Ocean looking confused!

    :)

  8. Happy Birthday Danny Guthrie!

    Here’s to a new contract!

    Go on kidda, get signed up!

  9. Aye – happy birthday Danny!

    I’m sure you’d be happy to stick around and accept you won’t be playing in every game eh mate?

    Thought not!! :)

  10. Not sure who runs it but I’m unable to put next weeks predictions in. Every time I press save I’m getting

    “Error[object Object]parsererrorSyntaxError: JSON.parse: unexpected character”

    Have tried refreshing and logging in and out.

  11. Aye maze,
    i’ve just tried & it ain’t happening either…
    Hugh?
    You out there in cyberspace mate?

  12. No idea why that problem started occuring, but it’s fixed now.

    Or at least I fixed the problem that was preventing me from making predictions, which had a different error.

    Let me know if you still have a problem.

  13. UTD111 says:
    April 18, 2012 at 11:54 am

    “If you put “St James’ Park” into Google Earth, it takes you to some place in London”

    Aye, the Queen’s driveway, UTD111.

    If you put “S_____ D_____ A____” in there and keep zooming, it will take you to a house in Thornhill Square, Islington. I tried it.

  14. workyticket says:
    April 18, 2012 at 2:16 pm
    UTD111 says:
    April 18, 2012 at 11:54 am

    Aye, the Queen’s driveway, UTD111.
    __________________________________

    Well, I must say it was nice of the Queen to name her drive after a famous football ground – wonder if she’s a black n white?

    Couldn’t expect me to know that though – the only places I’ve ever been to in London are Wembley, Stamford Bridge and Tottenham (one of the rare occasions they weren’t rioting)…Oh and Watford and Hendon and Sydenham and Catford.

  15. UTD111 says:
    April 18, 2012 at 11:54 am

    “Well, I must say it was nice of the Queen to name her drive after a famous football ground – wonder if she’s a black n white?”

    You write that the map making people will still call SJP, SJP; but some poor gadgie in Islington has had his house renamed as the “S_____ D_____ A____!” :lol:

    I think they’ve made a mistake somewhere. I hope he doesn’t get 50,000 Geordies on his doorstep one Saturday afternoon!

  16. I dont know about you guys ?
    Just when wor Mick gans doon the toon for a few bevvies, with the lads, you bring up the renaming stuff.
    Opening old wounds, just as the media and PR department had opened this rapprochement scenario.
    Wey a jus divin knaa man, howeh lads, give im a chance, he might gan oot n’ buy us a coupla good players like!

  17. St.James’ Park,
    Ah yes remember it well.
    A daily walk, first to the swings, then feed the ducks, head for the bandstand for orange juice and a snack.
    Listen to the military band for a while, then myself and my three three old would walk to the haymarket, past the Grand Old Duke of Yorke statue, singin the song as we passed, up to Piccadilly,take the bus to South Ken. station and home, delightfull.
    Just read where London is the most popular city for the rich and mega rich, with New York second.
    Having lived in both cities, have to concur.

  18. chuck,

    2 great cities mate.

    The Toon is right up there too like.
    Probably top of the league in the friendly stakes!

  19. CLINT
    I dont know if Novocastrians realise it, but Newcastle has some of the most interesting archtecture and is/was
    one of the most pleasant cities in the country.
    Of course the destruction of Eldon Square was a criminal act as was the building of that awfull Mall, to the detriment of that grand shopping area of Grainger St.
    Had they wanted a Mall, what was wrong with the Grainger market.
    All that was needed was a bit of renovation.
    That and the destruction of the very old Percy St.,plus the spaghetti junction this side of the Bridge,
    City planners have a lot to answer for.

  20. chuck,

    for ‘planners’ read spanners (in the works).

    Newcastle is a beautiful city though. As someone who lives in the ‘big bad’ everyone i meet that has been to the Toon always, without fail, say what a great place it is.
    Especially remarking on it’s friendliness & fun attitude.
    Most people even like the dialect!

  21. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    April 18, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    “worky,

    the sites looking great mate.
    Top work brother!”

    Cheers Clint, it’s aal still gannin’ tits up backstage, like. Possibly a dodgy plugin update which has upset the database this time.

  22. chuck says:
    April 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    “Of course the destruction of Eldon Square was a criminal act as was the building of that awfull Mall, to the detriment of that grand shopping area of Grainger St.
    Had they wanted a Mall, what was wrong with the Grainger market.
    All that was needed was a bit of renovation.”

    Aye Chuck, “Capital Shopping Centres” down in that London were in an unholy alliance with the local council for money. I don’t know if you ever saw Newcastle after John Hall built the Metro Centre too? That also completely fecked up Newcastle for quite some time. All the shops started getting boarded up in the splendid Regency town centre and the place looked like a deserted dump for a fair while.

  23. Worky
    Has there been any comment in your local London media as to why neither of the so-called “big clubs” spuds and chelski could sell all their tickets for an FA Cup semi final – when all their fans had to was fall out of bed and into Wembley?

    Or do they just accept mediocre fans as “big” down there?

  24. UTD111 says:
    April 18, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    “Worky
    Has there been any comment in your local London media as to why neither of the so-called “big clubs” spuds and chelski could sell all their tickets for an FA Cup semi final – when all their fans had to was fall out of bed and into Wembley?”

    UTD111, there were 85,731 people there apparently. Just over 63,000 tickets were allocated to fans of both teams and Tottenham at least sold out their allocation, not sure about Chelski. Some of those empty seats may have been corporates?

  25. That’s about 5000 empty seats. There were blocks of empty seats all over – especially the Chelsea end. And on top of that the spuds end was almost empty 10 mins before the end!

    Big clubs my a*se LOL

  26. chelsea winning keeps them interested & possibly distracted for our game.
    Nice!

  27. No, but they don’t have to now. Doubt they’ll keep a clean sheet, but can see them scoring.

  28. If they nick one, Barca would have to score 3… Obviously they’re capable, but I think Chelsea can hold em off.

    Should be a cracking game.

  29. chelsea put in an excellent defensive shift tonight, much like milan did last round. It should be very tense.
    Y’d think if barca can score first…

  30. Plus,
    barca will have the refs onside at home too.
    They’ll be rolling around like…barcelona?
    :)
    chelsea may get a red card.

  31. Rolling around like Drogba? That’s all the first half consisted of was him on the ground.

    I’m going for 3-1 Barca, expecting drama :-)

    Either way, if they do get through they’ve got Munich or Real…

  32. jimbob,

    that’s the same score i was thinking.
    ;)

    If they win the CL they’ll deserve to be in, really.
    Can’t really complain if that happens.

    Aye,
    i banging into the tv & drogba fell over.
    :)

  33. can’t see why people are so concerned at how many people turn up to liverpool/chelski games – basically they’re a lot richer than us and not dependant on people turning up to actually watch footy live (espec chelski who charge 50 quid a ticket)

    oh and the name change – whatever – it’ll always be st james park to me, if my kids call it sda or whatever i really don’t give a toss as long as we’re in tip four every season – although Ive always thought why not give a charity free naming rights for a year or so, fans would prob back it, would get great press and i’d imagine be more viable for companies to sponsor afterward

  34. Speaking of Chelsea. Me and my mate were trying to get tickets to the game against Chelsea next month for my first ever Newcastle prem match, but all that was left were seats where you could only see a part of the pitch, so we have rescheduled to the tie for next season. Living down in Devon means I don’t get many chances since its a mission to any game plus all my mates are either manure, chelsea or arshole supporters. I was very excited before hand, bah.

  35. Phisix @48

    How about Reading next year. Travel would be much easier unless you were making a weekend of it and wanted to stay in central London.

    If you have a car, Southhampton might be good for a weekend.

    I think there are restrictions on being able to get tickets for the away end.