Toon supporters: Happier than last season?As you’re probably aware, Newcastle United’s Boxing day trip to Sheffield Wednesday will mark our 23rd league game of the season, marking the half-way point in what is turning out to be a fantastic season so far! This article takes a look at some of the happenings since the season began way back on the 8th of August.
With a team seemingly devoid of confidence, direction, application and the uncertainty surrounding the owner, managerial position, and who was next to be sold, the toon set off for the season opener at West Brom. After being 1-0 down at half-time, a superb finish from Damien Duff earned us a share of the spoils. That was to be Duff’s only appearance for us this season as he was quickly snapped by Fulham and he followed the likes of Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Seb Bassong and Habib Beye out of the club. (more…)
Will we be record breakers?Less a match preview and more of a crowd preview, this article looks at the possibilty of Newcastle United supporters marking an entry in the Coca-Cola Championship book of records.
I am of course talking about the home attendance record. The visit of “local” rivals Middlesborough gives the toon a chance of building on what have been superb average home gates this season of 41,749, probably far better than any of us had imagined the gates would be after our relegation.
So far, our highest gate has been 43,949, but with St James’s Park’s full house capacity of 52,387 there is certainly scope for more!
Currently, the record for highest crown outside the premier league (since the premier league’s inception) is held by our enemies down the road, Sunderland, standing at 47,350. Now this was a game against Stoke City on May 8th 2005 and judging by the date, looks like it was a promotion party that day. (more…)
Adding to the charm?It’s been reported that Newcastle have agreed to bring in Ampersand, a Liverpool-based marketing agency, in order to push for new sponsorship. Amid the furore which followed Ashley’s latest ill-timed and ill-fated decison to rename St James’, it would seem the deal was agreed based on Ampersand impressing the board with their work which went into a similar project for Everton. Apparently they too are a client of Ampersand, who have been involved in the renaming rights for their new stadium planned to be built in Kirkby.
However, they’ll also be pushing other channels as many of our sponsorship deals come to a close at the end of the season, and they will be looking particularly at a new shirt sponsor. It would appear the club has confirmed the appointment but declined to comment any further. However, managing director of Ampersand Emma Blackmore said they would be working in close partnership with the club over the next 12 months. (more…)
United?A couple of apologies first. One for introducing Marcus Bentley’s dulcet Big Brother tone into your head and secondly for perhaps once again putting the cat amongst the pigeons on a sensitive and potentially divisive topic. The topic? Well it’s the topic of whether or not you’re doing your duty by Newcastle United in attending games or staying away. And if you do, how much are you allowed to complain before you stop becoming a supporter and instead become a destroyer?
Other far more respected and established writers on sites, such as True Faith and .com have had their say on the matter, and each offered only limited advice as to the right actions to take last Saturday, effectively a ‘follow your heart and your instincts’ theme. I wanted to actually write this before the Peterborough game but for the very reason I almost missed the game, I didn’t get chance. With all that has happened recently, this is one game I wanted to be at. I wanted to see if the majority of my fellow supporters felt as indignant as I did/do. But due to my daughter’s fifth birthday I nearly didn’t make it. But I was issued a late afternoon pass and offered the blessing of the two ladies in my life to go and enjoy myself. And of course therein lay the issue. (more…)
Video highlights of Newcastle United’s 3-1 triumph over Peterborough at St James’s Park yesterday, including free bedsheet protesters at the start! (more…)
