NUFC want YOU to ‘Have Your Say’!
By Richard Huggan On Tue 11 Sep 2007 |
What’s this all about?
Since Mike Ashley took full control of Newcastle United in June, some people here at Newcastle-Online have gone about forging a mutually beneficial relationship with the football club, something which was sadly lacking during the previous regime. Ourselves, NUFC.com and other fanzines like True Faith and The Mag have recognised the importance of good relations with the club for a long while now and finally, under the new owner, the people that matter have begun to respond.
What does this mean?
Basically, we now have the means to get our member’s opinions across to Newcastle United Football Club, through the proper channels, meaning that your opinion becomes more than just words on a fans’ website. To their enormous credit, the club have given us all a unique and unprecedented chance to get our personal opinions to the upper echelons of the St. James’ Park hierarchy.
Obviously, this is too good an opportunity for us to miss out on and so in the coming days, weeks, months and (hopefully) years we will be doing our utmost to utilise this new tool at our disposal and we need YOUR help to do so. With everything “under review†at Gallowgate, there has never been a better time to have an opinion.
What do you need from me?
The first step on this previously-untrodden path is simply to find out some of your likes and dislikes about the current – and previous - Newcastle United. We want to know about every issue that concerns you and that you want to be heard about, no matter how big or small, whether it’s to do with away games, home games, the Box Office, club merchandise, the atmosphere inside St. James’, food and drink prices inside the ground, the new season tickets, the players, the manager, the staff, the pre-game and half-time entertainment, scoreboards, big-screens, potential transfers, the local media, the club website, the new kits, the club shops, Shearer’s Bar, the internal and external appearance of the stadium…
Literally, anything that comes to mind, whether good or bad, whether you’re from the NE1 postcode or you’re in Outer Mongolia, we want to know – but, far more importantly than that, the club now want to know. No opinion will go to waste, nothing will be overlooked if we don’t agree with it ourselves, we’ve often said before that Newcastle-Online is run for the fans, by the fans, and this our chance to prove it - together.
What does the future hold?
Well, hopefully more of the same. We feel that sites like this one have an awful lot to offer Newcastle United Football Club. We have over 2,500 members on the forum alone and a great deal more who simply read the website, that’s a lot of potential feedback and opinion – from all corners of the globe and from all ages, races, genders and creeds – from people who all have the same agenda and the same interest at heart: to see Newcastle United prosper.
We cannot encourage you enough to take part and have your say, because you never know who might be listening/reading and you never know what it might lead to.
The more comments the better, so get responding!
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All valid points but the thing we all want is to see Newcastle United win somthing. Build us a team to win trophies and all the above requests will happen naturally
Sent in on: April 4th, 2008 at 7:59 am
bring back local hero before the game and see the atmosphere get better. every true geordie knows that local hero will make the hairs on your neck stand,
bring back the legendary st james park atmosphere.
Sent in on: March 31st, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Bringing back Local Hero is a must, but that apart stopping the prematch music 30 minutes before KO would help ‘bring back the noise’. As it is there’s no point trying to sing anything before kick off, and therefore no chance for any atmosphere to grow.
The PA shouting ‘bring back the noise’ is very irritating as well.
Sent in on: September 16th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Would love to see extended highlights of the NUFC games a-la MOTD available on the internet in some sort of decent quality, even if I have to download it. The ones on the official website are often late and such blurry image (its hard to see which player scores at times) that its not worth it. THERE HAS TO BE AN DECENT MIN_BY_MIN GAME UPDATE link on the internet to Cup games. Its desperate to follow the lads (in the US) relying on my Blackberry for BBC’s website to update the latest action. Can the NUFC website not allow the time for the phone-in calls after the game (or even pre-game stuff). It tends to shut up shop a wee bit too quickly after the game with interviews with the players often/always cut out. A slap on the back whomever was responsible for cutting the season price on the NUFC World.
Sent in on: September 14th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Come visit us Yanks in the US over the break. Will help to bring more fans into the Toon fold.
Sent in on: September 12th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
An example for our box office. Taken from the official west ham site this morning regarding their match with us on the 23rd of September:
As of close of business on Wednesday 5th September, approx 150 tickets out of the initial allocation of 1,938 tickets still remain for the above ALL TICKET Fixture so advanced booking for the match is strongly recommended.
West Ham United Ticket Office can also confirm that we have now received the tickets from Newcastle United and all bookings will be dispatched over the next couple of days.
——————————————
Compared to the poor level of communication on our website, they are far and away better at letting fans know what the ticketing is like.
Come on Newcastle United, the box office is letting you down!
Sent in on: September 7th, 2007 at 9:31 am
SINGING SECTION.
Sent in on: September 7th, 2007 at 12:04 am
All these suggestions are mint, but the big issue we face at the mo is the fact we have 3 games in seven days coming up! Can’t we get the Arsenal League Cup match moved to Wednesday or the West Ham match put back to Saturday? Remember last season when we played Sheffield two days after playing in the UEFA Cup?
Sent in on: September 6th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
As a yank stuck across the unfriendly seas, I have yet to experience the spectacle of St. James’ Park. I lived in North Yorkshire (Knaresborough, to be specific) for seven years while my dad worked at the base at Menwith Hill, so I only got to see Newcastle play once at Elland Road (Back when the Leeds fans in the area and at my school ridiculed me for supporting a club that wasn’t going places. Now I’m having a laugh!). Newcastle duly won 1 - 0 with Mssr. Solano scoring the only goal (I’m shattered to see him leave, he deserves some sort of tribute on this site for his years of service and general likeability).
My suggestion is that Newcastle set up some sort of itinerary planner (Similar to say, Expedia or Travelocity or something) with the Toon games as the focal point. I know it’s alot to ask, but I’d be first in line to take advantage of it. I’d give anything to go to a home game!
Sent in on: September 6th, 2007 at 5:21 am
A singing section is a must, yes it will take some organising and the moving of a fair few season ticket holders but it would be worth it tenfold.
A standing section would be great too but that is not up to Newcastle so it is pointless discussing really.
Local Hero must be brought back - preferably before a rousing rendition of The Blaydon Races as the teams take the pitch.
A dedicated TV Channel - most Geordies would subscribe to it surely, especially those living outside the area. Even a Internet based TV channel would do.
And PLEASE take up the full allocation of away tickets - they will sell out, especially now the website has an online ordering facility which is a godsend to those living away. I’ve been to countless European away games and mostly only managed to get a ticket via a fellow fan/tout on the day.
And NO MUSIC when we score - I detest that, it is a disgrace when a club does it. We can make our own noise (sometimes!)
Sent in on: September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
i agree with mike and most other peoples comments
the question is will they be implemented? probably not sadly
Sent in on: September 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
i won’t waste time saying how much better things are, so here it goes (be prepared!)….
totally agree with the points made - a tv channel, gallowgate and leazes ends being called that, more and better merchandise (if it can be sold - get it in black and white. condoms even - that’s what you call scoring!), bringing back local hero, tyneside related tunes played, no pop crap, no cheerleaders or mascots, no music after goals, moves to bring noise back and getting into the US market (manure, pool and the arse will always be the top three recognisible clubs, but chelski were nothing until the russian thief came along. we are so bankable that the naive US market would make us a fortune).
also a few points of my own…
1. i want to see SJP covered in flags, scarves and banners, continental-style. just plain B&W stripes merchandise, none of that ridiculous official club (or so they seem) blue and white chequered flags you see at chelski. let’s have flags with milburn’s, shearer’s, gallacher’s, harvey’s, beardsley’s faces on them. let’s show our tradition. and sorry, but let’s have less of the st george’s flags with nufc on them. you see them at all away games and some home - but every club in the land has them. this is nufc - we’re better than that.
2. the official website - it’s rubbish. it’s geared at eternal optimism (as i suppose it is designed for). look at chelski’s - straight to the point, smart and varied. okay so they’ve countless stolen roubles to play with but the fact is it’s a magnificent effort. we should be doing the same.
3. why not have an annual weekend event, a fans’ festival, with festivities, stalls etc in the city? that way overseas fans have a reason to come to newcastle and meet fans they otherwise may never get the chance to speak to in person. and they can actually see the club and city for themselves.
4. i know it was done before and failed - because of shepherd and the way the club was run - but a fans’ committee that had monthly - or even weekly - meetings with the club to build dialogue with the fans should be a must. the new owners are smart, but we must always let them know that we will always be here while they may not, so we need to have that access to them to let them know we know what’s best for the club.
5. the club could do more comminuty and school work. young magpies groups at schools in the region to get little uns who before long could be wearing chelski or manure tops, which should be unforgivable in newcastle! germany’s quite good for that - get to people through community work. in most big cities there you’ll only ever see the home town club(s)’ tops - the exception being bayern for obvious gloryhunting reasons and schalke (because of the national coal mining connection).
6. the youth set-up. now i’m sure things are improving, but the facilities should be doubled in terms of capacity and expenditure. this region has produced shearer, beardsley, the charltons, waddle etc - yet they all helped other clubs to trophies. it has to end. we’ve all known it for decades, but it’s time to really spend big on the youths. we’re so lucky to be in a conurbation area of near 800,000 without having another club to compete with, we should take advantage.
7. SJP. if the “Newcastle Brown” stand is to be developed we’ve got a pretty smart stadium, however the east stand will be totally dwarfed. no big deal, but i’d love to see a new roof put on that stand in the shape of an arch (in recognition of the tyne bridge) that would boost that part of the ground’s height. also with this, we could put in a scoreboard above the seating area of the stand and even a big screen if need be. not a necessity for the club, but something i think would be a nice touch to the city’s landmark and would make the stadium look less unbalanced. while it is now (even if it’s still a great ground) it will look even more so soon, so why not? also it wouldn’t cost the earth, surely?
8. a very important point imo - relations with the evening chronicle. i’ve absolutely nothing personal against alan oliver and am sure he cares about the club as much as anyone, but his journalism is embarrassing to himself, his paper, the club and the region. it makes us look parochial - a throwback to the geordie nation nonsense of sir john hall. the club, or paper, must do something about the coverage nufc gets.
Sent in on: September 5th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Safe standing sections (we effectively create these away from home already).
Designated singing sections.
Call the Gallowgate and Leazes by those names.
Maybe put a new see through roof on the Gallowgate so we can see Leazes level 7.
Play Local Hero and Blaydon Races before the match and get the fans to sing along with Blaydon Races a la the scousers and You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Plenty of flags and banners
Encourage vocal outbursts (within reason) not punish them
Defintely NO tunes after goals
Definitely NO cheerleaders or daft mascots
Definitely NO big screens
And can we start a petition to get those annoying electronic ad boards removed from ALL grounds, they do my head in.
Sent in on: September 5th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
LIke most people have said, BRING BACK LOCAL HERO. Its a disgrace that it has been dropped. Also sort out the tannoy system.
Again, like everyone else has mentioned, the away tickets are a joke. We should apply for maximum allocation for any away games, as we can easily take 3,000+ fans to Portsmouth or anywhere else in the country. Also we need to know more than a week in advance if we have been successful for an away ticket.
NO mad music after goals, kids running up and down the line or cheerleaders EVER please. We are a football club, and we don’t need to turn into Bolton just because we have Sam Allardyce.
Discount at the club shop for season ticket holders would be nice. We pump loads of money into the club year on year. A little back is very welcome, and things such as the free kids tickets and free drinks vouchers are most welcome, however £3 for a pint of horrendous lager 5 minutes after the second half has started even though you left your seat 5 mins before the first half ended is a joke. A lot more staff in the bars, concessions stands(who actually know what they are doing). I have seen it 5 deep at the bar in the lower leazes before.
And support the efforts of the Toon Ultras. These young lads are not hooligans, they just want to bring back the noise to the once fortress St James’. Give them a break, listen to what they want to do and maybe meet them halfway on flags, banners, visual displays etc and have a piece in the official programme on what they are, and what their aims are.
Cheers
DJ
Sent in on: September 5th, 2007 at 8:10 am
There are a couple of faults, most noteably local hero, what’s with this new thing? it hardly sets the adrenaline rushing.
I would also like to see thunderstruck by AC/DC back before the teams come out that was quality, but so was blitzkrieg bop. Hopefully the pa guy is right though.
And away tickets, its a bit of a joke how it took me 3 seasons worth of away matches to finally get my first boro away ticket this season. i’m still not hopeful for sunderland tho.
everything else seems to be going ok. though the queues at the box office were a bit of a joke before the barnsley match making a load of people miss kick off. perhaps more info on cash turnstiles fo everyone would be handy.
oh and for Barnsley i applied from my season ticket but my seat was “taken” by a paying fan on the night. What was that all about? So the steward gave me my seat rightly but told the other 4 to go and sit wherever.
that’s it really
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
I’m gunna start with things that i think could/should be better
First of all a bring back some tradition to the club and ground bringing back local hero is a must we all agree on that, also renaming the stands so they are once again officially the gallowgate and the leazes another thing that would be a nice touch and also get rid of the grey seats get black and white seats in there with NUFC or something wrote in blue like back in the 80’s/90s i think that view alone would bring back some atmosphere as well as those BRING BACK THE FLAGS!!!!
next i sit in the level 7 leazes and cant make out anything coming from the PA system it needs sorting so we can hear whats being said clearly.
A Singing/Standing Section would be great, my seat is on the back row of level 7 so i have stood there for every home match in years and think it makes the whole game better, u want to sing more and shout more and aren’t slumped in your chair.
drop the prices of things in the ground its starting to get out of control £3 for a less then average pint is a joke and the food isn’t cheap either.
the new card system is making ques longer then ever.
Kaka would be nice!
and here are the good things
Well done to Sam on a great start i know a lot of managers have honey moons but Sam with his buys and the start we have had has got every 1 thinking we can get back where we should be a feeling that has been gone for a while.
Mike Ashley has taken over and Put Mr Mort in place of Freddy and it can only be good for the club.
we now have a team that looks like it can go places and a manager to take us there and it looks like there is a plan in place to get us to the top which even under bobby we didn’t look like we had.
So good look to every 1 at the club and lets all make Newcastle United a force in world football!!!
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Mathew Says:
As a Geordie exiled in South Yorkshire, I’d like to ask - Can you please put a small Newcastle club shop in the Sports Soccer at Meadowhall?!?! Ta. Need a new scarf and won’t be able to get back up north for a while. Cheers.
====
I am also a Geordie exiled in Sheffield, a shop in meadowhall would be just magical.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
There is only one thing I want really, cheaper prices. If we could get a standing section then it shouldn’t cost more than £10 to get in. The lowest price ticket for a match at SJP is £25, and that is too much for many people.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Two words: Away tickets. I’ve sweated blood to get to nearly every Euro away and London game over the last few years, so to be told I can’t have a ticket to Watford away because the season ticket holders have taken them all is rather annoying. The whole away ticketing system also needs a revamp, as being told “check the website, we have no information” repeatedly by the ticket office only a week before a game on the other side of Europe is a bit of a joke. Considering how many fans we have, the club should ALWAYS take the full away allocation, especially for London games. If this doesn’t happen for the Arsenal away Cup game (midweek, and most of the people I know want to go) there’ll be a riot down here!
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
just to respond to leazes end’s comment. The “things can only get better” incident was THREE years ago and was the previous pa guy. I’ve been the announcer / dj for the last two seasons I can’t remember ever messing up the intro!! although i did announce Peter Ramage scoring a Lee Clarke goal once. I have been out of the country for this pre-season and season so far but I will be back for the West Ham game.
Blitzkreig Bop will be back for the next home game.
Tom Best.
Pa Guy.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
As a fan in North America, I only ask for more representation in North America. All I see are Chelsea/Man Utd/Arsenal/Liverpool jerseys and rarely see Newcastle jerseys. Like someone else said, it’s boom time here in NA for soccer, and especially the Prem as it’s the most exciting and entertaining football to watch. You can look at Chelsea and see the headway they’ve made into this market with the tours to get a start. Even clubs like Aston Villa just came over for a summer tour and their games got played over and over again because people here eat anything European up over the sorry excuse we have for our own football (MLS). Huge potential and it needs to be tapped - for NUFC’s sake and my own.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Most of this is really for the lads/lasses in the East Stand.
1 - Still no scoreboard for us to see
2 - Reduce prices of confectionery, £1.50 for a Mars Bar!! (although wor lass says i should keep off them)
3 - More tv’s to view in concourse.
4 - Invite mini soccer teams to play 10 minute game at half time.
Thanks for your time you lovely people.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Firstly I would like to commend all within the club in this new era for a job very well done thus far – The club is finally progressing again. It has been a long time since the city has been gripped with optimism as it currently. The improvements made on and of the pitch in the 100 or so day since Mr. Ashley’s takeover was completed is nothing shot of astonishing.
Attempting to include fans in this manner brings a refreshing change to the previous regime and in a one-club city with fans as passionate as ours, can only lead to positive things.
I will follow suit with most of the previous suggestions of the introduction of singing section - as is being attempted at the new Wembley - in an attempt to rekindle the atmospheres of old. It is no exaggeration to say that in days gone by the Newcastle fans have served as an inspiration to fellow supporters and players alike. I feel it is of paramount importance to stress this to any of the new staff who are new to the area and as such do not have first hand experience of the potentially advantageous effect this could have to the team.
Also, winning trophy would be nice.
Thank you for your hard work,
Ross
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
1. Local hero needs to be brought back, urgently. It makes me cry inside with blind geordie passion! It is my ignition to start 90 + injury time minutes of non-stop encouragement!
2. Don’t have any naff music after goals.
3. Standing areas an absolute must - increase gates, revenue and, most importantly, geordie noise.
P.S. If the geordie “home only” fans knew how powerful and intimidating the “geordie away fans” sound away, they would be embarrassed to sit so quiet! They would also realise the importance of vocal support. Toon away fans completely destroyed the atmosphere of Bolton and Boro fans - the poor Bolton drummer didn’t know whether to beat out “BSA’s black and white army” or shut up!
Not really fussed about scoreboard or plasmas in the stadium. Concentrate on the pitch! TOON TOON…
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
The fact the new regieme of Ashley, Mort and Allardyce is better than Shepherds running of the club is beyond doubt.
I don’t feel like I’m being ripped off as the club snigger’s behind my back. The board is running things properly, and Big Sam appears to be being allowed to get on with things his way.
As a Geordie exiled in South Yorkshire, I’d like to ask - Can you please put a small Newcastle club shop in the Sports Soccer at Meadowhall?!?! Ta. Need a new scarf and won’t be able to get back up north for a while. Cheers.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I am very happy with the lack of soap opera so far at Newcastle this season, however - without wishing to be a party pooper, I just want to inject a bit of realism.
We are, it seems, now a well run football club, with a business plan, etc.etc.
The thought occured to me though, there are lots and lots of other clubs trying to do the same thing as us. What makes us any different to… Aston Villa? Do we really have a better squad than them? Same re.Everton and perhaps even Blackburn.
A lot of clubs are cottoning onto building for the long-term. Just because Newcastle have doesn’t guarantee success.
Having said that, I think we will finish in the top 6, albeit dramatically (this is Newcastle after all). We should just perhaps be wary of other clubs that are operating similarly to us.
For now though, I shall just rejoice in the fact that we’ve had the best start to a season since I can remember, and also that we now seem to be a well run football club with a decent team, great fans, a great stadium.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Local Hero needs to come back
And a singing section like the kop is a great idea it should be pitch side near a goal so we can get right on top of teams
Id like to say I’m more impressed by Sam’s dealings in the transfer market than I have been by any manager in a long long time, value for money doesn’t even come close to describing it
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 11:45 am
First off, full credit to Mike Ashley and Chris Mort, these guys have certainly come in and changed attitudes, free pints, direct debits for tickets etc, they have without doubt lifted us and started us on the road back to where we belong !!
Obviously though we’ll never be happy so heres a few little gripes and suggestions ….
More bars / staff at half time, the queues are horrendous, to stand any chance of getting a drink and having time to drink it you have to get there ten minutes before the end of the half !!
Standing/singing sections at each end.
Club to provide a few big crowd surfing flags and relax the restrictions on bringing your own flags in.
Gallowgate / Leazes back to being called their real names !!
Less “pop” music before the game, lets hear a few more Geordie related songs, Home Newcastle, Blaydon races, Local Hero, etc etc maybe even Gazzas Fog on the Tyne !!!
Try and increase the away tickets allocation, obviously not totally within Newcastles control but lets push for as many as we can.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE … NO DODGY MASCOTS OR MUSIC PLAYED WHEN WE SCORE !!!
Oh yeah, and shoot anyone who gets up and leaves 5 minutes before the end !!!
At the end of the day though lets just all get behind the team and prove ourselves to be the best fans in the country again !!
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 10:56 am
a TV channel, big screen scoreboards (one each on the glass at the sides of the stand), a link with a proper food company with realistic prices (e.g. greggs, McDonalds, KFC ), entertainment and results on the pitch will bring back an atmosphere. better quality merchandise some with smaller less conspicuous logos so can be worn at all times (Blu Bambu)
Love the cheap / free children’s tickets.
Also to the fan in Canada. I have relatives there and they see most if not all our games on Rogers, ntl and the internet. You must look harder.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 10:29 am
The Local Hero music HAS to be played, this is our anthem and it gets everybody up on their feet, we know its time to shout for our team when it is played!
I know it is out of the boards control but where possible, if some influence can be pressed to other powers that we want the terraces back we will have an absolute fortress with an amazing atmosphere. I hear pundits say that the atmosphere is great at Newcastle. It used to be but we are now similar to all the other clubs. The noise needs to be there and everyone should be expected to bring it back! How? Get the Ultra’s with drums and trumpets constantly playing and chanting endlessly. Market any songs for players and rather than the ultras be in one corner they should be in every corner!
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I miss local hero, that tune used to send shivers up my spine when the toon walked out to it.
Definately needs to be more noise, all the players and managers up and down the country talk about a 12th man in reference to the support from the fans, but in recent years the stewards have been doing their best to fire him.
I would walk over bare foot over broken glass to suport the toon but I think some of the atmosphere has been lost by people “sushing” people who make a noise. Just look at these european clubs like galatasaray their fans (while taking it far too far) make it a place other teams hate playing, and if we could create a similar atmosphere at SJP then that would take the edge out of the game of Man U, Chelsea and the others.
I think some of the other fans asking for a price drop in various things may be a little unrealistic, the money to run our club has to come from somewhere but I think some of the most important things could be done for little or no money, merely a change in club policy.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 8:58 am
a shearer stand is a must.
can the digital clock please keep gpoing after 90 mins.
bring back local hero.
Sent in on: September 4th, 2007 at 8:58 am
Gallowgate to be the Gallowgate, Leazes to go back to being the Leazes, and the East Stand to become the Shearer Stand. Then the two middle stands will be named after our top 2 scorers.
A singing section would be nice, poss no music for 10 mins before kick off to let the atmosophere build a bit like it used to with thousands less in the ground. And how about not changing the manager every year like proper big clubs!
More tickets available for away games, it would be nice to get back to them going on public sale.
But well done to the new chairman and owner for an impressive start in throwing out the old and trying something new, and well done to Big Sam for simply getting on with things and the lads for a good start.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I have to agree with the comments regarding the PA system. I’ve never had a problem with it until this season (sit in the NW corner) but this season it’s worse than useless! Bring back the announcer we had last season. We also need a proper score board, we have one of the best grounds in the country, yet we dont have a scoreboard! Those digital clocks are better that nothing but we could easily have a decent sized scoreboard!
We need to bring back the noise, lets all get behind the ultras and bring noise to the whole of the stadium, lets make it a fortress where other teams/fans fear coming, where everyone goes home buzzing. I hate it when the away fans outsing us, the toon army.
Oh and we need better food, cheaper prices and more staff to serve behind the bars at half time!!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Like a lot of fans who don’t currently live near the North East, I can’t get to many matches and am outside the circulation areas of local papers. That means I have to rely heavily on the official website for information. However, there seems to be a marked reluctance to publish much of anything detailed on the site - maybe two or three stories at the most, even though we all know there is more going on. And if you want to get beyond the outer fringes you have to register.
Could the website not be free to all comers and a bit more informative, please ? Even though we are far from home, we are still dedicated fans ! Any chance of a change ?
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
I am sixteen and I was born and live in Canada. I support newcastle because my dad and all my reletives on his side support newcastle. The only problem with supporting the toon (aside from the recent underachieving) is that no games are shown over here! I have been forced to either read the match reports or watch them on the internet. Now i am not kidding myself, i know this is a tall order and that Mike Ashley is not a magic jeeny but it would be a huge step for Newcaslte if the games were consistantly shown over here.
Right now at least from my perspective is a boom time for the Premierleague in North America. Two years ago I was the only kid in my school who even had a remote intrest in the prem, occasionally i would see a kid with a ManUre shirt and attempt to disscuss the latest scores but I would always be looked at as if I was mental. Recently it seems everyone watches the prem and although they are mostly fair weather fans. Even the sports highlight channel now takes three hours a week away from hockey to show the latest soccer action.
Exiting players like Oba and N’zogbia have helped emmensly. The over head kick apperently has been renaimed “an Oba Martins”. N’zogbia is also recieving lots of attention. LAst year when David Edgar scored newcsatle nearly got five miniutes of attention. An amount of time usually only resevered for teams like MAnUre and chelsea.
Bassicly what I am asking is for Newcasltle to get into the north American market for the sake of the fans and for the huge economic benifits.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Whilst I only get to a few games a season on me mates season tickets when I happen to be back up North, I for one as Keegan started saying “Would LOVE IT!! just LOVE IT!! if we …had “Safe standing areas” check out most bundesliga stadium if you dont know what this is like, Its easy to steward cause you buy your ticket for the row your in which are limited etc, it would up the capacity of the stadium slightly if you rip out even just 2000 seats you could probably fit 4000 safe standing places, And most importantly big guys like me (6ft5) wouldnt knack their legs sitting uncomfortably, also the atmosphere is alot better, you’d get a proper singing area then, no stewards telling you to sit down, could designate a few rows as singing rows to get the atmosphere buzzing.
Im sure there is some legal issue with standing since Hillsborough (RIP), cause the FA obviously dont want a repeat, so decided to ban it outright rather than constructively think about it, but the time is right to try and get it brought back into the game even on a small scale, they need a big club like the toon to push for it and show it can be done safely.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
We only need one thing. STABILITY.
No more managerial sackings for a long long while.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Continue ways to improve the atmosphere, keep up the streamers at the start of the game, and promote the bring back the noise campaign from the Toon Ultra’s.
Also i sit in level 7 leazes and the tannoy system is terrible as i hear it is in most parts of the ground, get it sorted!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 6:52 pm
The future of NUFC looks genuinely bright for the first time since the Keegan days. If we can get the one thing that eluded us during Keegans time (other than a trophy) then we will be set for decades - stability. We have the best English manager since Clough. We have a highly skilled professional in Mr Mort at the helm and a rich, successful self-made man in Mr Ashley as an owner. My hopes are that 1) Big Sam is given significant time to reach the top, as I believe he will, given 3 years and a reasonable transfer budget 2) Mike Ashley will run the club as a business but with passion, not giving in to trophy signings and inflated salaries but with a determination to create a great squad as opposed to a starting 11, and 3) the club has a realistic, ambitious business plan and includes the manager in this long-term view. In summary, everything looks rosy right now, so we need stability to give this adventure a real chance. Good luck Mike, Chris and Sam. HTL.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Why did they drop “Coming home: Theme from local hero”? Its our song and it needs to be reinstated. Imagine Liverpool dropping “You’ll never walk alone” or West Ham dropping “I’m forever blowing bubbles”. It just qouldn’t happen, so come on NUFC bring our song back.
Secondly, the away ticket system needs sorting so that as I regularly go to away games and sometimes don’t know if I have been successful with a ticket until only 4 days before travelling, doesn’t leave much time to arrange transport. We should be able to find out at least a week before the match is due to be played.
The club needs to work more closely with the Toon Ultras up in Level 7 to bring back the noise to St James’ Park. They have started something and need to be supported.
The PA system is terrible. You can hardly hear the music never mind what the announcer is saying.
Good points:
The free child’s tickets for the friendlies and cup games have been most welcome. It has ensured that I can take my partner’s little brothers to the match.
Also the free pint tokens are appreciated.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 6:08 pm
First, well done to Chris Mort, Big Sam and Mike Ashley for a great start to the season. It’s the little things that matter and stuff like free tickets for the kids at the early cup games, a free drink if you get in before 2PM etc are much appreciated, hope these things continue. Also, was pleased to see the big flag back before the match on Sat in the East stand.
What about bringing back the mascot that we used to have years ago ? There used to be a bloke dressed up in black’n white top hat and tails with his bell and walking stick and he used to go around the perimtiter track just before kick off and get the crowd going. Maybe we could have something more modern but the same kind of idea, maybe leading the signing of the blaydon races just before kick off to get the crowd going.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
My only question is really regarding supporters outside the North East.
I’m from Birmingham and have contacted nufc.co.uk about perhaps setting up a fanzone with supporters groups throughout the UK - as of yet, no response.
I go up whenever I can, but that is really only limited to when teams my friends support are playing at St James. I know that there are a lot of supporters down south and in the midlands who want to go up to the games, but there are no real supporters groups formed that include traveling up to the game together.
Newcastle supporters are scattered all over the country (even the world) and I really think they should look into reaching out and helping those supporters come together in their respective areas enabling them to support Newcastle United easier from far and wide.
I know other clubs do it, so why can’t we?
Ben
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 5:41 pm
make it cheaper, bring back the atmosphere (lots of stewards making a fuss apparently), extend the stadium, big screen tv, couple of creative midfielders.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Fab start this season, long may it continue!
My only tought is regarding squad size. The main voiced concern was about this, yet to me, simple mathematics has not increased our squad ’size’. Quality, no doubt (ten fold at least), but size? Hmmm. The first shipping out of the 5 I know we know of - had to be done!!!! But to then start effectively ‘minus 5′…
And still no score board!
On the lads; everywhere!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Carrying on with the point made by ‘Malc’. Im 16 years old and was a season ticket holder for the last season and the one before that. This season however I am not which I think affects my chances to going to away games. I would absolutely love to go to an away game as I’m sick of the radio and TV and just the atmosphere sounds electric.
Anyway to get to the point, it seems impossible to get to an away game as when my dad does the box office seems to tell him he needs to have gone to at least 9 away games and be a season ticket holder. Well where do I start??? It seems you need experience but ive never been to one. Please could you explain this as I’m desperately wanting to go to an away game(s).
Cheers.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Instead of the ’singing’ areas, standing areas would bring a huge improvement to the atmophere inside the stadium.
Possibly one in the Leazes and one in the Gallowgate end.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Who is the DJ at the home games? He is terrible, once when we lost a game he played “Things Can Only Get Better”, always cocks up the intro music which is intended to build up an atmosphere and what’s happened to Going Home (Local Hero)?? This guy is a joke.
On a positive though Mike and Mort seem to be running the club professionally not like Shepherd and Hall who were a constant embarassment. True Geordie fans? Shepherd never bought in a round at Blu Bambu!!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I again, would also say that the Tannoy system needs improving - it is pretty poor in the NE Corner (and reading other comments it’s obviously widespread if their are also probs in the Gallowgate).
Atmosphere - I’d like to see the club do everything they can to encourage a good atmosphere, and I would like to see flags and banners encouraged, and the actions of over-zealous stewards discouraged, they are a hinderance to people’s enjoyment and to the atmosphere.
I’d like to see an improvement in the song playlist - pereferably bring back the matchday DJ who we had a few years ago, who played some great songs.
I’m not that fussed about Local Hero, but I’d loved to see Blitzkreig Bop by The Ramones make a return to it’s pre-teams coming out the tunnel spot.
Another small thing - it appears that most the ground can see the HT scores scrolling across the flashy advert boards, but in the NE & SE corners and the East Stand, we can’t see them! As we also have a dodgy tannoy, any chance we can see them as well somehow?
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
A valid posting from Michael Higgins regarding 2 singing ends. I was fortunate enough to be in Marseille for the Uefa Cup semi final a few year ago and the atmosphere was electric. Both ends continued to sing at each other from start to finish and it was certainly an intimidating experience and it definately gives the home team the edge. For the first time in years, I have been really looking forward to the matches and I think Big Sam has been extremely shrewd in the transfer market and the club appears to have everything in place to move forward (and quickly) In the past it has always been a case of needing to take that extra step so hopefully our dreams of silverware are now a reality following our rapid improvement
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm
There seems to be a buzz around the Toon, a certain optimism which has been vacant for quite a while, and with the new manager and the players he brought in, there is now a belief that we can win something.
The defence looks the strongest it has been for years and we have plenty of goals upfront. I think the final piece in the puzzle is a creative midfielder. A Peter Beardsley type player, who can score goals and provide the forwards with plenty of opportunity. Is this emre? Hopefully Sam can get the best out of this guy week in week out, instead of just the odd flash of brilliance.
It is not essential, obviously, but I would love to see a big screen in the ground, whereabouts it would go is another question. I also feel, as previoulsy mentioned in the article, the singing sections need to be sorted out. We need a ‘Kop’, as all the singers in the ground are too sparse. We are louder at away games!
I agree with a Toon TV channel aswell. Would be very popular with all fans I think?!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Two things firstly as observation. Can I just say what a refreshing change something like this is. Shepherd and Hall have always been a disgrace. How they ran the club was amateur, self-serving and corrupt. Everything that has happened in the past few months has been professional and how a business should be run. During the very dark period of FFS and DH the Chronicle “Have your Say” section was consistently filled with valid, constructive criticism (apart from the few nutters ). Everybody knew what needed to be done. If the new management team is genuinely listening it is such a step forward. Secondly, congratulations to Sam on what he has achieved so quickly. Again, everyone seemed to know who the dross was and apart from Babayaro and Carr all have gone to be replaced with generally excellent professionals ( Barton? - great player but …. ). Personally not sure about Smith and sad about Nobby. The request? Please, please come up with a solution regarding the ground atmosphere. I am old enough to remember promotion versus Bolton in the sixties, the Fairs Cup nights, McDonald’s debut, the domestic cup finals,”one Peter Beardsley”, “Howay the lads”, “Keegan” thrashing Man Utd. Those kind of atmospheres are worth two extra players. Until Mike and Chris experience noise and passion like that they will not understand what this is all about. Re-organise the seating allocations to have at least two singing areas and sack any steward who tries to stop it because “it might be intimadatory to the away fans”. Or let the fans do it themselves. Modify the pricing to make it easier for them to do so. One section at each end in the Leazes and Gallowgate will get the middle sections going. This is so, so important and will provide such an advantage.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
How difficult would it be for them to get the sound system to actually work at the Gallowgate end - we have about a Billion speakers but not one of them actually works! This has been going on for years now!!!!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
On the singing section idea.
The ToonUltras are talking about getting a singing section for them, however, this seems a bit unfair to the people who want to be part of the singing section aswell. A lot of credit has been given to Sir John Hall Level 7 for its noise, and people are giving the ultras the credit, however the majority of the people up there are just normal fans. If a singing section was introduced, i know a lot of people who would want to be part of that. How would you go about that?
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I’m not sure Scott, but I very much doubt we’ll be able to fit a big screen in the stadium without reducing the capacity.
I also don’t see what advantages there are to having one.
What I would introduce is more plasmas and other screens around the bar and food areas for fans to watch at half time - things to give half time scores elsewhere, as well as possibly half-time highlights and half-time entertainment such as Classic matches, compilations etc. that sort of thing.
Would really make standing in a queue alot more bearable.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Are we the only Premiership team that does not have a big screen?
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I think the club shop could do with some new stock, if anyone has ever been in the megastore at Old Trafford they could see how limited ours is, most kids want anything with the club badge on and I think it’s an area the club needs to develop, I’d also like to see all of the end of season reviews brought back on dvd from the early 90’s if that’s possible.
Another thing I’ve seen fans from overseas complain about on the forum is the price of delivery abroad, £20 delivery for a scarf to America is ridiculous.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I’d like to second James Park’s comments re the tannoy system in the Gallowgate. I moved to the Gallowgate from the Leazes two seasons ago and it’s always difficult to hear the PA since I moved (seats at the back). I would also like to see the Gallowgate called the Gallowgate and the Leazes called the Leazes again.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I would love for Newcastle fans to have a song to sing with passion just like Liverpool’s ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Getting a ticket for away games is difficult if you aren’t a season ticket holder (or know one who doesn’t go to away games). I’m restricted in which away matches I can go to as I don’t live in the N.E. and have 2 kids. It would be good if the NUFC membership gave precedence to away tickets as well as home tickets.
Malc
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
We’ve got off to a pretty good start this season, better than a lot of previous seasons.
We’ve a good, modern manager who understands the demands of the modern game.
We’ve made some good buys and all the players brought in want to play and are committed to the club, they are not just here for the money.
The staduium is among the best in the country and can only get better with further planned expansion.
The new owner and the new Chairman as well as the new board all seem to be committed to the club. (You don’t see Abramovich watching the games in a Chelsea shirt!!)
I like the new home strip, especially the back. Too many times in the past you could hardly recognise the players and couldn’t read either number or name which are now easily read and shown proudly on the famous shirts.
All in all things haven’t looked better for a while. One danger . . . . over expectation and hence disappointment.
Arsenal away this early in a competition BSA had intended to focus on could be a pretty tough ask.
It can be a long process, we’ve started well and will continue but miracles don’t come along that often.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Great News, good to see our club moving in the right direction. I dont have a query as yet but would like it to be passed on to those that count that the ideas so far introduced re: Kids at cup matches and the new Season Ticket incentive program are excellent additions.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Going Home (Local Hero) needs bringing back.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:45 pm
We now have a bunch of new talent in defence and up-front, And we already had a top class midfield and now the addition of Geremi and co in mid we can only get better, My main worries are Duff and Emre, that will be like 2 new signings when we get them back, they are both top class players. I think there is still a lot to come from Newcastle this season, and only 2 points behind Liverpool on top of the table, which is the best start to the season we have had in a very long time. Keep up the victories and who knows where we could finish this season!
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Minor details really but it does annoy me during home match days. I sit in the Newcastle Brown Stand (Gallowgate) and the speaker system sucks. I cannot hear the announcements and the music is blurred. Now before you say turn my hearing aid up, its not just me.
I would love just this little thing to be improved. After all, I believe elsewhere we are heading in the right direction - at long last.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I’d like to say I think that since the club as been brought out by Mike Ashley, that we now seem to be on a climb up a sod trodden path back into the realms of proper football & that the fans need to start getting back behind the team & if this means better prices all round then you will have no problem securing a sell out of season tickets for years to come.
Personally speaking, I would love to see a “Newcastle TV Channel” on Sky, so that fans like myself who live outside the UK, can catch up with old matches, interviews & such like, same as Man USA & Chelski have.
So if Mike Ashley can do this, it will spread the club’s name even further around the globe.
By the way, I currently live in Cyprus & would love to start up an Official Supporters Club over here with some help.
Howay the TOON!
Pete.
Sent in on: September 3rd, 2007 at 2:30 pm