Big Geordie

i used to travel with the supporters club, on the Armstrong Galley, rather than magpie travel. You used to get a card, like an appointment card, to keep record of the away games you went to. I went to my only ever England game, with the newcastle supporters club, vs Denmark SBR was manager and we got knocked out of euro84 in a qualifier to an Alan Semenson Penalty. I travelled to the likes of Blackburn, Hull, Grimbsy and York with the Armstrong Galley buses. Quality times.

We'll have to be looking at £50million investment in transfers next summer (should promotion be achieved) and that's probably just to hopefully stablize the club. Will Ashley do that? No feckin way. If he stays in charge, it'll be done on a shoe-string with loan signings and free transfers whilst he trousers that extra TV and sponsorship money.

I've no problem with the piece. It shows that there will be a stark reality check if and when we go up. Agree though that promotion is probably the best way of getting the FCB to sell up.

CP40 - yeah was at the Boro beamback. Me and a mate were sat in the Milburn. Had high hopes that day, ultimately to be dashed in true NUFC style!

Was that a ZDS or FA Cup game? I was at both and I remember the wind, but not which game! I also remember being one of about 9000 that turned up in rotten weather for a home game v Oxford in 91 or 92. Game was called off at HT with the score at 1-1. The rain seemed of biblical proportions - I kid you not. Game should have never started and did we get our money back? Did we bollocks! I also remember an FA Cup game v Bournemouth that had to be called off due to fog after about 10mins. Was so bad, you could barely make out the Milburn Stand from the Scoreboard. At least for the rearranged game, they let us back in for half price.... and we lost on pens too! What's the craic about Butchers Coats, for those of us too young to remember?

Yeah - TF alludes to that, but mentions no names. If it is George, will he come out and confirm it?

That's him.

He was one of those players that I couldn't believe we got a fee for, another was Kevin Scott. Yup - neither were world beaters, but they were honest and played for the shirt. I'm also nearly sure Scottie scored on his debut v Sheff Wed? Think we lost 3-2 with Carl Shutt bagging the winner. I remember a fair bit from back then, as a youngster. Used to love the matchday experience of catching the supporters bus (Jordan's) from Bedlington, sitting at the back with my dad and his mates, going to the Companions Club and sitting in the lounge, then off to the game. Quality days as a kid. I also remember in 1988, I could get the supporters bus to and from the match, pay to get in and still have a bit of change from £5. How times have changed!

Yes, he looked a bit like Waddle but wasn't very good most of the time. My old man used to call him 'Useless Useless'. He actually developed into a half decent full back. With regards to the petrol bomber (I was too young to be there) - I'm nearly sure he ended up at Northgate Hospital, as when I worked there for a spell I got to meet him and one of the sparky's relayed the story to me. Nice fella from what I remember, but extremely gullible which is probably why he did it. Will have been egged on by others no doubt.

I thought we won that 2-1. Wasn't that the game that Paul Goddard scored for the 8th (might be wrong with the number) game running to set a record. I miss the bloke who was a few rows behind me in the East Stand wing that used to do the Red Indian shout. It was. That was the day of my 14th birthday (87) and I went with my dad, stood in the West Stand Paddock. There was a full house, a rumoured 10-15000 locked out and I remember lads in the trees in Leazes Park and on top of the Uni Dorms, trying to see in. I think either Glenn Roeder or John Anderson got the first. Strachan's was a belter from about 35 yards.

Ashley has a sports journo mate who writes for the NotW. Can't remember his name though.

How come he's decided to pipe up now after all these months of silence? Something not ringing true about his involvement in this failed takeover business, IMO.

He was doing that from when I first started going to games with my dad, back in the very early 80's. Used to look forward to hearing him. Did he stop going to games?

I remember him. Didn't he used to start the 'singing' in the East Stand, back then too? I also remember going for a slash in the old Gallowgate toilets and having folk watch you from the back end of the Gallowgate (looking over) if memory serves. Those old bogs were horrendous. Well, I say bogs - it was a gutter against a wall with no roof. Almost as bad as the Stadio del Alpi!

Isn't the German model that no-one person/organisation can own more than 49% of the the club (with the other 51% being fan controlled)? I think Hamburg are ran in such a way.

I can't imagine the likes of Shepherd or Moat wanting in this - they'll want more control for investing more cash. 1+1 isn't something they would be interested in. The more and more I think about it, I 'could' invest some of my pension from my days when I worked at the Uni. I'd have to check it out with the wife first, however.

Whether Ashley is prepared to listen or not will depend on how much the NUST have available to buy him out for. I can see him being vindictive over it and squeezing every last penny he can out of them before he agrees to sell. He's a c**t.

I think it's a good idea and I hope it attracts enough interest to make a go of it. Unfortunately, I don't have the spare cash to become involved (my little girl comes first) - but I wish the NUST well. At least they are trying to do something, rather than give in to the apathy which affects many of our fan base.

More about raping the club, IMO. That was the intent.

The atmosphere on the Leazes 'Curva' was excellent yesterday. Reminds me of days long gone when I used to stand in the Gallowgate Corner/Scoreboard. Makes me want to get to more games, despite what's going on with Ashley - hoping to make the Swansea match too and back up in L7.

Because what might be a couple of thousand young'uns now might snowball into something bigger if the pressure is kept up. Protests can work - what's required is patience to see the job through. What we could do with is the local rags onside a lot more than they have been.

i know of at least a few who didn't want to protest before the game lest it affected the team. Well it clearly didn't affect the lads did it, so that's a bit of a pish poor excuse!

Foster - I went to the protest before the game, and headed home straight after. Two reasons, am not well and I wanted to see the bairn before she went to bed. I did my bit today. I'm just bemused by the amount of apathy towards the situation that there is out there. Too many people who might whinge to their mates, but when push comes to shove they take the buggering off Ashley with no protest. That's whats wrong.

It's easy to attack others for protesting (particularly youngsters) when you aren't prepared to do anything yourself. What is it with some folk? Customers and not supporters, IMO. Content to watch whilst the club is pulled down around them.

At least they where trying to do something constructive rather then bitching on a forum Ive got better things to do that stand round a bunch of chavs trying to get in the press tbh What better than fighting to save your club Pissing in the wind, amigo. Much rather piss in the wind and get wet, than sit around bitching and dismissing anybody who wants to try. What happend to this country, we used to always have the stomach for a fight, now we just huff and say what can i do to change things. Oh I agree with you. My comment was directed at who you were questioning - Ashley apologist.