east stander

Monday afternoon and we are filling time walking through Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park before getting the train home. Near the barracks, I’m overjoyed to bump into Amanda and Mehrdad walking their dog. I started telling them thank you for saving our club and how nice it was of Jamie to invite them. Then the emotions hit me again, tears flowed and Amanda gives me a big hug as does Mehrdad. They hadn’t seen Eddie but Bruno had messaged Mehrdad on Saturday. Newcastle will always be their club. A perfect ending to a fabulous weekend. I can now die happy knowing I’ve seen my club win a trophy at Wembley.

Fuck off back to Sheffield Osula if you think laughing and smiling with Palmer trying to get his shirt is acceptable straight after a defeat

You could be right, no burger vans outside our rugs and flasks stand anymore now.

Bloody hope not, I’m only 65 😁

Agree with it totally

Great question Stev. Selfishly I want SJP to be redeveloped as I’m so lucky to have a seat on the halfway line. However, in the future I could easily envisage the centre or even more of the East Stand seats being taken over for a Wings style corporate area, even with the lack of space behind the stand. They’ve just introduced a tie in with a restaurant in the town haven’t they where you get decent seats but have to walk from the restaurant. But something has to be done to at least increase the chances of young uns etc starting off like I did. I got my season ticket after the KK 1984 promotion as it was becoming a chore queuing up at the old ticket office for hours to get in just for league games. But SJP being in the city centre is so unique and important for the city itself. I’m pleased it’s not my decision.

All these comments are fully deserved. I know it is totally crazy, I'm not superstitous about anything else either. The wife got a flavour of what she was going to suffer on our wedding day in 1985. My best man produced a ghetto blaster at the end of his speech and said there was a message from some people who could not be there. I thought it was from a aunt living a long way away. He plays it and it is a good luck message from Glenn Roeder, Peter Beardsley and my favourite Davie Mac that he'd somehow organised. My bottom lip went and my wife couldn't believe it on her day! Still together surprisingly anarl.

That's what my mates keep telling me too. My pre match rituals are bonkers. On a match day, I've got to face north in the bedroom and kiss the badge 3 times before putting Nufc polo shirt/ sweatshirt on. Have to walk all the way around the ground before going in (that was interesting pre new Leazes stand especiall on Derby days) Must tap SBR's foot on the ball of the statue (I've seen others do that too, in my defence) And I'm 65 FFS!!

It was on Saturday. It doesn't actually block getting in but will cause issues with all those who come up "Death Alley" This will be my 42nd year using that turnstile and my pre match superstitions of only using that one aren't going to be changed!

Haven't seen any other publicity about this but Derek Wright has his book "My Story in Black and White: Four Decades Fixing the Mags" released on Amazon today

40 years a season ticket holder, taking everything in, best match I've seen at SJP

Taken from Mike Amos's daily blog this morning. Since they like to be known as the Black Cats, it might be supposed lucky when Sunderland FC cross your path. Crook Town take a different view. Town hosted Sunderland’s under-23 side on Wednesday in the Durham Challenge Cup, 534 spectators attracted to the Millfield. After the usual deductions, the balance was £1,421. Frequently these days, the big boys waive their right to half of the gate on such occasions – as did Newcastle United when 1,300+ turned out at Ashington the evening previously. No such luck with Sunderland. Crook this morning received a request for £710 (and fifty pence.) Club chairman Vince Kirkup, the most urbane of men, is angry. “We have to work hard for every penny we get and they’re a multi-million pound club. I know they’re entitled to their cut but it’s become an accustomed and much appreciated gesture that the big clubs don’t take it. To be honest, I’m disgusted.” The score? Oh aye. Crook Town 1 Sunderland 0.

Don't think that is true to be honest. Scudamore was seen going to the PL offices on the Monday after the ESL declaration, I'd say Masters was out of his depth.

And who never brought players back too early for them to break down again e.g Lejeune, ASM etc.

Especially as Harper has all his badges so avoids potential PL rule break.

My MP's reply: Thank you for contacting me about the recent potential Newcastle United take over bid and the role that the Premier League played in the bid ultimately being unsuccessful, I appreciate the time you have taken to get in touch. As a Newcastle fan myself, I understand that many of my fellow supporters were hoping that the proposed takeover bid would go ahead and I appreciate their disappointment. However, it is important to note that the takeover bid was a matter solely for the parties concerned, with no involvement from Government. Ministers did not hold any discussions with the FA, the Premier League or sports rights holders on the potential sale of Newcastle United FC. Any sale is a matter for the interested parties, and for the Premier League to assess under its Owners’ and Directors’ Test. I understand the desire from the fans for clarity over the role the Premier League played in the rejection and withdrawal of the takeover bid, and I welcome the fact that their Chief Executive has now responded to enquiries from several MPs. He said that there had been a dispute over what information consortium members would need to provide to satisfy its Owners' and Directors' Test, but one of the members withdrew before this could be resolved. I think that it is also important to note that Newcastle United have confirmed they have launched legal proceedings against the Premier League following the failed takeover bid. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to comment on these proceedings, but I hope they can be appropriately resolved in a timely manner. You can rest assured that I am monitoring the situation closely and will support any representations made my fellow MP’s to the Premier League. I have also been in contact with Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah to offer my support in any on going work on the situation. Once again, thankyou for taking the time to contact me, if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.

I view this forum most days but rarely post. I haven't a clue about the ITK disputes but would like to ask if anyone knows if Mimms will be updating us with news from his source?

"Look, I've had ASM taken to Tesco and we scanned him with their scanner and everything is fine, I'll pick for Spurs. I never bring a player back too early do I Luke? And Lewis has another eye doesn't he? It didn't do Nelson any harm""

It is Friday so lets have another anti takeover article. Fat Sam now been prompted to join the Hairy Hands support team. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8486639/Sam-Allardyce-says-difficult-Premier-League-allow-350m-Saudi-Newcastle-takeover.html

Despite his denial, Masters will have been focusing on Project Restart. He'll certainly be doing his homework for his 40 minutes in front of the sub committee at the Parliament tomorrow morning.

Desparation makes me look into things far too deeply in the hope that this takeover goes through. However, the club email yesterday about the refunds asked fans not to reply or do anything and next week processes will start did just that. Perhaps the staff are being taking off furlough next week to do this? In which case that COULD mean things are happening. That and the bein transmissions now being accessed in Saudi give me hope it will not be too long.....

Apart from being a wind-up merchant, I'm sure Edwards's huge ego cannot handle the fact Caulkin has contact with the PCP takeover group, hence his pushing of the yank's bid.

Conspiracy theory: why publish the accounts today when he got a three month delay applied which runs out at the end of June? Perhaps they have to be published before the ownership of the company changes? And so generous to pay a huge £1.1 million for all the SD tat everywhere.

If anyone wants to read the full article, this is it: The takeover of Newcastle United by a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium has hit significant political obstacles which could hold up any sale of the club. Giles Watling MP, a Conservative member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has called for that select committee to hold an evidence session on Saudi-based piracy of British sport including Premier League football. The Premier League, which has its lawyers studying the proposed £300 million takeover, has itself previously urged action against Saudi Arabia by the US and British governments over piracy of match broadcasts by the Saudi-based beoutQ operation. In an email to the select committee, Watling said an evidence session was “even more relevant now within the context of the likely takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (KSA PIF). “This investment fund is backed by the same entity that backs beoutQ – Saudi Arabia – and is particularly pressing as the government refused to comment on the takeover to the Committee recently.” Karl McCartney, another Conservative MP and the Chairman of the UK Parliamentary Football Club, will also call on the government today to “block the purchase of Newcastle United”. McCartney states that beoutQ’s ongoing piracy is “an outrage” which undermines British football. In a separate development, the Liberal Democrats are set to call for the sale of Newcastle by owner Mike Ashley to be blocked. Under the takeover deal, the Saudi PIF would acquire an 80 per cent stake, Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners 10 per cent, and the other 10 per cent going to the Reuben brothers property developers, Simon and David. The PIF is the country’s sovereign wealth fund and is overseen by the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has previously said the government will not intervene in the takeover and Watling has asked for him to give evidence to the committee. Watling, the MP for Clacton, said in his email that the issues raised included “whether the UK government, by allowing the sale to take place, is taking appropriate action in this instance to protect the value of UK sport, which is both a cultural and commercial asset to the country?” He added: “I am writing to request that the Committee holds an oral evidence session on the theft of UK sport by the Saudi-based pirate operation beoutQ, which has been stealing and broadcasting every major UK sporting competition for almost three years, including the Premier League. Ideally, this should be with the Secretary of State and representatives from the Premier League.” He also questioned whether the government is taking seriously its manifesto commitment to instigate a fan-led review of football governance, including “an Owners and Directors Test which takes a holistic view of the health of UK sport”. The select committee held a session on the beoutQ piracy in May last year and Watling’s email asks what progress has been made to protect the Premier League, Wimbledon tennis, and the broadcasters BBC and Sky who have also written complaints about the piracy. The Saudi takeover is coming under considerable pressure this week after Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, also wrote an open letter to Newcastle fans urging them to oppose the deal. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Istanbul, Turkey, back in 2018, and Cengiz continues to shine a light on the kingdom’s appalling human rights record. In her letter to Newcastle fans she wrote: “I know that many of you are tempted by his offer to get out of the dire situation that has crippled your club for so many years. But the Crown Prince is accused of ordering Jamal’s murder. My plea to you is to think whether accepting the offer is really the right way out of the despair for your club. “You as the loyal fans do have a big say in this. I implore you all to unite to protect your beloved club and city. They are making this move not with your best interests in mind, but solely to serve themselves. Their hearts will not genuinely be in the club that means everything to you. Now is the moment to stand tall together for the game, your club, your city and your country in order to slam shut the door on this offensive deal.”

That would be superb, however I doubt the residents in Woolsington would be happy. They put up a hell of a fight to prevent new homes being built near the Falcons ground. They lost that fight however it took years to resolve what with legal challenges etc. I'll say it again, i went past on Wednesday and they are building houses on it! As I remember back in 90’s the club purchased woolsington hall with a view to it being our new training ground. Can’t exactly remember why we ended up in benton instead ? However, point being I’m pretty sure when hall sold club he made sure this wasn’t included in the deal and kept if for himself. Quite happy to be corrected on this but certainly very similar to how mike has siphoned off the land at strawberry place for himself. I’ll always remember the Keegan years but often think hall gets an easy ride from us and local press over sale of club and money they made. You are right about Hall keeping it. CHD have a partnership with Metnor according tothis link: http://idpartnership.com/portfolio/heritage/woolsington-hall/