OCOCOL

It's embarrassing but that's happened anytime we've played in Germany tbf and even Switzerland (Basel - I remember a lot of No Surrender chants). You will always get dickheads I think there are just more forums where people can raise it / complain about it. The dickheads are often emboldened and their xenophobia heightened by travel so people who haven't been away in Europe may have not seen the uglier right wing side of our fanbase before. Having said that I heard younguns chanting an unrepeatable song about Peter Beardsley and the alleged reason for his dismissal at Wolves - I challenged them to be told it wasn't racist and just a "frisk". I shook my head and walked off - you can't reason with coke fuelled idiots in my experience.

Mebbes the toot in Germany is shitter than here... or their lager is stronger - knocking a few people out of kilter

There's no room for common sense in this debate!! Seriously think this is a great suggestion.

Be interesting to see what happens. Mebbes Brian Blessed or Charlotte have struggled to get a ticket and had a word Really the club should have an open debate on how to move forward and also be transparent about how ballots work and the number of tickets given to corporates / employees etc.

Aye the lads I met after who watched in bars around KGX had a better time that we did at Wembley.

Different strokes for different folks I agree. I actually drink less at games now because the football is actually enjoyable - if I am honest I went to games home and away under Fat Sam, Roeder, JFK, McLaren, Bruce etc. out of misplaced loyalty and valuing the times spent pre and post match with a group of lads that I didn't see much outside of attending Newcastle games. Away games for many have always been about showing support in numbers and voice even away from the ground - taking over pubs, town centres etc - I guess (crosses fingers) that as some of these games become more commonplace people will not just go for the sake of it - unfortunately one result of increased success is that we will have a larger number of people with deeper pockets and connections to the club that will take tickets from legacy regulars - but this is pretty unavoidable.

I was with my little brother and he hadn't been to any European aways at that point so me and my mate gave him and his pals our tickets - they had to endure a 4 mile round trip escorted by the police to the ground whilst we watched it with a crate of lager and about 2000 other ticketless fans in teh square - after that was drinking in basement bars and it was lights out. I think we got the better deal. On the subject of mortal fans - this has always been the case and you generally see more states at European games than Domestic away games due to the length of the session. I know its not for everyone but that pseudo Shakespeare at TF Sam Dalling was appalled at someone pissing in a pint glass - god knows what he would have made of the portal urinals at Bruges or being pelted with bottles of piss in the San Siro 20 years ago. Football as an experience for the supporter has improved immeasurably and no-one wnats to go back to the 1980s but being horrified at someone pissing in a pint glass might mean you'd be better off watching on the tele.

I bet the atmosphere in Dortmund away from the ground was better than in - not entirely a new thing it was in Bruges in November 2012.

Tbh I could have told you the atmosphere would be shite tonight - sane as Wembley in the CC final. - a lot of younger away travellers were in square or bars not ground - lots of corporate / tourist fans - aye a few ppl overindulged but thus usually improves atmosphere I couldn’t do Dortmund I’m doing psg which is less attractive as a day out and the atmosphere will be better - just like Chelsea away in cup will be better than wolves. We can whinge but a lot if it’s just the popularity of football now, the success of the team and gentrified away support

NUST are part of the problem in a lot of peoples eyes though.

Keown comes across as a nasty bastard imho bit like he was on the pitch.

just always been a nicer place to visit particularly in the Highbury sats than trying ti have a drink or walk down either the kings road or Seven Sisters

I like arsenal out of the London teams but they’re still a bunch of cunts tbf

And outside china whites

not sure where you’re from mate but it’s not a phrase often heard on Tyneside having said that the 2nd word I.e. fuck your bairn will know by age 4.. but it’s only words tbf

Nowt like self deprecation Adam mate ;-)

He’s a bit like an annoying cousin - does your head in but you want the best for him really. It’s amazing how he’s done so well with his banal takes and naive discoveries”right guys this hotel has a hairdryer”. But fair play to him he’s carving out a career which allows him to travel round watching nufc.

Fair play. Thanks for the reply.

Would the club be obliged to respond to an FOI request asking how named individuals got tickets for certain games or would data privacy / individual rights supersede this?

They don’t they buy in resale sites or get directly from the club knowing the tickets won’t be blocked at the gate.

I think NUST and NUSC have trust issues with their leadership for different reasons. Wor Flags are universally liked but that may be because there isn’t any perceived agenda. NUST rely on the fact that they sold lifetime memberships to cite their credentials as a representative fans body but if they’re honest they will know that most of the numbers are just that. People have issues with Daz Curry at NUSC but I’d say his finger is in the pulse more with the match going fan than the Tory TF cabal at the trust board. in an ideal world all the fans groups would get together and work together for the best interests of all. “In theory communism works” Homer J Simpson

you’re probably right but that tells you all you need to know when theres hardly been hell on about Ashley’s ownership, the current ticketing debacle or anything really. A lot of self interest above our collective interest. it’s another point but we’re a pretty apathetic fan base overall (c Rangers v Mike Ashley as a comparison)

It must! But they must not forget that a lot of us having been going for 30+ years and will be there whatever division we are in or what the football is like. I understand that demand now currently massively outstrips supply but even given continued success and progress on the pitch the less committed or people with normal financial positions (most of the Tyneside area) doesn't always translate into guaranteed full houses once expectation levels rise (Man City). I know football is a business now but our one team city status and the location of the ground within the city makes it in my humble opinion more important the club retains its community links and remains inclusive. I've said this before but I'd keep a small proportion of tickets back and give them away free to kids in local primary schools particularly those within a stones throw of SJP - NE4 etc. These kids are our present and future and whilst we need to welcome corporate money and look to maximize our commercial revenue streams - part of what (I think) non natives buy into with supporting NUFC is the feeling of "otherness" and the connection toe Newcastle the city and the wider Tyneside region. But what do I knaa

We sell every ticket now but we are not Arsenal based in a wealthy area of the capital. I hope Silverstone realises this. It will be interesting to se what they do with us ST holders on the 10 year deals ... It is entirely possible our tickets go up 25% plus next season. I will buy regardless but others might not be in a position to do so. The FSA did great with the away match price cap next focus has to be some regulation around home ticketing and kick off times imho