St James' Park

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I don't think people were apologists, they just enabled Mike Ashley because they couldn't stop going to the match and couldn't give up their tickets. I don't blame anyone for that, it just throws confusion on how we usually judge 'loyalty'. It's not easy either way.

 

Personally I wish more than anything I'd given Mike Ashley some money and got a season ticket while I could

[TheBrownBottle]

51 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

The thing about the Triggers broom joke was that it played on how thick the character was. All those different heads and handles, yet he thought it was the same broom when it wasn't.

 

That's how I see SJP. Since my 1st game in 1984 it's a different stadium altogether, other than the exterior of the East Stand which is an eyesore anyway. The lopsided design doesn't hold the atmosphere in particularly well and never mind 10/20 years time, it's starting to look a bit dated now.

 

I'd be happy to remain there if the only alternative was a move out of town but if we could get something on Castle Leazes or the arena site as a 2nd choice I think they'd be foolish not to press ahead with that, and I don't think these are foolish people.

Yeah, that’s pretty much my view too.  SJP isn’t the same as the ground that I first started going to as a kid - and that ground isn’t the one that my dad first went too.  And as my first game (that I remember) was in 1987, ten years later the ground was completely different, and ten years after that completely different again.

 

I was never keen on the 2000 redevelopment, though I was of course happy that it increased capacity.  What’s sometimes forgotten is that at that point it meant we had the second biggest ground in the country (and we filled it).  Today, we’re something like 7th or 8th.  If we want to genuinely compete on a long term basis, we need a new ground. 

[Fezzle]

17 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I don't think people were apologists, they just enabled Mike Ashley because they couldn't stop going to the match and couldn't give up their tickets. I don't blame anyone for that, it just throws confusion on how we usually judge 'loyalty'. It's not easy either way.

 

Personally I wish more than anything I'd given Mike Ashley some money and got a season ticket while I could

Those same people actively judged(and worse) those who protested in the stands and nigh on every day since on social media give it the shit fans crap to be fair. But at least a canny few got to abuse our top scorer so there is that

[MrRaspberryJam]

5 minutes ago, Fezzle said:

Those same people actively judged(and worse) those who protested in the stands and nigh on every day since on social media give it the shit fans crap to be fair. But at least a canny few got to abuse our top scorer so there is that

How football should be. 

[number37]

4 minutes ago, Fezzle said:

Those same people actively judged(and worse) those who protested in the stands and nigh on every day since on social media give it the shit fans crap to be fair. But at least a canny few got to abuse our top scorer so there is that

I'll never ever forget the sound of the two older guys who sat behind me in the Milburn stand tutting at me when I walked out during that Cardiff game. Two grown adult men tutting at me. I know I wasn't exactly chaining myself to the railings but at least I was doing something. 

 

They were the same guys who'd often ask each other "who's that? Never heard of him" when referring to our own players. They'd also always pronounce de Jong with a hard 'J' which maybe pissed me off more than it should but those tuts, man, the sound is stuck in my memory forever. 

 

I hope they enjoyed the PSG game. 

[Fezzle]

5 minutes ago, number37 said:

I'll never ever forget the sound of the two older guys who sat behind me in the Milburn stand tutting at me when I walked out during that Cardiff game. Two grown adult men tutting at me. I know I wasn't exactly chaining myself to the railings but at least I was doing something. 

 

They were the same guys who'd often ask each other "who's that? Never heard of him" when referring to our own players. They'd also always pronounce de Jong with a hard 'J' which maybe pissed me off more than it should but those tuts, man, the sound is stuck in my memory forever. 

 

I hope they enjoyed the PSG game. 

My mate got manhandled back into his seat by two blokes for daring to protest at that game. The fucking irony that tens of thousands had no issue booing the team off HT/FT nigh on every week but heaven forbid someone doesnt like the owner

[patrone]

Well they did say they wanted to get the discussion out there about what to do, and come up with ideas on how we move forward, and you can see over the last few pages how important it is to some.

 

I still believe that a new ground is inevitable, have a great last couple of years at St James, win something then move to a new "home"

[Wallsendmag]

49 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Yeah, that’s pretty much my view too.  SJP isn’t the same as the ground that I first started going to as a kid - and that ground isn’t the one that my dad first went too.  And as my first game (that I remember) was in 1987, ten years later the ground was completely different, and ten years after that completely different again.

 

I was never keen on the 2000 redevelopment, though I was of course happy that it increased capacity.  What’s sometimes forgotten is that at that point it meant we had the second biggest ground in the country (and we filled it).  Today, we’re something like 7th or 8th.  If we want to genuinely compete on a long term basis, we need a new ground. 

 

We moved down to 8th biggest ground once Everton move into their new one. Must admit I did take a lot of pride in us having the 2nd biggest ground in the country (and filling it) for those few years in the early 00s.

 

If they did press ahead with a new stadium in a favourable location it would be interesting to see what the "real world" reaction to it would be. I've seen the social media hysteria to it but talking to people at work the last couple of days, where I'm surrounded by almost exclusively Newcastle supporters, it'd be more positive than negative.

[macphisto]

13 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

And nigh on every fanbase that has moved stadium prefers their old ground...

Which fan bases? Take away the identikit stadiums built by mid-sized clubs in the middle of nowhere during the 90s which our owners would never do then the only club I can think of is West Ham. West Ham was always going to be bad as it was never built as a football stadium. Spurs, Man City and Arsenal seem fairly happy. Also fans complaining, like any walk of life, are always going to make more noise than people who are happy. 

[Kid Icarus]

8 minutes ago, macphisto said:

Which fan bases? Take away the identikit stadiums built by mid-sized clubs in the middle of nowhere during the 90s which our owners would never do then the only club I can think of is West Ham. West Ham was always going to be bad as it was never built as a football stadium. Spurs, Man City and Arsenal seem fairly happy. Also fans complaining, like any walk of life, are always going to make more noise than people who are happy. 

 

I don't think there's a side to noise makers on this one tbh. Take this forum as an example, there are a few posters on here who would move and think that those who wouldn't are in the minority - despite the poll on the forum showing the exact opposite. 

 

As for fanbases who prefer their old stadium, all of the ones mentioned maybe barring Spurs - who haven't moved location. It's still WHL in a way.

 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by Kid Icarus

[Danh1]

I reckon Man City fans who went to Maine Road will 100% prefer it to the Etihad.

 

If we were to build a new stadium then it would have to be something iconic and unique for me, an actual football stadium and not some bowl. I’m not sure how you do that with a modern new build though.

[macphisto]

11 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

I don't think there's a side to noise makers on this one tbh. Take this forum as an example, there are a few posters on here who would move and think that those who wouldn't are in the minority - despite the poll on the forum showing the exact opposite. 

 

As for fanbases who prefer their old stadium, all of the ones mentioned maybe barring Spurs - who haven't moved location. It's still WHL in a way.

 

 

 

Arsenal and Man City fans not happy with their move? What's that based on? 

[IAmATree]

It's important that the architects of a new stadium understand what the old stadium means and represents. I know when Everton were designing theirs the architect spoke to fans to make sure the essence of Goodison Park was in the new stadium. We would need a similar process to ensure we don't end up with a soulless bowl that has no character, like West Ham or City

[500bhp]

1 hour ago, RS said:

You’d think they’d have to factor in a large portion of season ticket holders are Ashley apologists and were a significant part of the issues of the last regime.
Apathy is not a good trait when being asked to input in any significant change. 

This is total bullshit like. 'A large portion of the season ticket holders are Ashley apologists'. 

 

I'm not and neither are any of the 10 or so in our match going group. In fact I dont know a single season ticket holder who is. 

[Kid Icarus]

5 minutes ago, macphisto said:

Arsenal and Man City fans not happy with their move? What's that based on? 

 

I said prefer their old stadium, not 'not happy'

 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by Kid Icarus

[TBG]

Did we ever find out who was behind Ashley Out etc.

 

Great bunch of lads I'd imagine.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

24 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

We moved down to 8th biggest ground once Everton move into their new one. Must admit I did take a lot of pride in us having the 2nd biggest ground in the country (and filling it) for those few years in the early 00s.

 

If they did press ahead with a new stadium in a favourable location it would be interesting to see what the "real world" reaction to it would be. I've seen the social media hysteria to it but talking to people at work the last couple of days, where I'm surrounded by almost exclusively Newcastle supporters, it'd be more positive than negative.

 

Some of the hysteria will be down to not knowing what the alternative is and suspicion that its going to be a move to Longbenton or Hexham or somewhere else totally out of the City.

 

Once the plans come out, and assuming its a state of the art stadium within earshot of SJP the view will be positive, I have no doubt on that

 

[Bellis80]

14 hours ago, Keegans Export said:

I can't really remember much about the Castle Leazes carry-on, what's changed since then? Seemed at the time that the majority of fans were in favour of the new ground, now its "sickening" or "tearing out the club's soul"?

People who didn’t go or wanted to go when it suited them started to want to go again so wanted a bigger ground regardless of what it meant to the ground in the 90s. Then they stopped going when they could go and now want to go again so want a bigger ground regardless. And there are more of them than people who actually go and will keep going.

[Wallsendmag]

27 minutes ago, macphisto said:

Arsenal and Man City fans not happy with their move? What's that based on? 

 

Aye I'd say the extra 22,000 Arsenal fans and the extra 20,000 (soon to be 25k when they expand to 60k) Man City fans who can now go along to support their respective teams when there wouldn't have been room for them at their old grounds will be quite pleased about their move.

[J7]

15 minutes ago, Bellis80 said:

People who didn’t go or wanted to go when it suited them started to want to go again so wanted a bigger ground regardless of what it meant to the ground in the 90s. Then they stopped going when they could go and now want to go again so want a bigger ground regardless. And there are more of them than people who actually go and will keep going.

Nobody should be blamed for not going under Ashley. I went and had a ST until Bruce arrived, but if anything I have more respect for those who stayed away. They’re not any less ‘loyal’ than those who went. We hardly helped by continuing to feed him.

[Bellis80]

You can have more respect but they’re less loyal. For whatever reason they stopped going.

[Yorkie]

[J7]

4 minutes ago, Bellis80 said:

You can have more respect but they’re less loyal. For whatever reason they stopped going.

Na totally disagree with that. It’s not easy to stop going if you’ve always been and their reason was totally understandable. In my opinion, by continuing to go, we allowed him to continue doing what he did for longer than he probably would have had the majority of us stayed away. I had an element of guilt for still going. 

Regardless of that argument anyway, I still think we need to consider them, more recent, and future supporters. 

[patrone]

24 minutes ago, Bellis80 said:

People who didn’t go or wanted to go when it suited them started to want to go again so wanted a bigger ground regardless of what it meant to the ground in the 90s. Then they stopped going when they could go and now want to go again so want a bigger ground regardless. And there are more of them than people who actually go and will keep going.

 

Well, that's not the only issue.

 

The stadium was falling apart, the club had seen years of neglect, football in general in the late 1980's was a shit show and attendances were falling almost everywhere.

 

When the club was on the up the council and Hall etc were at a stand off regards the future of the ground and expansion, even talk (bluff) of moving to the metro centre land, the vision of the new state of the art stadium, wasnt just about attendances

 

This whole "superfan" thing is pointless

[Minhosa]

18 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

If you made your first trip to SJP a few months ago then you can’t really say that it’s the lifeblood of the club - and that that fans & ground are intrinsically tied.  You can’t know that. 

Eh? @Kanji's been a huge Newcastle fan for years. He's spent fucking years of his life reading up on, watching, researching and falling in love with the club. Enough to travel over to see us in the Carabao Cup Final and he's made the pilgrimage to SJP.

 

Given he's as researched as anybody else and he's lived the experience, I'd say he's more than entitled to his view on things and can say whatever the fuck he likes about it.

 

He's better versed than many locals I've met in the whys and wherefores of all things NUFC so let's not gate keep or feel the need to condascend other fans because they've got a view.

 

Perhaps some of our overseas fans place an even higher value on our heritage and history because that's what they've bought into when choosing us. That can't be a bad thing imho.