Tom_NUFC

Studied BA History

Newcastle everytime. This city and this region is what I take pride in, not England. I'm not anti-English, but I'm Geordie first, and I'd put being British ahead of being English.

Lee Clark St*ve Br*ce Lee Hall - (wrote Billy Elliott) There was a lad in my year was in Byker Grove (he was in PJ and Duncan's band) - he got suspended for drawing a picture of two of maths teachers bumming (He was a canny artist). Can't think of any ore off hand, though there have been a few other footballers who were at NUFC but were released and played in the lower and non leagues.

As a kid, I was incredibly impressed that the club used to play just off Chilly Road. Every time we past that part of Chilly Road I used to bore my parents to death. That's where Newcastle used to... I KNOW! (my parents would say through clenched teeth). Would've been canny, just a five minute walk from home. But in reality, you can't beat SJP. Its been said so many times that its become a cliche, but with it on the hill, slap bang in the city centre for all to see. Its brilliant, and unique. Who else has a big city centre stadium? Its a great symbol of the connection between pride in the city and supporting the club. The downside is that whenever something happens, its easy for all the charvers to turn up and or random passers by to say something daft on telly. You'd never get stuff like that at a lot of grounds, cos who's going to be arsed to travel to some retail park or industrial estate at the arse end of nowhere. But its no bother coming into town, and a lot of people are probably in the vacinity anyway.

Aye, and before them it was Newcastle Rangers, and before them, Tyne Association. During the 1870s and 1880s, the Newcastle FA also used to play their home games at SJP, playing in their colours of... Black and White stripes.

At the bottom of Warwick St? Was planned as an athletics ground, stands etc, in the 60s. Never got finished, but the name remained. Yup, plans were drawn up in the 50s to build a 94,500 capacity stadium. T Dan Smith wanted Newcastle to bid for the 1966 Empire (Commonwealth) Games, with the City Stadium at the heart of the plans.

I think the new chairman needs to ask questions of some of the committee members, because a number of them have kept both members and other committee members in the dark. I'm now at the stage where I simply don't trust (excuse the pun) many of those on the committee. As I and others have stressed though, the Trust model itself isn't the problem. That lies with those who have been running NUST. But it's one trust per club, so I would be more than happy to have a supporters club established, with the emphasis being supporting the team.

Gene Hackman in 'A Bridge Too Far'. He plays the Polish General Stanislaw Sosabowski.

They've got another meeting on Thursday March 3 at the more sensible time of 7.30pm (expected to go on until 9.30pm). At Northumbria Uni's Sport Central (at the very bottom of Northumberland Rd). Discussing the survey and they have James Mathie from Supporters Direct along as well.

I did Chorizo, Chickpeas and Chilli last night - really nice.

There's an interesting book called 'The Day the Queen Went to Scotland for the Grouse Shooting' by Arthur Wise, published in 1969. Its written as an account looking back at a civil war between the North and South, where there have been increasing tensions, with an FA Cup final between Newcastle and Chelsea providing the spark that ignites war. In it Northern forces pull off a raid on London, blowing up BBC Television Centre. The Southern army 'nukes' pro-Northern Nottingham, and in Newcastle, locals chase Southern students down Pilgrim Street and force them off the Tyne Bridge. Its all a bit far fetched, but a good read none the less.

http://backpagenewcastle.com/User/ProductList.asp?SecId=6

I got them from a variety of places, googling etc, but some from Skyscraper City, which is a great website about cities all over the world and has a section on Newcastle/Tyneside. Some really good stuff there.

Watched the first three episodes. Absolutely brilliant.

Proposed extension to the Black Gate museum, 1856 An alternative proposal for the Union Rooms from 1875 A design for a new City Hall (as in Council HQ) from 1885. It was to have been built on the corner of Northumberland Street and Northumberland Road An alternative Collingwood Buildings (Revolution) from 1898. Not massively different from what was actually built, though it lacks the domed tower shown in this design. 1906 plans for City Centre regeneration Proposed designs from 1925 for approaches to the Tyne Bridge (then still to be built). Plans for the redevelopment of St James' Park from 1929. Though the plans weren't fully realised, the redeveloped, covered Leazes End was built. Plans from the 1930s for a new Town Hall to be built by Eldon Square. 1945 City Centre regeneration plans, with a new civic centre at Barras Bridge (but on the opposite side to where it was eventually built). The plans for the 1945 Civic Centre itself T Dan Smith's City Centre plans of the 1960s Plans for the redevelopment of St James' Park from 1964. Capacity 55,000 Plans for the redevelopment of St James' Park from 1967. Capacity 63,000 Quayside redevelopment proposals from 1971 Plans for the redevelopment of St James' Park from 1972. Though the plans weren't fully realised, the East Stand was built. 1980s plans for redevelopment of the Quayside with restaurants and a shopping centre Plans from 1990 for a rebuilt St James' Park with a capacity of 45,000 John Hall's 1991 plans for St James' Park. A sliding stand would allow for a flexible capacity of between 30,000 - 80,000. The stadium would also be able to accomodate indoor events such as Boxing, Basketball, Ice Hockey and Stage Shows, for which capacity could be further reduced to 20,000. Sir Norman Foster's rejected 1996 design for the Milennium Bridge Castle Leazes Stadium, proposed by NUFC in 1997, with a capacity of up to 70,000 1999 plans for the Gallowgate - Percy Street junction

Well I had been thinking Trans-World Associaton of Toon Supporters. Not sure we could use NUFC. Other options Newcastle United Supporters Association Newcastle United Supporters Union

Had a chat with a few people today some of whom have also been in touch with people and it seems a lot of people are up for doing this. At some point though, I think all interested parties are going to have to sit down and have a chat just to see where we all are and what we all want and get the wheels in motion.

Bad move imo. Fresh start fresh name or confusion will reign. Aye maybe. Any ideas?

Some really good opinions, and I think most of us are singing from the same hymn sheet. As Ive said I'm up for being involved, and I think maybe a few of us need to put our heads together and get cracking on this. Let's bring back NUSC and run it how it openly and democratically. I think the emphasis should be on the social side, but I think inevitably there's going to be a poltical element that creeps in. I don't think thats too much of a problem, provided the committee listens to and engages with it's members, and I think Peter's ideas of polls are a fantastic idea. I like the idea of our own pub or club as well.

Its been very up and down this year, but up and down sums up the entire history of Newcastle United. At times I feel sick and angry, at others its the best feeling ever. It'd be easier to support Man U, Arsenal or Liverpool, but I'm from Newcastle and I don't nee to tell any of you about local pride etc. I'm far to emotionally involved and care far too much, to turn my back on NUFC. I still get angry, but I get used to all the f*ck ups, embarrassing episodes, heartbreaks and disappointments.

Yeah. I would.

I wonder if something along the lines of the following happened. AGENT: Andy, Liverpool want you, and they'll pay you loads more than you're getting here. AC: I don't really want to leave, Newcastle's my team. AGENT: Well OK, but how about this. Go to the club, and tell them that you want a new contract. AC: I'll wait until the summer, and then I can go to them and say I've had a good season, I think I should get a new deal. AGENT: No do it now. Liverpool want you now. You don't what the situation will be like in the summer. Go and ask them for a new deal, and if they say no, tell them you want to speak to Liverpool. If they really won't sell you, they'll agree to a new deal. AC: OK Carroll goes to see Pardew/Llambias/Ashley AC: I want a new deal. I've got all this interest, offering better money, so I want you to give me a better deal. NUFC: No. We just gave you a new deal. AC: Right, well if you won't give me a new deal, I want to speak to Liverpool. NUFC: OK.

Yeah. I've thought a lot about it, and I've thought about whether it would be right for another fans group to go head to head against the trust (think the Judean People's Front in The Life of Brian). But if NUST won't act to the will of the members, f*ck it, lets put something up against it that will, and see which one people join. If there are enough people interested, as I've said I'd love to be involved in setting something up. You wouldnt be going against nothing. The trust is dead and buried. Not being funny, but its probably harder for the likes of yourself ans Pud to see having being so close to it, put so much in and had such great hopes for it. It may be lingering, but its dead. Somebody said earlier in this thread that now is the wrong time to try again with this so fresh in peoples memories. But in truth and because of that it is the ideal time to try again. There is a desire out there for a great supporters club. Keep it simple stupid. If it was down to me organising it, I would make contact with the Arsenal supporters club and see if there is any chance of a get together prior to the game to cherry pick some ideas on the best way forward. What works, whats important and whats not. http://www.arsenalsupportersclub.co.uk/ The greatest achievements are those built on solid foundations. Worry about the first 10 members, not the first 1000. I have no doubt you would get a good few off here for starters. Then just let the thing grow at its own pace. A few socials, a few pre match drinks, a player night etc. Howay lads, get it sorted. So will you put your money where your mouth is, and get involved then? Setting this up isn't and can't be a one or two man job, its going to take quite a few people.

I agree, but its only one trust per club, so we can't set up another supporters trust. And I again agree with you saying the problem isn't the trust status, its the fact that as you say they've failed to communicate with the members. Yes, I did find that encouraging, and the fact that Bill confirmed they can use the Irish club for nowt must take away an excuses about available venues and the expense of venue hire.

Yeah. I've thought a lot about it, and I've thought about whether it would be right for another fans group to go head to head against the trust (think the Judean People's Front in The Life of Brian). But if NUST won't act to the will of the members, f*ck it, lets put something up against it that will, and see which one people join. If there are enough people interested, as I've said I'd love to be involved in setting something up.