Tom_NUFC

Peterborough away

Aug 21, 1985 Luton (h) 2-2 Division One Roeder, Beardsley I was 6 and very excited. The fact that it was midweek with floodlights coming on during the game is something I remember. Stood in the old west paddock. It was a while before I went to my next mid week games (I can only think the reason I was at that one was school holidays). In hindsight, I was probably a bit too young for a midweek game. I remember complaining of being tired as the game went on.

Passed 18 out of 24 - 75%

At home to Huddersfield

No doubt it'll be discussed at the Members meeting on Thursday night.

Yeah, sorry. When I said 'serious', I meant there's not going to be any funny Gazza or Billy Whitehurst in Bermuda stories from Ando or John Gibson. Or quizzes, football cards etc

Well, there's the update on the supporters club and the conversion to the trust. There's a bit to tell about that, because we've got to do an official launch. There's letting members know what it entails now that we're a trust - what we can/can't do. People probably want to know what the score is regarding elections, because we set the club up last September and early on said, there will be elections in June. We have mentioned why they haven't happened, but no doubt there'll be people wanting to know why. Basically (if you're interested), because we went down the Supporters Trust route and as things got more serious and they decided to go with our proposals (rather than a couple of rival proposals) they said drew up a timeline for us. Because it wasn't going to go through until July they advised us not to go with the June elections. There timeline went with us officially becoming a Trust in July (which has happened), having an official launch (which is something else we need to discuss with members) in September. They said to take a few months to allow the trust to 'bed in' and hold elections probably in January, which they will assist us with organising - there's certain criteria they have to meet, to be recognised by Supporters Direct. A lot of it will be asking members what they want, because we can say we've done this and that, we've got an idea about x, y, and z - what do you think? That's all well and good, but it is only part of it. The other half is finding out what ideas, suggestions are out there amongst the membership.

Just listening to the NUFC special now on the iPlayer. Last night at the Strawberry was a great night (even if I am biased). The atmosphere was bang on. I'll admit that when I heard the BBC were having their talk-in on the same night, across the road, I did wonder if we'd only get a small crowd. But the place was packed (admitedly its not the biggest pub, but even so). People just seemed into it, and I think we've found that to be the case wherever we've gone. I like the balance of the serious stuff, combined with the NUSC stuff and then you have the craic and the funny stories off John Anderson or John Gibson. Of course there's still the need to have the full-on serious stuff. and on that note, we have a full-on serious meeting at the Irish Club next Thursday night. This is a MEMBERS ONLY meeting, HOWEVER, you can join on the night, at the discount (Roadshow rate) £8/£3 (concessions). (The discount is because we save on postage).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ0TFBUjEmo

It's kind of a wierd one isn't when someone you admire and respect but don't personally know dies. It can still affect you because of your admiration. Again, I'd go down the each to their own route. Personally, I can't go down the grief route because I didn't know him. At the same time, I do feel very sad about his death and I did feel the need to go up to St James' yesterday, to leave a scarf because I admired the bloke for what he signified to football in general and NUFC and the region in particular. It was sort of like a thanks for the good times. But, let's also look at what's happened here. A man who was Black and White through and through, revered throughout the world and fought cancer five times showing dignity throughout has died at a time when the club he loved is in a dreadful and sorry state. Those were his last memories of Newcastle United Football Club. Were it not for stupid, egotistical callous vermin, he may have at least witnessed at least the very beginnings of some sort of recovery and hope. Let's not forget this. Let us as fans unite to make sure that other NUFC fans - be they internationally respected personalities such as Sir Bobby, or just the bloke down the road who's been going since he was a kid - die with their last memories of Newcastle United being in such a terrible state. Let's demand, and help to build a club that is envied and respected throughout football both on the pitch and for its role and involvement in the community, that was so dear to Bobby Robson. That would be the ultimate tribute to him.

Some pics I took yesterday.

Oh aye, I remember Charles Harrison. I get frustrated listening to our away games anyway, but listening to that bugger was purgatory.

Nothing really to add to what's already been said. The way he conducted himself both in and out of football is an example to us all, and the WORLD is so much the poorer without him. RIP Bobby.

It's a snappy title, I have to admit. They've obviously put a lot of work into coming up with that name. They should just extend MOTD and shove everything in together.

Here's hoping like, but as all we've had off Llambias this summer is either Silence or Lies, I won't hold my breath.

You've probably found it by now but just in case (and for anyone else who's curious). "What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It's not the television contracts, get out clauses or the marketing departments or executive boxes. It's the noise the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city''

Who is in charge of the clattering train? The axles creak and the couplings strain, and the pace is hot and the points are near, and sleep hath deadened the driver's ear, and the signals flash through the night in vain, for death is in charge of the clattering train

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a good night, and I think the more roadshows we do, the better they get. Yeah, it was a bit disappointing that more didn't come, but again, the more we do, the more the word will spread. We put out a few posters and we're now rolling on Facebook and Twitter, so hopefully we can build up our followings on those and news of our roadshows will spread. But we do the roadshows so we can go out and speak to fans near where they live (as coming into town through the week isn't always ideal for a lot of people) and its a bit more intimate. But we were hoping for a few more. Nevertheless, a good night and Gibbo is great craic. We've got Ando next week in Blakelaw and he's great as well. And that was DEFINITELY John Cornwell in the pic quiz!

Where are you getting the Chile 62s from Tom? Could do with a new pair myself. Schuh and Office have them in. I've been after some for ages but haven't been able to get them because I've got proper clowns feet and take a size 12. I was passing Office last saturday and decided to have a look, but as usual no 12s and they didn't know when/if they would get them. So I popped across to Schuh, same story there in both branches. But they had a look and said that the one in the Metrocentre had one pair of 12s in. I detest the Metrocentre, but I thought bollocks, if they've got some I'm having them.

Yeah, it is fantastic stuff, and we're all really pleased because it gives us a bit more weight. Whether we can get representation/dialogue with the club etc is down to them, but what we have done is established something that gives supporters a bit of official backing and weight, and we've very much put the ball in the club's court. Like Pud says, the hard work has been done by Colin and Lisa, who have worked tirelessly with Supporters Direct to get us to where we are. The story with Shepherd blocking the fans representation goes back to the Save Our Seats campaign, which Colin was heavily involved with. At the time Supporters Direct was just starting up, and having read about it Colin contacted them. The SOS campaign managed to get enough shareholders to back the proposal and get it on the agenda of the AGM. The club/Shepherd buried it away in one sentence on the 40-something page of a 50+ page document. Therefore many shareholders attending the AGM were unaware of the proposal. The AGM was held in London, early on a Wednesday morning shortly before Christmas, but Colin and another lad got down there and attended the meeting and were able to put forward the proposal. A number of shareholders liked what they heard and starting asking questions of the club. Shepherd didn't want it, so he killed the whole thing by setting up the Fans Liaison Committee. Then, when we started out back last September, Supporters Direct heard about us, and dug out Colin's details to ask him about it. I think Colin was already thinking along the lines of contacting them and we decided it was the route we wanted to go down, so Colin took it on and started speaking with them. Initially, they were speaking to a couple of other groups (as each club can only have one trust) including Peter Lee (the bloke who wanted everyone to chip in a few thousand quid each to buy the club. But he, and the others fell away, and Supporters Direct liked what we were saying and our plans, so they backed us. We then put the trust proposal to a members vote and the overwhelming majority backed the move. We had James and Rob from SD come up and speak at a meeting we held in March. Then we submitted our application, which was processed and accepted. Anyone who's coming to the Simonside Arms Roadshow this Thursday, or any of our future roadshows will no doubt hear the SOS story from Colin himself, and he can explain the whole SD thing in far more detail than me. You'll have the chance to ask him questions about it as well.

For Fucks Sake! I was looking at going to that one as well.

Yup, different team, different place, though not far from one another.

I think I'll go and see that.

You've put on your website that SJP opened in 1892 - it didn't. SJP was opened as a Football ground in the 1870s and was first used by Newcastle Rangers and Tyne Association. When these clubs folded, it was used by the Newcastle FA representative side. In 1892, Newcastle West End FC were formed and after playing at several venues, they took on the lease at St James' a year or so later. In 1892, West End got into financial trouble and sought a meeting with their cross-town rivals Newcastle East End (founded in 1881). They proposed that East End take up the St James' lease as it was the better ground. East End accepted and moved to St James'. West End folded, with many of their players and directors joining East End. In December 1892, East End held a public meeting to suggest a new name, as they no longer played in the East End and were now the city's only professional side. Newcastle United was the most popular suggestion. The East stand's size can't be increased as behind it are Grade 1 listed Georgian buildings.

Never been to El Torrero, but El Coto is nice. El Castaño on Osbourne Road is class.