Now I’m always interested in things like this as I’m very proud that Newcastle United have such a large and diverse fan base that is spread so far across the globe, so naturally I agreed. Please read this as it’s pretty compelling and shows just how much Newcastle United means to us all!
Greetings lads and lasses.
I don’t know how many of you have noticed me sporadically commenting on the posts here, anyway I post under the name of ‘Deepak is an Indian Toon’ and this is the story of how a boy living so far away and with absolutely no connections to Newcastle United or the area became an ardent and fanatic supporter of the club.
Now, I was born into a middle class Indian family in South India (Kerala to be precise), one which had a strong lineage of doctors. Both of my parents are doctors, as is my uncle, and we have a hospital, so it’s fair to say that sports was not exactly paramount in the family. Incidentally it was my Dad who introduced me to the beautiful game almost 12 years back. I remember the first match I saw on TV was Leeds United against…well..uhmm..somebody I really don’t remember.
Moving on, the manner in which I became an NUFC
fan was purely coincidental. I remember glancing at the league table that popped up on the TV one night while having dinner with my family in the year of 2001 and right on top of the table was Newcastle United. The name instantly struck to my head partially because I thought we were the best and partially because….well, I just simply liked the name to be honest.
At this point of time, I knew nothing about various clubs and who were the best and all that, so I decided to support NUFC, although I vaguely remember my friends were all Manchester United fans – I actually thought then that they were being stupid and I was the intelligent guy for supporting the best team around!
We subsequently threw away that lead in true Newcastle fashion and finished 4th in the league that year behind only Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, but by then my mind had been made up. I had fallen in love and I still remember the lap of appreciation that our boys took that night around St James Park. I vividly remember the emotions on the faces of Nobby Solano and Laurent Robert and also the fans. It was then that it struck me just how much it meant to everyone.
The next season was even better and we managed to give a real title push, at least for about half of the season before fading off and finishing 3rd that year. The legendary Sir Bobby Robson was doing a great job with the team and I was starting to dream. Trophies, goals, top scorers and everything in between was drifting through my head.
I couldn’t have been more wrong though as from then on started the dark days in the club’s recent history. The 2003-04 season wasn’t a disaster by any stretch of imagination as the club finished 5th and wasn’t too bad in the Champions League but it still provoked Mr Freddy Shepherd to fire the much loved and admired Sir Bobby Robson. It was true that we hadn’t qualified for the Champions League and that we failed to get past its group stage, but it was still not a big enough reason in my books to fire the great man.
The club then chose to appoint Graeme Souness as the manager and we finished 14th in his first season. That season will stick in my mind for the fight between Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer on the pitch in the match against Aston Villa. I remember almost being in tears as I saw two players who were supposed to have the club at heart fight like that in front of the watching world. And to add insult to injury, every single one of my gloryhunting friends had a field day teasing me about it!
That summer signalled the beginning of the arrival of the money grabbing losers at the club with Michael Owen and Albert Luque amongst others. My hopes, like every other Newcastle fan, were raised sky high only for it to come crashing down.The great Alan Shearer also retired at the end of that season and that left a gaping hole in our team which has yet to be filled and which I doubt will be filled in the near future. A finish of 7th that year was followed by a 13th placed finish and then a 12th placed one as Souness was replaced by Roeder who was then replaced by Big Sam Allardyce.
The Mike Ashley express then came to town and was met with a sense of optimism from me, and he actually made some pleasing moves by sacking the unpopular Allardyce and replacing him with King Keegan. It was a hugely spectacular and popular decision which turned out to be a match made in hell. Keegan resigned within six months leaving us with Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Alan Shearer in a desperate attempt to stave off relegation, which was subsequently unsuccessful. I remember sitting in front of the T.V and literally crying as the scenes of relegation unfolded after a spineless effort from our team.
That was a time when, if I am being honest, I took stock of my love for the club. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to see any matches as the Championship was not telecast in India and I was in hostel doing my Medicine degree and hadn’t bought a laptop yet. I knew I would face a lot of teasing and bugging from everybody around and I had no idea whether we would bounce right back. But, all those doubts lasted only a few moments as I realised that if there was one club in the world I could support, it was Newcastle United.
That year was particularly tough as I couldn’t see even a single match live and literally had to follow every match through live text commentary on the Sky Sports website or on my phone, most of the time at 2 or 3 in the morning. Those were hard times but I managed to get a laptop by the time we won the final game and lifted the trophy and I also managed to see us win a huge trophy in pre-season against Deportivo.
The season that has just gone by was a highly fulfilling one. I managed to watch almost every match and we played some decent footy. Although I got a lot of stick from many fans for the sale of Carroll and sacking of Hughton, I believed that we had enough to see us through, and eventually we did come through.
So, to sum up, I am now 22 years old and have been a fan for 11 years now and I have never met a fellow NUFC fan face to face all this while. I don’t have an NUFC jersey as Puma or Adidas don’t sell our jerseys in their stores in India and its too expensive to buy from the official store as the delivery charges are double the cost of the shirt. I have never been to a top level football match in my life and can only dream of how St James’ Park will be in full voice.
Despite all this, I believe I am as ardent a fan as anybody. I am so interested in the club’s news that I keep updating Newsnow, Twitter and this ‘blog every five minutes just to see if something new has come up, so much so that my friends tease me saying that I would even know when a player has gone to the loo!
I love my club and I stand up for it against anybody, even if I am outnumbered 10:1, which is mostly the case. I know that although every single fan of the other so called “BIG” clubs take the **** out of me for supporting Newcastle, deep down they admire me for sticking with my club.
I am fiercely proud of my club and looking back, I am actually happy that it was Newcastle at the top of the table on that fateful day in 2001 and I didn’t go on to become a gloryhunter, because despite the results, the passion and love that is associated with Newcastle is unique and special. My dad is ruing the fact that it was him who started my craze as it has become the first love in my life, surpassing my medicine course.
I have big dreams of doing my residency in Newcastle or in the UK, or at least coming to St James’ Park one day and seeing our heroes and the stadium with my own eyes. God willing, I hope one day I will be able to.
And if anyone is wondering if I am an optimistic or a pessimistic fan – I am an eternal optimist. I believe that God gives you only one life and its up to you make yourselves happy, even if that means letting yourselves go and dreaming for sometime.
My name is Deepak Venugopalan and this is my story.
Liam,
It’s just unfortunate that others don’t feel the same….as you’ll see in the next article 😉
Moreno(Quote)
This bit got me:
“I have never met a fellow NUFC fan face to face”
😥 😥
Mind you, if you meet Jay Jay you might think you’ve had a lucky escape thus far 😆
If you ever meet Marktoon and wonder which one he is, he is the one who squeaks when he walks. Tight fecker 😆
toonsy(Quote)
I agree with jay @ 72 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Toonsy – So,hows my acting going so far??? 😆
GeordieQatar – Thanks mate and you just made me realise a similarity between Newcastle and my place of birth-Kerala….both are affectionately called Gods own Country… 😉
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Jay’s ok….for a ginga! 😉
richietoon(Quote)
aye toonsy not a bad guy,has time for most everyone,heard off dave he has a nickname at work,TON-UP TOONSY, 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Moreno is getting his nails out ready for the next article 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy – that was the reason for the ‘at times’ 😀 but have to say true NUFC fans dont argue we just agree that our opinions differ! any NUFC fans opinion is worth listening too as we all are after the same thing ….the toon army getting the success we deserve!
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Jees, what’s with all the Toonsy **** kissing? 😉
Great piece Deepak. I can relate to a lot of what is said…
Although we are fortunate here with Newcastle products because the club have a large support base over here. I’d say despite results the club is only behind Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal in support…
Expensive… It basically equates to 80 pounds for a shirt, so I only get one every three years…
Been following the team since ’96.
So far I’ve heard of fans from India, South Africa, Taiwan, USA. So nobody can tell me this is a small club.
JJ(Quote)
😆 gingers are people too!
You love meeting me at the match toonsy 😀
jay jay(Quote)
Liam@73…but thats nowt to do with Toonsy… 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
I think Ashley is planning to make it 80 quid a shirt over here as well JJ 😯 😉
Moreno(Quote)
I heard it was ton weight toonsy 😉
jay jay(Quote)
Mithun-Seriously???Where in Kerala mate??
Toonsy – 😆
and how would it be if I met you??
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
jay jay@88 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich mag – who said it was 😀 😀
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Jay…I think you meant,”Gingers are little people too” 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Interesting point brought up about shirt sales…
Perhaps part of the club’s financial strategy is to sell shirts, ship them out, bring in new players so they can sell more shirts.
Got the Carroll jersey from my younger bro for Christmas. Was thoroughly depressed when he went 🙁
Thad(Quote)
@Deepak Pathanamthitta Dist! Its my story too.
mithun_toon(Quote)
richietoon, history is full of exceptional small ginger people… 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM, name one? lol
Moreno(Quote)
Thad@93…not as sad as the bloke who got a full Andy Cole tatoo on his leg, then he left for manure the next day… 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
jay, jay and Billy Bremner…that’s three Moreno… 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
megson….
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
@21 😆 😆 😆
Moreno&Toonsy- Aye, i saw what that ***** wrote on twitter? who is he? and what’s he jealous about?
Jobey07(Quote)
I’m proud to be Ginger, and a dwarf 🙂
jay jay(Quote)
Jay Jay – are you a Paul Scholes lookalike?
Jobey07(Quote)
Thad
I never put a name on the back. Unless its a legend like Sir Bobby or Shearer or Shola 🙄
JJ(Quote)
Mithun- Wow mate 😯 ,where you now???What are you upto???
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Another classic about being am overseas supporter… Never in my life have I met or heard of a Sunderland fan… 😆
JJ(Quote)
@MM
Speaking of tattoos, what about this one:
http://www.soccerfanatic.com/blog/soccer-randomness/man-citys-fan-tattoo/
Rooney went on to score a bicycle kick against them, city legend indeed 🙂
Thad(Quote)
JJ
Posted June 13, 2011 at 4:55 PM
“Jees, what’s with all the Toonsy **** kissing?”
I know. I mean I knew I was magnificent (and well hung by the way 😉 ) but I didn’t know I was this well liked 😆
As for the fans around the globe…… Loads you’ve missed off mate. Thailand for a start. In fact just today, on this site…
UK, Australia, United States, Singapore, Norway, Malaysia,Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Hong Kong ,Thailand, Denmark, India, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa ,Spain, France ,United Arab Emirates ,China ,Bulgaria, Japan, Netherlands, Indonesia, Finland, Mauritius, Estonia ,Iceland ,Israel ,Macedonia [FYROM], Namibia, Italy, Austria, South Korea, Bahrain, Oman, Belgium, Poland ,Cyprus, Isle of Man, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Kuwait, Taiwan, Tanzania, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Malta, Greece, Bermuda, Philippines, Turkey, Qatar, Jersey, Brunei, Serbia, Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Mexico, Croatia, Jamaica, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Netherlands Antilles, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uruguay, Czech Republic, Nepal, Fiji, Brazil, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Marshall Islands, Argentina, Lebanon, Latvia, Peru, Rwanda, Seychelles, Kenya, Vietnam, Macau, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Morocco
toonsy(Quote)
Doing Mcom 🙂 here itself. I will be going to Coimbatore soon, may be we should meet ?
mithun_toon(Quote)
@JJ
Go buy a Shola shirt, they might just ship him out next week!
Will have been money well spent mate.
Thad(Quote)
Willie nelson, judas, Vivaldi, van gogh, Galileo, churchill, Lenin and Steve Watson 😎
jay jay(Quote)
Toonsy’s good at the blog, personality of dish water though 😉
Jobey07(Quote)
Jobey – You’ll see on the next article 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Deepak – If you;re ever over here let me know and I’ll have drink with you 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy – leave the Zoggy news, he’s mine.
Jobey07(Quote)
the tensions killing me toonsy……
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
jobey? the zog news?
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Mithun- Sure mate,am in Palakkad.Are you on facebook??
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Liam – Heheh 😉
Jobey07(Quote)
@Deepak added you mate:)
mithun_toon(Quote)
Zoggy news? 💡 😕 😕 😕
toonsy(Quote)
Transfer requesttt
Jobey07(Quote)
Toonsy-It would be my pleasure to…:)
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Jobey – Ahhh got ya 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Jobey my lad the drive home from work will be ever so sweet if that true!!
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Top man deepak, great read – now thats passion! 😀
floydy(Quote)
Zog:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6988424,00.html
MDS(Quote)
Always remember the first time i saw newcastle play on the tv i was 11 yrs old in 95/96 season – newcastle 6 wimbledon 1. Ferdinand hatrick!
floydy(Quote)
Get in Zogmiester. Get yoursel doon to mountain warehouse and grab yer self a tent. Camp outside St James until we sign you son.
Gazza will be doon with the chicken and the fosters within the hour
Moreno(Quote)
Deepak,
Note how he says, “have a drink” not buy you one…
Stingy *******! 😉
Toonsy that’s one heck of a list!
JJ(Quote)
JJ – I know. I had to edit the fecker! That’s according to Google Analytics by the way who do all the stats for the site 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
I bet warris is tugging his little todger now thinking he got one right, Long way to go if he even wants to rejoin us…
CC(Quote)
Only prob is this will alert other clubs. And he is a French national.
So, we won’t be the only ones in for him.
JJ(Quote)
Aye there will be loads of interest in him. Can’t see him coming to us 🙁
toonsy(Quote)
Floydy-Thanks mate….
Weird though that Bobby Shinton has not commented on this article though..was looking forward to his response.. 😉
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Deepak – I think he is still a little bit in hiding after our words earlier 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Deepak very interesting story mate 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
JJ think most clubs were aware of it before that statement mate,but it will start a bidding war imo
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy @ 107 was I not on earlier ❓ 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – There is another subject called “unspecified” which a lot of people would fall into. Perhaps your in that?
toonsy(Quote)
Besides, wouldn’t Norn Iron be under UK 😕
toonsy(Quote)
Ice it wouldn’t be a bad move for Zog to comeback here as he knows the National team will be regular visitors here to watch over Benny and Cabeye 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
toonsy you forgot the Faroe Islands on that list mate!! 😀
okkurtgarvilt(Quote)
Toonsy – True mate,he is walking on a thin line I suppose… 😉
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Toonsy but it would have made the list look a little better having Gods Country in it 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Toonsy I see we made it to the top of the top stories list on nn and thats not the 1st time,
Aye lad anyone can run a blog 😆 😆 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Very good read Deepak. Certainly hope you get to visit St.James Park someday. I had that honour twice (although only got to see one match live, the other was called off on the day), but it was a thrilling experience and I long to return. I’m from South Africa by the way. I may even do an article like this telling my story, for reading yours brought back a lot of memories.
Ahmed4nufc(Quote)
Great post, Deepak! That sounds exactly like my story, except that I fell in love with the toon because of a poster from the wonderful ‘Sportstar’ magazine here that said ‘Toon Army’ and had a beautiful picture of the team and Sir B R. That was the season we finished 4th I think. Pretty much the same time as you started watching. I think that was around when we first had cable TV and Premier league matches here in India. (I’m from hyderabad)
Although, I did find one other newcastle fan! 😀 A nigerian transfer student in a nearby college I met at a local hang out spot.
And yeah, it’s pretty standard to have people way over here supporting only the ‘top’ teams because those are the teams they’ve seen. No local team to support, so support the one you see on the TV.
SJP before 2015 for me. If I can earn enough, I want to watch a home game at SJP and an away game at Sunderland maybe? The bloggers can help us decide 😛
Love this blog! Love nufc!
hydeous(Quote)
You;d really really struggle to get tickets away fro the Sunderland game. Besides, they may be relegated by then 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Lads without beeing funny but can we not organise a Toon Top for Deepak?
flash(Quote)
Flash – I had much the same idea mate. It’s just working out how? 😕
toonsy(Quote)