From India to Northern Ireland, via Newcastle.

toonsy

Next stop on our fan tour - Belfast!
After reading the article by the Newcastle fan in India I was inspired to give my own testimony to the Geordie church.

I’m a toon fan from Belfast. Admittedly not as far as India or nearly as outnumbered as Deepak is, but still this wasn’t a thing I was born into it was a decision I made and I’ve never regretted despite the constant stick I get from the glory hunting plastic supporters in “our wee country”.

Up until I was about 16/17 I followed my Dad and the rest of my family as a Liverpool supporter. I always loved playing football in the street and having a bit of banter with the Man United fans. Manchester United and Liverpool are the two biggest teams over here besides Rangers and Celtic, but considering that’s not really football and wearing the wrong colours over here could get you killed I never seen the point.

When it came to watching football or even Match of the Day I would of rather have been doing something else. It was boring but I’d pretend to get into it just to join in the craic but, I’d far rather be playing the game myself.

That was until I seen the SAS (Sutton and Shearer) partnership. These two guys where a different class, especially the latter of the two. I watched in awe as the pair tore defences apart with skill and power. At the same sort of time I remember King Kev coming out onto the steps outside St James’ Park to talk to the fans about the sale of Andy Cole. I remember thinking that was commendable showing the fans that they are part of the club.

Then Alan Shearer went to Newcastle and I, like may others, thought that would be the final piece of the jigsaw that would make a good team great. I can still see him standing with both arms up lapping up the cheers and applause. After that, watching Match of the Day was something I looked forward to but not for my team! I’d wait for the Newcastle highlights.

I hadn’t admitted to myself yet, but I was hooked. Watching Alan Shearer – a real mans man – leading a team of very skilled players followed by passionate supporters was a joy. After a while I spent more and more time reading the back pages looking for the Newcastle articles and going past Liverpool ones to get at them and I finally had to admit that I’d done a reverse Judas.

Newcastle were flying high at the time so I was branded a glory hunter. I couldn’t have cared less. I now understood why people screamed at the TV and jumped up and down. Within a year I’d branded myself with a Newcastle crest proudly tattooed on my arm. I’d gone from being a fan to a fanatic.

My first trip to St James’ Park was brilliant. I couldn’t believe the atmosphere and I was surrounded, for the first time in my life, by people who where as passionate about my team as I was. It was up there with my kids being born (one of which I’ve named Geordie who will obviously pull on the black and white someday lift a trophy and by his dad a Lambo). I still get shivers down my spine when I think about the first time I walked through the tunnel into the stands and every time I get over I’m treated as one of the lads by complete strangers.

I don’t need to tell anyone reading this that it hasn’t been easy. In fact at times it’s been unbearable. I get asked all the time “why Newcastle?” There’s no reason why I shouldn’t support one of the big four, I’m not from Newcastle and this wasn’t my Dad’s team. It’s simple – I love the underdog!

I’m glad it’s not easy. If it was it would be boring and I wouldn’t be shouting at the TV or sitting up a crane with a Newcastle flag on the ceiling refreshing Newsnow all day wondering who’s going to be our next number 9.

I support Newcastle because someday, maybe not even in my life time, but someday we will win something and that for me, if I ever see it, will be worth the wait. We have been starved of success for years and when we finally do lift a trophy it will mean more to us than any of the big teams. I almost pity them for missing out on that 😉

Thanks for taking the time to read this keep the faith.

Note from Toonsy – Thanks to Belfast Toon for giving us his story. I love them I do. And an additional thanks do Deepak for his story which inspired this one.

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

View all posts by toonsy →

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90 thoughts on “From India to Northern Ireland, via Newcastle.”

  2. Reverse Judas indeed :mrgreen: Glad to have you aboard Belfast Toon, you made the right choice 😆

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  4. Cracking read by the way, it’s great to read about what our feelings for the club are. Different class.

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  5. I agree with Jay Jay. I love reading how people fell in love with Newcastle. It hits home how big our support is and how passionate they are aswell 🙂

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  6. I likewise agree with Toonsy who agrees with Jay jay, s’always a treat to hear the stories of our brothers in arms 😛

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  7. I await Jay Jay article about how tough life is being a ginger Newcastle fan, even though he’s not ginger 🙄 😛

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  8. The good thing is they really have to have some special feeling for the club, we can’t be glory supporters, it’s love 🙂

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  9. Well done Belfast Toon. It takes balls to stick with the Toon under those circumstances and peer pressure.
    You want to try and get over next season as it is looking like being a belter :mrgreen:

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  11. Moving words Belfast Toon! More loyalty than many local fans. Not fans on this site of course.

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  12. Oi Toonsy I registered with my name and email but never got the verification sent through – now it says my name and email are already in use but I can’t log on as I don’t have a p/w! I feel it’s time I got meself an avatar so sort us out with an account will ya?

    Very happy with our transfer dealings so far, my biggest fear of the transfer window is loosing Colocini – if he goes we’re fecked, doesn’t matter how many prospects we bring in the entire spine of the team will have been ripped out and won’t have time to gel. Keep Colo and I’ll be happy. I think Barton will stay til at least next season – if the right club were to make an offer they surely would have made it by now to snap him up? I think he’s ours for next season at least, and it looks like Enrique will go to Arsenal. I can handle that, I’d rather he went there than the bindippers but wish he’d stay. If we managed to keep Colo, Barton and Enrique the team would be in seriously good shape for next season with Marveaux, Ba, Cabaye and hopefully a few more class additions.

    Considering we haven’t actually spent any money yet (Nolan paid for Cabaye and the others were free) we should have at least 30 mil to spend. I hope this means they’re planning to spend big on one or two players of real class. Would be happy with Matuidi Nzog (10 mil each?) and a few others, plus Sturridge on loan must be a real possibility?

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  13. Enjoy reading these stroies how people have become Newcastle fans, hopefully theres a few more to come.

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  15. Great article Belfast Toon.Can totally connect with what you are going through.At the end of the day we can hold our heads high in pride and say that we had the balls to stick by our choice despite all the problems.And as you say when we finally do win a trophy, the feeling will be something really really special.And am really glad that I inspired you to write this article.

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  16. Devon – I’ve reset your password. To get you in, use password as your password then change it 🙂

    I bet the verification went to your spam folder

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  17. cheers mate, and nah it didn’t I checked there just in case and it’s nowhere to be found 😕

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  18. Hey toonsy,
    Congratulation’s on the blog mate, you seem to be getting loads of traffic now 🙂
    Just need Wor Bobby to pull up in his reality train to kick it off again 😆
    Anyways, well done 😉

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  19. TGS – Cheers man. It’s picking up a huge head of steam now, but it’s not just me, it’s you guys aswell that have helped. Even Bobby 😉

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  20. Lets all shout at Bobby, COS HE’S SUFFERING FROM A HANGOVER ❗ 😆 😆 😆

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  21. aye toonsy.. no matter where i am in the world i manage to get on, wind a few up and have a laugh… in the middle of saudi arabia right now as it goes.

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  22. Are you sure about that contradictory craig?

    Are you not in Qatar?

    come one…make your mind up son

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  23. Hi toonsy.. All the way from southafrica been supporting the toon for 20years now its been a life with its high and lows but still enjoying every minute of it.. Enjoy your blog.. Thanks

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  26. MSA – Nee worries. Glad you enjoy it bud. We’re all in this together after all! 🙂

    TGS – Np, because I may be the same tomorrow as I’m out on the **** tonight 😕

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  28. Belfast good one mate haven’t seen you about for a while, and I can remember at the time when we were flying you could go into Belfast and would see loads of Toon Tops but most of them have dissappeared to be replaced by other teams now 😆 but there is a few that remain faithfull.
    On your crest Tattoo was it a johnny venus one ?

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  29. nice article toonsy, i still have fond memories of being there in the early 80,s as a nipper, when keegan and gazza waddle etc were running out for us, i remember walking 7 miles to get there in the pishing rain when we played the makems on new years day, ahhhhhhhh bliss, when we do win some silverware i hope we take the goal post home with us too lol

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  33. na newkie.. just thought that as we are missing a right sider larsson would have been good as also freeby.

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  35. Toontastic1892 Newcastle United
    #nufc 10m bid for Charles N`Zogbia believe to of been submitted and accepted. Wigan sources saying
    8 minutes ago

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  36. Dave – I was going to use another pic of Belfast but I thought it would just cause trouble so I’ll leave it there 😉

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  37. Hey Bobby!I was impressed by your train of negativity,quite poetic.You obviously have a hidden talent.A talent you should cultivate instead of feckin your fellow supporters 😀

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  38. Craig-I’d rather whack Jonas over there if I’m honest. If we do get Zog I imagine that’s what would happen. Otherwise I might even try out ferguson on the right, as long as he feels confident with a cut-in role.

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  39. ffs toonsy.. you will need to give your header a serious make over me thinks b4 the start of the season…Barton. Nolan, jose. colo hahaha!! You should turn your header into the full team that we had at start of window.. like mug shots etc.. and put red line through each one as they drop.. you can give nolan, kuqi, campbell the red line treatment right now.., then you could put red question marks over jose, colo, barton etc

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  40. There seems to be more and more different bloggers on here daily .

    They’ve obviously heard Shinton speaks the truth and has a magic crystal ball. 😆

    Toonsy, I’m thinking about coming to you for a pay rise.
    10pence per post on a monthly rolling contract.
    I’ll send my agent round.

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  41. Interesting fact:
    Ba, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Marveaux and Tiote cost #NUFC under £15m. Jordan Henderson cost #LFC £20m. 😆 😆

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  44. Craig @ 39 – Bollocks to red stripes. How about bullet holes? 😈

    Bobby – I’m sure the thought of you polishing your balls brings people from far and wide 😕

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  45. Toonsy-Unless Ashley’s taken a massive gamble and has decided to use Marveux to replace Enrique and team him up with Zoggy on the elft? 😯 😆

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  46. @Craig
    You say;
    ffs toonsy.. you will need to give your head a serious make over me thinks b4 the start of the season…

    What’s wrong with his head? His mother probably thinks he’s handsome with sweet smile. 😆

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  47. No way will we be in for Zoggy now, having captured Marveaux for nowt.
    I am expecting a RW,CF and LB to come in.

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  49. newkie… yeah i hear you as i have said for ages get in zogs and push jonas on right as that its his better slot. My only thinking was that i think jonas will be off soon cos jose is a goner to **** by all accounts. Funny enough… getting back to my previous thought train a day or two ago with my new friend Moreno.. is it a co-incidence that we are in heavy links with zogs on same day it breaks that jose is in talks with ****? one in and one out and balancing the books sort of thing. In all fairness to fatty and dekka…. i would be very happy with that swap deal if it does come off. jose out and zogs in.. yep, i would say yes to that. I think that zogs second coming would be immense, why? .. cos he has been here already and he left.. he knows the grass is not greener and he would play his socks off if given his own slot… i recall bernard, he wanted out, went mad for it, left and regretted it ever since!! what is it with us and lefties??? bernard, zogs, jose, robert, ginola… all brilliant but very hard to please.

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  51. I can’t see us getting N’Zogbia either, looks like we’ve went for the cheap option which doesn’t surpirse me – not complaining because Marveaux looks a real talent lets hope he stays clear of injuries 🙂

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  52. N’Zogbia in, plays right wing and drifts in – Jonas either bench warms or leaves considering he is about 28 or something.

    Marveaux is 25 – 5 year deal, 30 is the number.

    Nice to see another signing to fill the squad as much as the first team. Another one or two and we’re set. That way we can mix experience and youth on the bench.

    This is what I was saying last night, we are now finally signing players and not just replacing what we sell.

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  53. maybe if we can convince zogs to come is LB perm slot, his own berth and 55k he would say yes.. he has played there before and is pretty good back there too

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  54. Thanks lads never thought that would make an article! I’m well chuffed! The Tat was done in a back street somewhere in town still gets a lot of attention. I heard there was a supporters club in carrick big Dave?

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  55. ChrisyYatesITV Chris Yates
    Newcastle are in contract talks with Charles Nzogbia #nufc

    This guy has been spot on with a few things…

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  58. “There are people being sold for £20m who are not fit to lace Luka’s boots.”

    Fairplay ‘Arry, I appreciate anyone who wishes to slag off a Mackem 😆

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  59. @56. yeah man, you should have seen what he was wearing two days ago 😯
    not a bad set of lungs FJ! Is that the same bird you said b4?

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  60. Newkie,

    It isn’t the best, but after Susan’s objection last night, I thought I’d find a classier pic of her to show she isn’t just all kinky. The majority of her online pics are nude too, so it limits, lol.

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  61. cwarr07Colin
    The Zog will soon be back on the Tyne, bid accepted, permission given to speak to Charlie #nufc

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  64. Correct me if I’m wrong but hasn’t N’zogbia been playing on the right quite a lot for wigan with his goals coming when he cuts inside. IF he signs he could do the same for us.

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  65. Funky

    “I thought I’d find a classier pic of her to show she isn’t just all kinky”

    Tsssk, why would you want to go and do that 🙄
    😛

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  69. I must admit i can relate closely to your article Belfast toon, I live just outside Brighton and all my mates are manc utd, spurs or ***&hole and i really couldn’t bear to support one of those, i have never been to a city other than Newcastle that has the pride and the passion for it football team as much as you geordies (god i wish i was one!!) everyone always asks me why i supported Newcastle? well when i was small i came upto newcastle to stay with some friends my parents had up there, and we went to see a game whilst we was visiting (about 30 years ago now) i have been back close on 200 times now not just for football but i just love the city and the nightlife although i’m getting a little old for that these days i’ve just never been made to feel so welcome as i do in Newcastle, anywhere i go in the city i’ve never come across any “**** southerner” ****, i wish i could live up there although my wife doesn’t want to move that far, but i’m currently a season ticket holder and have been for the last 4 years.

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  70. Afan-I believe you are correct, if i’m not mistaken he’s fluidly switched flanks every now and then as well which has helped Wigan out a fair deal.

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  72. 4411………….i think if zogs comes in he will adapt to the LB slot and will link up with HBA or Marveaux… keeping that left side french. I think we will either sell jonas or send him out right. If zogs comes in i think all we need to do is get another top class forward… sell loven, stroller and jose…. We then nail down colo and jonas to extensions now too.. for me, that would be a top window and we wil lahve spent nothing but will have strengthened significantly… and for once i would tip my hat to ashley. Hey.. i even love the new kit too for next season.

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  73. Don’t believe for one minute that Zoggy would come hear to play LB.

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  74. Craig-I think Zog wants wing position, he made it clear he preferred that to left back. I don’t think the club will bring him back for big money to sit back there. Marveux can also play as left back however…probably too weak for the prem, but we’ll see.

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  75. Belfast @ 54 yeah mate there is one in Carrick and they get tickets for most games, I can get the Tel No for you and get Toonsy to email it to you if you want

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