St James’ Park soul nearly destroyed

Image courtesy of nufc.com
Well I guess I’d better get my apologising boots on and get in touch with Steve Wraith.

For those of you who don’t know, I was quite vocal about his claims that the signage above the East Stand was to be changed. I doubted it and laid into him a little over it and thought that he was just trying to stir up ill feeling. It appears that I was wrong.

Silly me for thinking that Mike Ashley wouldn’t go that far. I don’t even know why I even thought that in the first place but, as you can see from the picture, the wrecking job is nearly complete and we have the rather gaudy and incredibly tacky Sports Direct logo daubed on another part of our famous football stadium.

Now at this point I must stress that these images are as yet unconfirmed as nobody has seen them with the naked eye, but it really wouldn’t surprise me if they turned out to be genuine. A very large part of me wants it to be some clever sod with Photoshop, but I fear that I’d be pinning a lot of hope on a slim chance of that being the case.

When is it going to end though? It’s daubed all over the walls, the roof and just about everywhere else where you could imagine inside St James’ Park. I wouldn’t want to sit there and be faced with that and I wouldn’t be surprised if others felt the same. No wonder attendances are dropping.

A huge part of the problem is that we just don’t know if Sports Direct are paying for the privilege of having the name of their tat shop smeared all over St James’ Park. Knowing that there is cash coming into the club would at least add a bit of justification to the vast amount of different sized logos that are over the place. Not much, but a little.

We don’t know though, and that is what is irking me. Is this just a showcase to potential advertisers, still, or is this the way it’s going to be for a set specified amount of time? I’m honestly rather surprised that it wasn’t one of the questions put to the board last week.

At the end of the day it is Mike Ashley’s club and he can do what he likes with it. He has shown that dozens of times. We are just the once fortunate ones who have a severe emotional tie to the club. He needs to be careful though as with our emotional attachment comes financial commitment and if he pushes it too far he’ll start losing more of that.

I’ve said it before, but I’ve already ended my financial commitment to NUFC. As I type I sit here in old tatty Newcastle top and I simply refuse to buy another “official” one until something changes. The only cash I spend is what it costs to get me a match ticket away from home.

Some say that I’m cutting my nose off to spite my face by not going to St James’ Park and by not buying merchandise, but it makes me feel as though I’m doing something to register my displeasure. Words on the internet are pretty empty compared to cold, hard actions.

The problem is that it’s a pretty shallow protest when the man that you’re up against just doesn’t want to listen or communicate and, more importantly to him, has the money to not have to listen or communicate with little old me.

These signs may not have an impact on the players or our results. They may not be important to the manager as they set about trying to do their best by us and for themselves by getting it right on the pitch. They deserve our support, and they generally get out our support in fairness.

As for the man upstairs, I recognise he has done some good things at Newcastle, mainly because he had to, but I can’t back him. Not when he is showing a total disrespect to what is one of the largest, most committed and passionate fanbases there is.

Dastardly Derek said just a few days ago that Mike Ashley didn’t feel like backing the team as he didn’t like the abuse he gets. It’s a lack if respect from our fans sort of, I guess. But respect works two ways and needs to be earned.

And in that sense Ashley is hardly in credit is he?

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.

157 thoughts on “St James’ Park soul nearly destroyed

  1. I’d hate to point this out but he paid the millions for it so he can do what he wants. If you had such a massive marketing channel just sitting there I’m sure you would use it. Maybe you should get all the people who are undoubtedly going to make scathing comments on this post to chip in to buy the stadium naming rights. Problem solved.

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  2. The hideous offensive S.D signs are even all round the pitches at the training ground and will beseen by the staff and players and the odd cyclist and dog walker,fat Mikes ego has no ends,and his taste no beginnings.

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  3. It ll be the shirt next, free advertising for fat mike – money which could be raised through shirt sponsorship to go towards new players ain’t gonna be spent anyway! When does northern rock finish??

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  4. BKemp247 – At least that way we know it won’t be used as a free advertising vehicle…

    Mind you, it does raise a good thread. If you could buy the naming rights, what would you call it?

    I’d go with something like “**** off fatty@youranarsehole.****” smack bang opposite the directors box.

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  5. Manc – A lot of people say at the end of the season, but that is false. It has two years AFTER this season to run.

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  6. Toonsy – thank **** for that, fat mike’s actions leave me getting enough stick down south without him slapping his tatty company across our shirts

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  7. Fat Mick was reluctant to invest his money into the club because of the abuse. Hmmm.

    It must be getting to him.

    Of course, pure greed will always prevent him from looking after his investment. He knows he’s going to make millions soon.

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  8. Theoretically there is nothing wrong with the club maximising it’s money making options, it’s just that everything that these idiots gets up to smells of bumbling and deceit…

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  9. I can’t believe he doesn’t change all the flags on top of the east stand to sportsdirect flags and have a hot air barrage balloon floating above the ground advertising his ropey little charver shops!

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  10. Hopefully Ashley will be gone before the Northern Rock sponsorship ends…unless he gets himself a good deal for himself before leaving!!

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  11. The way the fat controller is destroying the club there wont be any fans left in the ground to see his latest ego boost.

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  12. Troy – will you stop giving the fat kunt ideas man ffs.
    The barrage balloon is a belter. Can just see it on match days.
    Noooooooo.

    Oh and I predicted the shirts a few weeks ago, but I think the general concensus was that no one would buy one, so would be doomed to failure lol.

    Toonsy are you sure about the N Rock sponsorship. I heard somewhere it was in its last year this year. ???

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  13. Who cares? Its his – he owns the whole shabang. He can do as he pleases as I would as anyone would.

    Football grounds the world over are daubed in whatever and whoever – folks are just bitching as they’ve nowt else to do.

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  14. at least I cant see it, ffs! its just tacky and horrible, when does our northern rock deal run out? wouldn’t surprise me to see sports direct plastered across the shirt.

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  15. Stardust – I care. To me St James’ Park was special but now it isn’t. It just one of the rest. It’s like the council painting Grey’s Monument pink, just because they can, and expecting people to still think of it as they used to.

    And as for the comparisons with other clubs stadiums….. That may be fair enough but the difference is that they get an income from it. As yet there is nothing to suggest that we are.

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  16. MM the only downside I can see would be if he doesn’t charge SD the going rate, as I said though – he is entitled to do it if he chooses, but SD, MA ans NUFC are all separate entities so it may not happen.

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  17. Toonsy you’re talking rubbish AGAIN. The soul went out of SJP when the iron dome over the Leases End was demolished – now there was atmosphere. Then again we lost it when we were fenced in away from the players. I didn’t like the all seater stadium either.
    Man stop being a big girls blouse and stop moaning about everything. Change happens. Get on with it and please just once say something positive.

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  18. Geordie85- Its very hard to say something positive when there’s very little to be positive about.

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  19. I’ve never just been told to say something positive have I? As someone who has been hammered all summer for being positive I, quite frankly, find that remark staggering 😕

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  20. Hes gotta get his dosh back somehow (or at least be getting something for free from the ground) No coincidence that he has opened shops in France ,so what does he do?
    He sends scouts to the french league to get bargains and further promote his group for free.
    I suppose it will be italy next then the whole of europe.
    He is a business man first and foremost, my only hope is that either he feels he has taken the club as far as he can without spending any more money, or that he sees the champions league/Europe as a possibility with a little investment then his brand will be even more publicised.
    For me, the soul has already gone from the stadium by allocating 5000 to away fans who rarely fill it, and ending the singing section.
    I wont let it sway me though, Il still go to the home games as I have already paid for the tickets, I wont be renewing in February unless I see significant investment or he has gone and a new owner is in place, even then, they will have until next febuary otherwise i wont be back ,as much as it pains me to say Ive just about had enough

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  21. …hahaha Witters 😀

    BB@15, that’s a really good point about possible shirt sponsorship. I bet we’d lose **** loads of shirt sales with Sports Direct emblazoned over the black and white stripes.

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  22. Toonsy – I was looking at a painting of the old ground yesterday in the sarnie shop just above Barker and Stonehouse – I agree with Geordie85 – that stadium had atmosphere – romance etc etc – its gone and we move on.

    We have to compete, the new stadium, all seater etc – this is a cost of progress in the PL (unfortunately)

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  23. What I want to know is the club getting any money from Ashley for advertising on St James park stadium? Knowing him he is advertising for free..

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  24. @geordie85

    To be fair to Toonsy it’s a valid point. We are getting **** all for the change we’ve seen in the stadium from an impressive looking ground transformed into a Christmas tree.

    @stardust

    You never go to the ground so it doesn’t really affect you.

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  25. to be honest when Sir. John hall said three or fours weeks ago that he sold Newcastle united to Mike because he wanted to market his sports direct business in the middle east said a few things to me.
    1 he wants to piggy back the club.
    2 he isn’t a failure in business so he will do his best to improve his sports direct business and there for
    3 tag us along with it and
    4 in a few years time we should reap the rewards.

    now i’m not a pro ash guy but i can understand what he is doing. i just wish he could be open and honest whilst doing it.

    if he came out and stated his plans instead of lumbering us with changes we have to get used to, then it would make all of us feel a whole lot better.

    i think in five years time we will reap the rewards but i do feel ashley should tell us what is going on. it would be nice to be given the opportunity to support him if we knew what his plans were. it just seems like the selfish man just wants to cause us as much pain and suffering as he can whilst reaping in the cash, knowing we will thank him some day. and lets hope that is the case.

    i don’t think Ashley would even contemplate walking away from NUFC now since he has emblazoned out pride and joy with his. so i think it is about time we gave him a little benefit of boubt through gritted teeth myself as i type. but ashley isn’t a failure he has unfortunately done what no other Geordie seems to have done, become a billionaire. so i think we need to at least show his business skill some respect at least. but saying that i think we don’t need to think twice about paying his communication skills or interpersonal skills a look over as we all know where that will lead us.

    one thing i don’t mind as i say this with a grin on my face. having sportsdirect.com at St. james park emblazoned all over st. james park. it seems a great idea to me. i personally will enjoy sitting in my seat at the Milburn stand knowing that all this advertisement parked on the side of our beloved ground is pretty ferociously paying back the £250 million we owe mike for his lack of due diligence. knowing that stadium naming rights for a club like ours should at least be worth £50-60 million per season with two season down that means we are only indebted to mike for another three years.

    unfortunately i feel mike sees Newcastle as an extension of sports direct rather than a separate entity so i very much doubt any of the advertising is payable. and i doubt advertising will be expected to be paid for should a press associate feel the need to ask. but it was a nice thought whilst it lasted and something i would accept if it meant it went towards the £250 million owed to mike for his loan.

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  26. Stardust – I agree. I was going to SJP back in 1985. Only a kid but still remember it well.

    A lot of the soul went when everything went all seater, but we still managed it when we had the 36,000 seater bowl. The step up to the 52,000 seater was the end IMO. Too many Sports Bars, Platinum Clubs and poncy ******* in the executive boxes making up the numbers.

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  27. Mike ashley made his millions in sports direct. used that money to purchase the club. used that money to give the club an interest free loan. yet he is berated for advertising this company on our stadium. Whether you believe it to be tacky or not. This is a small price to pay for no debt interest payments

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  28. The best way to maximise money from the stadium is to fill it.

    I believe their plan is to empty the stadium and have letters on the seats to spell sportsdirect . !!

    The plan is ahead of schedule as the fans are leaving in their droves. !!!

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  29. Please can you all stop bloody moaning on these blogs!! We are in an excellent place in the league and have a fairly good team. Would you all be happy if we spend £50m and were twelth???

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  30. Im not renewing my ST until the end of next summer, if I don’t like what I see, im not renewing it and ill start playing golf on a Saturday or something.

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  31. Goodness me. Apathy has really set in amongst fans hasn’t it? Back in my day us geordies were proud, but now it appears that there is no end to the timidness of some 😕

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  32. Don’t be surprised to find strategically placed red & blue A4 bits of paper on yer seats when you next go to the match…

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  33. It stands to reason that the lethargic, safety first style of football which we have played so far this season is going to rub off on the fans. Yes we have the points in the bag, but it hasn’t really been pretty to watch, we have had our backs to the wall in many of the games, Sunderland, Scunthorpe, QPR….. To watch Shola lumbering around up front as your main striker would send anyone into despair.

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  34. If this is real then this is outrageous. This is the defacing of the clubs heritage, and right now, that is one of the few things we have.

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  35. Sorry lads, but this one doesn’t bother me. Very common, if not universal practice where I’m from. Never much cared for the practice but it is the way of the world now and was fairly predictable.

    Of course the shirts will have sportsdirect as well. Again not that mind so long as there is money for both coming in to the club form SD. Sadly, doubt we’ll ever be able to find out…

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  36. Reality check needed – how is Ashley gonna make millions from this **** advertising – we’re huge in the N.E but reality is we’re a long way behind teams such as chelski, ****, and the man x of this world – unless fat coont invests and we actually start playing like barca or the KK years it ain’t gonna change
    I dislike ashley and his cronies but we need to take a reality check – we’re up against Aston villa, everton and the like, spending a load of cash guarantees fook all as seen by mackems etc

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  37. Stevep is spot on here ,

    And we won’t be going anywhere for a long time , with the amount of big spenders in this league 🙁 🙁

    Best we can hope for is a sneaky cup ,

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  38. We are tied to Mike Ashley and need to get used to it, and need to accept it. He’s not a complete arsehole. He’s like many a Geordie fan – topless, pot-bellied, beer swilling and jovial. Any such character gets pissed off when, after buying the drinks, gets abused. I think he knows he f’d up over the Keegan fiasco, and subsequently did the right thing by losing Dennis Wise; but he’s committed to making NUFC a success and he’ll do that with an element of the fanbase kicking and screaming. Do I like the guy? Not much. But I do recognize that he has put a ton of cash into the club and he’s now taking a no-nonsense approach. The sooner we stop bleating on about how bad the guy is, and realise that without his $$$$ we’d be in a much worse state than we are today, the better off we’ll all be. I also think that the players and management would benefit from this kind of united support and not the division that remains a running sore through the club.

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  39. I could see Europa as a possibility in the next couple of years, not that European nights in Romania excite me much mind

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  40. Mr Ashley can (no really, he can, it’s his train set now) put up all the signs that he wants, I couldn’t care less. Is the stadium SportsDirect@StJames’Park, is it bollocks! Is it the Sir John Hall Stand (yes, it started before Ashley), no it is the Leazes. We can get ourselves into such a tizz over a variety of things, but Sports Direct signs are so far off the radar that they don’t even warrant discussion.
    Let him bedeck the entire stadium with his logo, see sales soar in his stores and then he might be a bit more generous (ha ha!).
    Either way, all that matters is ON THE PITCH!

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  41. Yeah MDS the Europa is slightly frowned upon these days ,
    and with fat fok here spending no money ,
    we could get relegated with our squad , having to compete in that as well as our domestic football

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  42. @56. The later rounds would be fun but you don’t make enough money from it to build a deep enough squad. Look at Fulham- dog tired to start the season and now a step behind…

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  43. We dont care about Ashley
    He dont care about me
    All we care about
    Is NUFC
    (clap clap clap clap clap)
    😆 😆 😆

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  44. Its true the europa league is a pain in the ****, even ‘arry saggy face says so.
    But the ironic thing is, we’d probably luv it :mrgreen:

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  45. As NUFC and Sports Direct a separate companies.
    Ashley only owns around 70% of SD.

    They should be paying the market rate for their advertising.

    If this is the case then I personally don’t object to it.

    We need to be told that SD are paying the club a lot of money for all their adverts or there will be an anti-Ashley backlash.
    The club needs to communicate tomorrow … will they ever learn?

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  46. I’d love a bash at tge Europa League in fairness. I don’t get why its frowned upon. Its still worth 20 million quid. I didn’t mind it wheen we were in the semi’s back on 2006 or whatever it was…

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  47. Geoff777kind of nails it , in less words.

    I wouldn’t mind so much if there was a clear benefit to the club from it. Is there? Well who knows…

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  48. Its because it starts so early in pre season, and really requires a large squad with strength in depth. Plus its matches on thurs and sun and always seems to affect league posn.
    Apart from that I’m well up for it. 😆

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  49. I hate to say it but I did say that I thought Steve was right about the signs, and I would bet my house that once N/Rock is finished SD will be the name on the Shirts, and although I wouldn’t bet on it I would be surprised if we end up being supplied tops by Dunlop, lonsdale or one of the Fatmans companies.
    Remember SJH said that one of the reasons Fatman wanted the club was for the global advertisment it would get for SD.

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  50. Sy , I thought you only got like 250k for getting into the group stages of the Europa ???

    There would l
    also be win bonuses , draw etc ???

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  51. Just a quick comment to stardust, who cares?? it’s St James’ Park you moron we should all care that this bumbling idiot is making our ground look like a tacky advertising board. It’s dicks like you that get right on my tits, sit there and take it like another yes man you *****, probably a mackem anyway you tossbag!!! N.M.E

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  52. Europa league? Hmmmm?

    I see us at the wrong end of the league come the end of the season. Lack of goals means one thing only.

    I predict a disaster this season.

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  53. Shnerg meister (28)
    He,s already got his crappy shops all over Cyprus, so god only knows where else.

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  54. Rodzilla (29)
    Honestly dont think he’s stupid enough to put that **** on the shirts cos he’d never sell another one, not to a stalwart supporter anyway.

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