I won’t deny it has been tough as writing about my club for fans who also love my club has been one of my greatest leisure pleasures for coming up to seven years now at a guess.
It all started on another site which allowed me to cut my teeth and really get into the buzz of writing. I then started up this place with big ideas and it went really well. Too well in fact, if such a thing exists, and soon others had to be enlisted to help out.
It is those people who I would like to thank as I announce my movement away from the day to day running of the site. Those who have become closest to me will know just how much time and effort and money this place has taken out of me but I wouldn’t change it for the world and I wouldn’t be writing this now if it wasn’t for you.
You. That is you the reader, you the person who comments every now and again, you the regular commentator, you the regular contributor, the shared administrators. Everyone. There are really too many to mention.
Time for me has become a precious commodity and I’m doing this place a disservice by letting it go on as it is. I’m also doing my family a disservice however and want to spend my spare time with them. My son is now three and it feels like only yesterday he was born! How time flies. I still remember Icedog sending me a card! Thanks mate.
So you’re probably wondering what is going to happen to this place now? Part of a condition of me stepping aside was that I could find someone willing and able to continue and grow the site in the way I would have liked. Fortunately I have found someone. I’ll leave the ‘hello’ to the new owner as he’ll be able to tell you a bit more about themselves once the dust settles.
So all that’s left is for me to say goodbye, and thank you. I have a feeling with fresh impetus this place will again thrive and no doubt you’ll see me still penning the odd article if allowed.
Take care everyone! I wish you all the very best. Howay the lads!
Who’s the new owner then? Been a pleasure Toonsy and sad to see you go. This is a fantastic site you have built and it has created many good shared memories for a lot of people.
Shamrock(Quote)
Toonsy,Gutted, you will be missed mate. You were so welcoming and complimentary about my first ever article and it won’t be the same without you 🙁 Hope you now get the quality time with your wife and lad and good luck to you.
kimtoon(Quote)
He’s an NUFC fan who has much the same aspiration as me for the place. It’s only right and fair I let him announce himself 🙂
You’ve all done me proud. Through the good times and (mostly haha) bad we’ve all stuck together. Abd that’s what NUFC is about.
I’m sure he’ll speak to all Admins also 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Kim I’ll still be around but I can join in with you guys more this time rather than being referee lol 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
it’s been a pleasure toonsy.
all the best for the future.
hitman(Quote)
All the best to you my friend you will be a big miss you wrote some great threads which turned it into the best blog on the web with some of the best bloggers with a wide range of football knowledge so you can be very proud of what you have achieved with this site,good luck with what you do and hope you do get to write a thread when time allows,go enjoy your son and wife as time goes so quick,all the best
Icedog(Quote)
All the best Toonsy lad and thanks for the memories…speaking of which, it’s not that “special” friend you kept hugging at the derby game taking over is it? 😉 😆 that was back in the days when we used to be able to win them 😕
richietoon(Quote)
Rich yeah man those were the days 😆
Just think if I’d have been pushed over the edge I wouldn’t be here now hahaha
Ice and Hitman it’s been my pleasure 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Neither would I be, the ensuing earthquake would have killed us all 😆
richietoon(Quote)
5 hugs in a game, can’t see that happening in the foreseeable future 😥
richietoon(Quote)
Thanks Toonsy. Been a blast and I’m sure it will continue to be.
The new owner is Workeyticket… 😯 🙄
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart…Not even in jest! 👿 😆
It’s Wolfie 😯
richietoon(Quote)
Can’t be Stardust as he’s never on now his predictions have been blown apart…
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m not sure if it’s any regular poster. Nobody has even been interested in writing articles lately, never mind taking over the site! It’s a mystery.
Shamrock(Quote)
Has Toonsy sold out to Microsoft?
Stuart79(Quote)
Haha not quite Stuart. I’m not posting from a private yacht anywhere.
Maybe the CIA though 😯
toonsy(Quote)
TOONSY thanks for all the effort you have put in too produce the best NUFC blog and given us all a place too be happy ,sad ,too vent our anger and enjoy the good times together .Its been a brilliant seven or so years , be proud with your achivement in creating this place and good luck for the future.
AXEL(Quote)
And while we are guessing who has taken over the site my guess is an Eric Sykes , Troy Stavers partnership.
AXEL(Quote)
Axel: how long do you think that would last? May as well disband the site now 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Axel I was thinking Eric, but he does not write articles. If its an existing user, then it will be interesting to know their strategy moving forward – because it will be very different to how Toonsy did things over the years. If it’s a new user – it will be weird suddenly having somebody around in a hands on capacity out of the blue.
Zuckerburg is taking the internet over. Must be him. This is his first step in his grand plan to take the club over.
Shamrock(Quote)
Talking of the devil.
Shamrock(Quote)
Toonsy – I don’t know you as well as some of the other lads & lasses on here, but you and your site (and it will ALWAYS be YOUR site) has become a daily part of my life for around 7yrs now … and yes time does bloody fly!!!.
It was shortly after the birth of my son, when my social life slowed right down and I needed something new outlet for my footy craic and there was an empty seat in my local.
I found the site by chance but immediately enjoyed it and knew it was something I wanted to be part of. That was thanks in large to the articles & comments people were posting.
Your reasons for handing on the reins are fully understandable mate. I know Shamrock has been doing a lot of articles lately but struggles with work & family commitments too.
I hope we don’t loose you as a poster of comments, even if you struggle to find time to write the articles. 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
My money was on you Sham.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I had no idea Sharpy.
Toonsy I don’t have a Scooby…….
Shamrock(Quote)
It’s not an existing user. Rest assured there’s no massive shift in how the site will be run and you’ll get more fresh content out of it.
I wouldn’t move over if I didn’t believe that it would be the best thing for this site
toonsy(Quote)
I knew it was Worky! Back from the dead!
Or is Ed Harrison starting a string of NUFC blogs?
Stuart79(Quote)
No doubt you would not Toonsy. You have put too much into the place to watch it go down the drain.
Well I have been doing some investigating and it looks like the new owner has a bit of experience with this sort of thing if my lines of enquiry are right. So we should be in safe hands.
I travelled all over Spain when I was a teen. Spent some time in *Malaga* selling kites on the beach and sleeping overnight under a DAF van in an industrial estate. Good times.
Shamrock(Quote)
Best wishes for the future Toonsy. You’ll always be remembered for creating this site and more importantly, banning Troy 😆
It’s not troy that’s took over is it?? He’ll be in his glory sitting top of his ladder dishing out bans for all who calls Pardew 😆
Gashley(Quote)
SHAM so it you that nicked the wheels off my Daf van,I’ve been blaming Batty all this time 😀
Icedog(Quote)
Ice I needed those wheels for a fire to keep me warm on those cold nights!
Shamrock(Quote)
All the best Toonsy lad, it’s been an absolutely pleasure following toon crack on by far the best NUFC website going.
Munich Mag(Quote)
😆 😆
Icedog(Quote)
All the best to you toonsy, twas a great site you put together. Hard to believe how long it has been running, it was and still is the only blog both nufc-wise and the on the internet in general that I comment on (not that I’ve commented much over the last couple of years).The craic has always been the best and the articles were always interesting, you even let sixteen year old me post an article back in 2012 and for that I am again honoured.
Andymag(Quote)
You make me sound like Adam Johnson mate 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Andy been a while. Good to see you – check in a bit more often eh? 🙂
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock: I wrote one article in the summer that you published but you don’t really want an article on Pards do you 🙂 If I can think of a subject I will write something when the new launch kicks off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh Christ Toonsy – don’t bring his name up again, it’s caused far too much trouble here lately!
Shamrock(Quote)
I remember Eric – you sent in pics of the tour. Good stuff. Your efforts are always welcome.
Shamrock(Quote)
Haha no mate was just texting and flirting, nothing untoward 😆
Andymag(Quote)
Thanks Shamrock
Yeah I’ll make more of an effort this year, uni has kept me bogged down a bit, but I’ve been keeping an eye on whats been said 😉 . Also when we are playing **** I kind of avoid everything newcastle except for watching the games
Andymag(Quote)
All that drinking and fraternising has kept you busy more like Andy!
Shamrock(Quote)
Something like that Shamrock 😉
Andymag(Quote)
Shamrock: I have thought of a subject but it is probably not long enough to write an article on. It is how to arrive at the real length of time a NUFC player will be out injured:
Step 1: See what the club say in weeks.
Step 2: see what Ryder says 2 days later and totally ignore it.
Step 3: add two weeks
Step 4: Multiply by the circumference of Paul Merson’s head in metres (that’s approximately 2 metres, and not the size of a small planet as some think, although it does have moons orbiting it).
Step 5: don’t believe a word NUFC management, physios, Drs and The Chronicle say in the meantime and go back to step 4, and
Voila, there you have it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s a canny formula Eric, but it leaves you about 30 minutes out. Factor in a 30 minute tolerance and you are spot on.
Shamrock(Quote)
Andy – hells bells I remember you posting that article!!. Was that 3+ yrs ago 😯 where has that time gone man?!.
Hope you are well mate & getting on OK at uni 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
i carnt believe it was 7 years ago i floated the idea to toonsy to do his own blog.wow
all thanks to me getting banned from lady boys blog 🙂
hitman(Quote)
What ever happened to that young girl that wrote a couple of threads think she played footy in one of the local lges and was studying to be a sports writer,cannot think of her name now?
Icedog(Quote)
Zoe mate. No idea where she went, shame because I was looking back over some of her stuff the other day and she was a good writer.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice, you’re on about Zoe mate, yep wrote some good articles.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice…That was Zoe, she went to Uni in sunderland so probably converted to the darkside, she’ll be eating cheesy chips and have 6 kids by now if so (joking Zoe 😉 )
richietoon(Quote)
Sham, she went to uni to study to be a sports journo I think. Last time she posted on here she was saying she was losing faith in the club.
kimtoon(Quote)
Don’t see Jill post much now either
kimtoon(Quote)
Aye that was the girls name,hope she’s doing well
Icedog(Quote)
Great goal by Ya Ya
richietoon(Quote)
Silly me I should have known RICHIE would know the crack,if she has gone to the dark side she will have lost the power think,poor soul
Icedog(Quote)
They you go…
https://my.sunderland.ac.uk/display/aboutus/2015/08/18/Class+of+2015%3A+Zoe+Vicarage
richietoon(Quote)
Well I miss our Aussie brothers, who don’t post as often as they used to.
Sharpy17(Quote)
*there 😳
richietoon(Quote)
Sharpy
Aye it was a few months before the London Olympics so almost four years ago now. I’m alright, almost finished third year, so just one year left.
Andymag(Quote)
Richie – wow!!, girl done good – but never once mentions the blog in that article I see 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy yeah she’s doing well, best not to mention anything NUFC if you want to be a serious sports journalist 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Young Andy’s doing well too, I would have put money on him being kicked out of Uni by now 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
There’s no hiding anywhere if RICHIE wants to track you down,sure he does a bit of private detective work on the side when he’s sober like that’s once a month on a Sunday,that’s the day he washes his White mack
Icedog(Quote)
Well done Zoe 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
Richie – 😆 you’re probably right mate, they’d never let her near Canary Wharf if they found out she was black n white 😆
Andy is doing well too. I’m pleased to hear it as well. I was convinced a young Andy was at risk of being corrupted by the old boys on here. 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Toonsy
Thanks for the blog and will always keep reading it. Never forget the day Batty was on Ed’s blog telling me and others to get on to this one after Workys was really going down hill.
I’ve often thought about doing an article, talk about the good old days when we won promotion and just stayed up in the old 2nd division, the days when I used to get my free tickets and also used to train, well try with them on a weekly basis coz of Gavin playing for us. Great days when somebody as useless as me could actually play well attempt to with professionals on the training pitch.
This is always the blog I look o first and really only try the others for links for away games. Enjoy your break Toonsy and keep posting. Try not to drink too much beer down the Dun Cow, still cry about cost of the beer I had in there!!
Simon(Quote)
All the best Toonsy, Still makes me chuckle thinking of the early days on here. Like that Man Utd match when some mardy fecks flounced off after seeing the teamsheets, Only to miss out on watching us absolutely **** them
CC(Quote)
Toonsy what can I say mate ? Pissed of that your going but I also understand as you work **** hours and I am sure the family would like to see you more in your spare time. But thanks for everything, the only thing I ask is that you try to come on and comment a bit more and that its not that c@ nt Worky taking over 😆 but then I know you wouldnt sell is down the river.
Big Dave(Quote)
Just thinking there, Toonsy is jacking it , and Richie has just started to post again 😯 surely not 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice.. 😆 I never wash it!
Dave. ..don’t you mean Robin…Robin C@nt? 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Dave….Shhhh!l 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Well its great to see Toonsys swan song has brought some old faces back onto the site.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Richie that the **** thing about blogs, you come across all sorts 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Yep, he was one of the worst. 👿
richietoon(Quote)
Andymag good to see you.
Ref Zoe she was a good lass and has done well for herself, I did ask her a while back if she was going to make a return, but she was to busy. Add to that the state our basket case of a club has been in and I cant blame her as lately I get enough downers watching us play never mind talking about us.
Big Dave(Quote)