Numerous NUFC fan groups have come together to take a major stance against Mike Ashley ahead of the 2019/20 season, with them now backing a ‘total boycott of St James’ Park’ until he sells up.
The Tuesday evening statement confirms that NINE separate groups – including @IfRafaGoesWeGo, @TheMagpieGroup and @AshleyOut.com – will all work together over the coming season to ‘starve’ Mike Ashley of money.
Here is the statement in full:
Dear supporters of Newcastle United Football Club,
- If you go to the match this season you are not in the wrong; Mike Ashley is.
- If you boycott televised games you are not in the wrong; Mike Ashley is.
- If you boycott the Arsenal game and St. James Park for the rest of the season you are not in the wrong; Mike Ashley is.
Ashley is wrong for this club and he is wrong if he thinks he has a future here. He does not give or build, he only knows how to take and throw his weight around. His bottom-line approach will see this club fail. Perhaps not this season nor the next but we will do nothing except circle the bowl and it will be slow, painful and totally needless.
What we need is a message. Not just to Ashley but also to the Premier League and football as a whole, that this man is toxic. Your brand will be tarnished and your product degraded. The ‘best league in the world’ seeming tolerant of a club existing solely to promote one of the country’s most loathed brands. We need him gone from our club.
Many will say it’s impossible to achieve, that he doesn’t care what we do or say or think but what is it we’ve criticised Ashley for most? A lack of ambition. Now it’s time we become the counterweight – the ultimate display of ambition. Wor flags set records, just look what our fans are capable of. Each of us wants to be stood shoulder to shoulder, United in voice for our club so let’s get ambitious. Let’s change the narrative. Let’s show what can happen when you disrespect a city, a community, a passionate, obsessed fanbase.
To this end, we call on all NUFC supporters to show the world that we will not take it lying down, that we will no longer stand idly by while he systematically and deliberately destroys this once great club. The first step is to boycott the Arsenal game…
#BoycottArsenal
To all fans of Newcastle United FC and all media outlets. Due to the ongoing situation at our great club, we would like to confirm that the following groups are now working together:
- @IfRafaGoesWeGo
- @emptyforashley
- @TheMagpieGroup_
- @AshleyOutdotcom
- @Mike_Ashley_Out
- @NUFC360
- @LondonMagpies
- @maintainSJP
- @NWMagpies
Our initial aim is to mobilise a boycott of the Arsenal game (#BoycottArsenal) on the 11th of August with details and plans to boycott future games to be announced in the coming weeks. This is step one in our plan to starve Mike Ashley of the thing he desires most: money.
#BoycottSJP
That’s why we will be focusing on a full boycott of matchday activities at St James’ Park going forward (#BoycottSJP) and this will be our mantra until the club has new ownership. We collectively will not be putting another penny in Mike Ashley’s hands and so we have effectively banned ourselves from entering SJP, Nine bar, the club shop or any Sports Direct store nationwide. We are in the process of organising protests at SD branches nationwide; more details will follow.
Boycotting is the hardest decision any of us will likely ever make regarding NUFC. We will still support the club and follow them at away games but this no longer feels like ‘our’ club and it is time to make a stand. We are working tirelessly to find alternatives for fans during boycotted games which we explain below.
#SupportOurToon
We are very happy to announce that we have the support of many local businesses, some of whom are offering special deals on match days for food and drink to fans who boycott the games. This list is ever-growing so please follow the hashtag #SupportOurToon on twitter to keep updated. More specific details to follow.
This is why we are using the #SupportOurToon hashtag so fans can still enjoy the pre- and post-matchday experience whilst also supporting our local bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants. Mike Ashley can try and kill our club; he will never kill our proud city.
We look forward to getting behind their campaign, with ourselves fully supportive of their plans and aiming to work with them over the coming months to make a change.
Let’s make short terms sacrifices for long-term success, unite for united and get our club back from the man who stole it from us.
We need to get this message to the national media outlets.
Viru leckworth(Quote)
Yes yes yes about time I’m in boycott boycott boycott boycott ashlie ooooot toon unite it’s war they don’t like it up em
Larry toon hants(Quote)
This MUST BE DONE.
Brian A. McGarry(Quote)
This is all so futile! I would put my house on the fact come the arsenal game there will be 50+ thousand packed into sjp ! Aye there will probably be a few patches of empty seats and a few badly drawn banners saying Ashley oot! But until we can get enough people on board about leaving the stadium club shop or online! Buying his tat and everything else that is nufc going straight into his pocket he won’t bat an eyelid! I mean this man has been in the stadium on live tv and heard chorus of you fat ******* and stand up if you hate Mike Ashley! He sees the flags and the banners all over live tv and he sits there with penfold and laughs! Because he knows same time next week but one it’s business as usual 52,000 in there all with shirts on tickets in hand in one and ale or food in the other! All bought In sjp and if you go a whole year of watching ***** and drivel before your eyes getting serenaded to the tune of you fat ******* and at the end you pick up £120 odd million for staying up added to season tickets gate receipts merchandise plus the odd player sales coming in you too would take it with a smile on your face ! What he won’t like is if he turns out at the ever giving sjp and there’s only a 10/15 thousand capacity and a few of that is arsenal fans! And as Martin Tyler would say it’s live! And then it got lower and lower every home game just like the standard of football will get then the smile would go because slowly but surely people are realising what he is like just a pity it’s been this long but only we can get him out !
Exmag abe(Quote)
The toothless disgruntled minority trying to talk themselves into being important.
They’ve been talking about protests and boycotts and even buying the club for years and what have they done?
Absolutley nothing
Brrrian(Quote)
No one is trying to be important here mate, we’re just trying to create change.
Do you want change, or do you want Ashley, Steve Bruce and Championship football?
We’re trying. That’s better then sitting back and accepting our fate.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)