*A joint statement from @AshleyOutdotcom, @TheMagpieGroup_, @IfRafaGoesWeGo, @EmptyForAshley, @NUFC360, @LondonMagpies, @Mike_Ashley_Out, @MaintainSjp, @NWestMagpies & @NUFCblogcouk*
STATEMENT:
A collective of ten Newcastle United supporter groups has announced its intention to march on St James’s Park, ahead of the club’s first match of the season against Arsenal – which the groups are calling on fans to boycott.
The peaceful protest march, which the groups describe as fans making a loud, visible stand against Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club is set to begin at Sports Direct’s Northumberland Street store in Newcastle City Centre at 1pm before reaching its end point at the St James’s Park club shop at around 1.30pm.
The collective, which includes The Magpie Group, If Rafa Goes We Go, AshleyOut.com and Empty for Ashley is encouraging supporters to join them in a protest outside the club shop from 1.30pm until kick-off at 2pm.
Last week, the groups announced their ‘Support Our Toon’ initiative, which sees the collective encouraging fans to watch games at local venues, rather than at the stadium itself.
The supporter groups have teamed up with a number of popular local bars and restaurants including Idols/Vaults, Players and Filthys on food and drinks discounts across the afternoon.
Joe Halliday – a spokesperson for Empty for Ashley (one of the groups organising the protests) said:
“We’re calling on fans to not only boycott the Arsenal match, but to join us in making a loud, visible stand against Mike Ashley’s ownership of our football club. It’s time for him to realise that he is not welcome at our football club – and he is not welcome in our city.
“On the 11th of August, the eyes of the footballing world will be on St James’s Park – this is our opportunity to make it clear that enough is enough. It’s time for Mike Ashley to sell our club to a party that wants to take it forward – and it’s time for supporters who agree to take a united stand against him.
“As a collective of ten groups, we are absolutely committed to a sustained, co-ordinated and long-term campaign with the sole objective of driving Mike Ashley out of Newcastle United Football Club. Boycotting the Arsenal match is not a one-off and Mr Ashley needs to understand that this will not blow over.”
For more information about the groups and their objectives, contact: [email protected].
You know, this reminds me of Swan Hunters Ship Yard. When our ship building collapsed so many local workers were redundant. Then a Dutch company bought the yard with a view to building vessels there again once more. All those men that were unemployed and hurting for money for many months were given a ray of light and were re-employed. Not long after they got their jobs back they all went on strike for mor money. The Dutch company shut the yard down and moved production elsewhere.
Now we have Newcastle and here we are again… everyone baying for Ashley’s head on a pole. What has made you all do this ? Cos Rafa left? So what… Rafa left. He has gone and nothing can change that, he was no big deal anyway. Pardew got us to 5th in the league after promotion so I am guessing he was an even bigger loss to NUFC right? Why you all crying over a bloke that got us relegated then up and s mid table finish followed by a below mid table finish, a man that preferred to play in China than at NUFC and the premier league. Despite having an 8 million quid a year offer on the table. Any manger or player that goes to China goes for one reason alone…. money. Bruce was the only man nuts enough to take the job after Rafa walked out. You all need to back the man and the players he has and is bringing in. If these two deals come off that are in the offing, we will be a better team than last year. None of you are Newcastle supporters… you are followers
Craig Chisholm(Quote)
Grow up Craig, your analysis is infantile.
LA Toon(Quote)
Craig Chisholm(Quote)
well done those groups! !
people with a backbone and an IQ
higher than minus five trillion –
those who attend the ARSEnal
match,are selfish and think more of themselves than NUFC!!
Steve Pearn(Quote)
A couple of hundred of us will protest while 40,000 thick sheep do f …all and make parasite happy that he’s not been embarassed by an empty ground
Ringo64(Quote)
Weld the turnstiles up
graham coleman(Quote)
Craig – have a word with yourself. Everyone else, its about time we proved we are Newcastle United – or change how we describe ourselves because our solidarity as fans is embarrassing!
Andy Graham(Quote)
Both me and my Mate have our Season Tickets but that wont stop us staying away from the Arsenal game and any other televised Matches good on you lads I really hope a couple of signings wont make the Sheep herd back into SJP.. come on folks lets have a big push and let the World watch Sky Sports televiseing a match with an empty Stadium…
fj1200xxx(Quote)
It’s up to the individual to make their decision, Me and my two sons have decided not to renew our season tickets, this really hurts we are huge Newcastle fans , but think Mike Ashley runs the club in a bad way .
Phil(Quote)
How did Rafa “get us relegated”
He took over at the end of March when we were 19th!
Hardly “got us relegated” you divvy
Wales(Quote)
The ones who are sheep and with low IQ’ or those who boycott, yes sheep comes to mind, again nothing will come of it, nothing ever does, people just laugh at you people, (sheep). Will Ashley care, not one bit, fans around the country are just laughing at you lot.
Tom(Quote)
P.S, Craig was spot on, well done true toon supporter, not a follower, (sheep ).
Tom(Quote)
40,000 true toon fans know who the divvy’s are.ha ha ha.
Tom(Quote)
Yes a couple of hundred of you,ha ha what a protest, no body will miss you, have fun marching round and round getting no were, who cares, even those down the road are laughing at you sad lot.
Tom(Quote)
Most fans I believe, both dislike and even detest our dear owner and probably many would like to see him sell up and go !
The reasons are many, but to tell the fans of any big money sports franchise, that the cost of competing against the top half a dozen sides is not possible, because of the required investment, is equal to telling them the club will never win anything as long as it maintains the present owner.
Soh ! what to do ?
Everyone has certain obvious vulnerabilities, right now Ashey is involved in a convoluted number of business deals ! where hecould lose his ***, which would make him more vulnerable to “a Boycott” to see a half empty EPL stadium filled with only “Sports Direct” signs would be the last thing he needs to see on tv,is certainly not going to please Ashey or those he may owe money too.
Let’s see what kind of fans we have, those who no-longer care about which direction the club takes, or those who are unsatisfied with the present owners attitude.
chuck(Quote)
Absolutely spot on in a Nut Shell
fj1200xxx(Quote)