While there’s much more to life than football, it’s fair to say the coronavirus crisis has affected a huge number of fans up and down the country, leaving many of us to realise just how much our weekends relied on that precious 90 minutes.
One man who’s been left to rue the timing of this global pandemic is Saleh Ali – a Sydney-based Newcastle fan who’s dream of attending this month’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United was taken away from him after 3 years of saving.
After contacting the blog to reveal his story, here’s what he’s had to say:
“We booked a Europe trip in June last year for March 2020 and have been saving up for 3 years, not knowing a virus will hit the entire globe.
“I came all the way from Sydney Australia with the wife to live the dream and walk through the doors of St. James’s Park – but in the end I couldn’t even get a look from the inside.
“We traveled to Norway, then Switzerland with no troubles, we had Italy booked and cancelled it since the virus got really bad there, so we went to Spain.
“We then landed in Newcastle on the Thursday thinking the game was still on.
“We were ready for a match day tour and to watch our beloved Toon against Sheffield United, then on the Friday my dreams were shattered, with the announcement that all Premier League matches were suspended.
“We also had a match day tour of the stadium which was also cancelled due to the virus. As a result, I didn’t even get the chance to see St. James’s Park from the inside.
“I did the stadium tour of the Camp Nou in Barcelona, the tour of Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Wembley but not Newcastle. I was able to visit other stadiums – but not the one I really wanted to see.
“I just don’t understand why they didn’t allow me to do the stadium tour when I was able to do others.
“I’ve been a faithful Newcastle fan for 15 years and stay up to the early hours to watch every match of ours.
“The only reason we booked this trip was for this game and I didn’t even get to see how the stadium looks on the inside.
“Honestly, I can’t put in words how devastating this situation is as we’ve come a long way to only have it shattered 24 hours before the game.”
Absolutely devastating for Saleh, showing how this virus can crush dreams and ruin plans when it’s not taking lives.
It’s fair to say absolutely EVERYBODY has been affected by this crisis in one way or another, but Saleh’s story is gutting in more ways than one.
We sincerely hope to have him back at St James’ Park in the not too distant future!
Probably not
KIMTOON(Quote)
Why don’t the leagues just average out everybody’s point per game ratio and extrapolate it over their remaining games and settle the season like that if it looks unlikely we can start again until August?
And Kim – how do you define “high earners”?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart mate: I don’t really understand how it has gone from footballers taking a wage cut to help their clubs out when revenue is down and to pay for the support staff who might otherwise be laid off and be on the Govt teet to them having to help the general population and the NHS.
It really does seem like they are being singled out because they earn a lot of money and because they have iron clad contracts that the clubs gave them in the first place.
I think the players are doing the right thing but the pressure they are under, especially from the Health Secretary, is uncalled for.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, the health secretary didn’t even mention footballers until he was asked a specific question by a journalist who wanted a story. It worked like a treat. They’re horrible.
But I have absolutely no idea why they are giving money to the NHS. There’s talk or £20m. I’m
Not being funny but 1 it’s not their job to fund the NHS and 2 it’s a drop in the ocean which will keep the NHS going for about 30 mins.
They should, in my opinion club together to pay the wages of their clubs staff who have been furloughed. That’s all. I find it really bad that clubs who are awash with money and have billionaire owners even contemplated furlough staff as a starter but players really should be looking after the employees of the clubs with the amount of cash they get.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, i was thinking club owners, owners of huge companies, and how about some of the wealthy bankers we all bailed out .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oh and Ashley could try and put his short hand in his deep pockets .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Footballers are essentially furloughed employees – so to keep things fair, should only received 80% of their wages. Any more than that and they are being singled out – and that’s not fair.
I suspect that 20% from each player would be more than enough to cover the 80% wages of all of the non playing staff – with money to spare to help with food banks and other charities the clubs are connected with.
What is dead wrong is that Ashley has dipped his fat hand in the government pot to pay the furlough staff so far.
I saw Debenhams are on the verge of collapse – I dare bet the fat **** will find money to buy them out given the chance!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Since the Police in Britain are now arresting people for disobeying stay at home rules I looked at the Illinois executive order on the matter. One of the exempted businesses that are allowed to stay open are cannabis farms and cannabis distribution centres. Not kidding. I have nothing against pot, I was just surprised it was specifically mentioned.
I live on a busy intersection and the majority of people out and about are joggers and dogwalkers, with the exception of people pushing prams and walking around with young kids. Usually young kids are at higher risk but it doesn’t seem the case with Covid-19. Still, I am not sure I would choose to go out with a kid and especially infants in a pram.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Liverpool have followed the Fat Man’s lead and furloughed employees. It puts Jurgen Klopp in a bit of a difficult position as he has been saying football doesn’t really matter in these trying tines, it is people that matter. Then there is Fenway Sports Group. They have received nothing but good publicity since they took over Liverpool. Now they have attached themselves firmly to the Government teet when, being a multi-billion dollar hedge fund they could obviously have been able to pay their own way. Finally, there is Jordan Henderson who seems to be leading the way in the player pay cut effort. His owners’ actions should bring it home to him that they are all in it for themselves and only themselves.
I really think the players should just set up their own charity and donate whatever part of their wages they see fit. Keep the PL out of it. Keep the individual owners out of it and keep the PFA out of it. And make sure they don’t employ dozens of expensive administrators like a lot of charities do. And keep Bob Geldof out of it 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So the owners of Excel are charging the government £2m a month, whilst furloughing their employees !
KIMTOON(Quote)
I bet that is the tip of the iceberg. They are all taking the p!ss. The rich PL clubs actually furloughing workers that they need – I am thinking the scouting staff at NUFC which is rubbish. Furlough the kitman and the cooks, but Nickson FFS. My guess is it is a all or nothing deal.
Fenway Sports is the one that really sticks in my craw. They are lauded as the perfect owners, the saviors of Liverpool, true gents in a backstabbing world. They are no better than Ashley.
I am sure this system was not set up to pad some billionaires back pocket. They need a system set up to see what is valid and what is not and they need to be able to make fines retroactively and they need to convey to scum owners that this will happen. There probably isn’t enough manpower or time to do it now but they should make their intent known so even more don’t game the system.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, totally agree. I really can’t get over Excel though.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I think I heard Gary Lineker early say that if we started again in June and finished in July/August we could go straight into the next season without a break. The players wouldn’t need a pre season as they’d go straight into a new season plus they’ve had a good break already.
Stuart79(Quote)
Trump is an idiot. All he knows is fearmongering. That’s how he got elected. Now he is telling Americans to be prepared for many more deaths. It is true of course, but that is not what you say, it only stokes the panic. He has no filter and all he knows is how to get people more worked up. His rallies were the same. He got the crowd so worked up about “fake news” at one that Katie Turr, a 5 foot 1 liberal journalist had to be escorted out in fear for her life.
#WCME Worst Crisis Manager Ever
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Liverpool getting some blowback from explayers:
Carragher – he usually makes sense but I am not sure if I can forgive him spitting on that girl.
Collymore – usually doesn’t make much sense and says things for effect. He is right this time though because he agrees with me 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If a takeover went through how many of our players would be here in 2 years time? Dubravka, St Max, Almiron, a centre half?
Bayern have appointed Flick until 2023. I thought they might go for Naglesmann. If we get megabucks we should give him a mega-offer and he could bring some of the Leipzig players with him. Timo Werner for a start.
I know, pie in the sky stuff but better than Covid-19 24/7.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, i am convinced Trump is on the spectrum . He just doesn’t behave normally to me, he has no filter and lacks real empathy, when he does show it, it seems scripted not heartfelt.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kimtoon: you probably didn’t get coverage when Puerto Rico, a US territory, was levelled by a Hurricane 2 years ago. They didn’t send any disaster relief for about 2 weeks. Then Trump flies in and starts blaming the mayor of San Juan for the whole situation. He’s in a press conference there attended by some townspeople and starts lobbing rolls of paper towels at them quarterback style. Meanwhile there are literally thousands dying and he is making a joke of it.
I have said on here that the world should not stop for CV-19 and we should be allowed to talk about other things and think of the future. That doesn’t mean you have to act like an idiot like Trump did in Puerto Rico and doubtless will again now. I cant watch him so cannot give any updates except from the press 🙂
#WCME
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Of course the Mayor of San Juan is a woman. Trump likes to bully everyone but more so women.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, I’d try for that Nagelsmann too in the fantasy world. Either him or Allegri.
Stuart79(Quote)
Blimey Eric, paper towels ! really.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stuart, Fantasy sadly .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yes, Kim but we can dream. Especially in today’s world. Not like there’s anything else to do…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, yep, nice to dream .
KIMTOON(Quote)
My youtube is locked up (sign of the times 🙂 ) but if you type in Trump paper towels you will get links. You have to remember the context. He is flying in to save face after disaster relief was woefully late. There are thousands dead and there is no water and electricity outside San Juan. The people he is throwing the towels to apart from the journalists probably have relatives and friends missing or dead.
Just pointing this out to show this is not the first time he has made a total c0ckup in a crisis.
#WCME
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, I still want the season to finish, partly because of the disruption that repayment of TV money would cause the less well off PL Clubs. But if it cannot be finished then VOID IT. Fck Liverpool. They got all the sympathy in the world for Hillsborough and deservedly so and then their owners do this.
I half expected it from Fat Mike and Levy but Liverpool made a massive profit last year and the year before I think they made a world record for profit by a football club. FCK LIVERPOOL.
The Govt should definitely look into this after all this ends. Fine them. If it is challenged in court then pass a bill in Parliament to cancel the challenge. Remember after Brexit it couldn’t be overturned in a European Court.
Levy, Ashley and FSG need to be punished for taking advantage of something that the government did to look after regular folk for once.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If there aren’t any employees who is cutting the grass at SJP and the Training Ground?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Charnley 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Lee its Mike in Miami, I have a very special job for you. One befitting the Managing Director of NUFC. You know that big shed next the changing rooms? Well there’s a few mowers in there. Twice a week should keep it under control.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe the U23s. Have they been furloughed?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I bet we didn’t make this many cut backs when we got relegated.
Jabba is probably trying to maintain the books so it doesn’t effect his precious valuation.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I am more annoyed at Liverpool because I expected it from Ashley. You didn’t think he could sink much lower than saying SD was an essential business. But people are only now realizing how abhorrent these PL staff furloughs are. It is billionaires taking advantage of a well intentioned Government programme. I reckon there will be an almighty backlash eventually. I don’t know what form it will take. Maybe protests when football eventually resumes. Maybe make it impossible for John Henry to attend Liverpool games, banners, anti-Henry chants etc. I don’t care that they won the European Cup, this is just not on.
And the Govt MUST do something to claw back this money.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is sickening that an industry that is completely and utterly awash with money is behaving like this. If the gvt didn’t offer the 80% I bet they wouldn’t even bother making redundancies. They’re basically just taking advantage of it. It’s not like most industries that get paid for work they do. The PL clubs get most of their money paid in advance. That makes it worse.
Stuart79(Quote)
I am getting a bit stir crazy, haven’t been out in a week. Ordered some masks on Amazon in preparation for at least going to the store. I am wondering how this lockdown will end. Who says it is safe to resume life again? My guess is they will do it gradually and I want to be able to go out when the risk is lower but still protect myself – hence the masks.
I am not a paranoid person but seeing youngish and supposedly healthy people dying is food for thought. My gut tells me that there were underlying, undiagnosed health problems in these cases, but why take the chance.
This is unprecedented so I don’t know what to do. I still think some perspective is needed as there are 3 million deaths in the US annually and so far there have only been about 9,000 from C-19.
I must say that people are really adhering to the stay at home edict here in Chicago. It really is only joggers and do-walkers now. The pram pushers seem to have stopped and I think that was madness to begin with.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Kyle Walker has 2 hookers round his house and admits it. Is that legal? The outrage seems to be about him telling people to self isolate and not about the hookers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Kyle Walker is the latest overpaid d!ckhead brat who couldn’t adhere to the COVID rules and felt the need to through a party.
I tell you as the day’s go by I’m seriously falling out of love with football with the way the clubs and players are behaving over the last few weeks.
Absolute bunch for ar$eholes.
I’m sure Walker will make a heartfelt apology on social media – encourage us all to stay at home, accept his fine and make a donation to some charity – coz he has more money than sense – pr!ck.
Sharpy17(Quote)
To go back to Kim’s post about Excel – it’s a disgrace, but they are not alone.
Virgin are at it as well, despite Branson being a billionaire who lives on a desert island to dodge taxes.
Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle and a number of other clubs have dipped their hands in the pot too.
It really stinks, but if they review it and pull it then unemployment would go through the roof because these companies are parasites.
I will be interested to see how the government address this on the other side. I hope they hit these companies with inflated taxes and not punish the workforce and their families.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just saw Walkers statement – entirely predictable. Bore off you pr!ck. You got caught.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: he has 1.7 million followers on Instagram. Who follows Kyle Walker?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Poor little Wazza Rooney thinks it unfair to put pressure on players to take a pay cut as well – he admits having the means and will to do it, but it’s not very fair.
Go have a chat with a few people from the estate you grew up on lad – discuss ‘fairness’ with them you pr!ck. How quickly you forget your roots.
James McClean also thinks it’s a disgrace… I think I’ll ignore that little to$$er though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I said earlier I think the Govt will address this later and will get the money back. If the clubs fight it in court the Govt could simply pass a law saying what they are doing is legal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I’m on no forms of social media at all. I hate it with a passion – especially because it gives d!ckhead footballers and those like them a platform to be heard.
I suspect the vast majority will be young kids mate. City fans who see these players as heroes – the modern day poster on your wall if you like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Footballers are a sort of unique situation. They are being paid in full for sitting around, but you or I can switch jobs at any time and they can be bought and sold like cattle. In return they get iron clad contracts. I really think they are being singled out but if it pushes them to be a bit less selfish, more altruistic and to help the needy more, maybe that is a good thing. How many Rolexes do you need FFS?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: a blog is social media 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Piers Morgan has 3 million Instagram followers. Can you imagine what your life must be like if you want to see/hear more of Piers Morgan?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Was that part of Walkers exercise regime. Don’t know what’s more sad, the fact he did it or the fact that despite all his wealth he has to pay a girl to &%$£ him.
Idiot.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy, I have never ever had the inclination to have a social media account. I would rather meet up with friends and loved ones, i’m not too keen on texting either and have an ancient phone, though you can still buy it 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
I don’t have facebook. I have no wish to see every boring element of peoples lives from pictures or their cat, to last night’s meal to their 10 year olds nativity play. Even holiday pictures get a bit boring if there are too many even if they go to interesting places. My friend just went to Chile and texted me about half a dozen pictures. I would much rather do it that way.
My friends have shown me some facebook posts and it validated my decision not to be on it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: I sort of have to text and WhatsApp. My mother is in Newcastle and my Brother is in Thailand. It is also the only way I can keep in touch with good friends in Seattle, London and Berlin. You can call or text on WhatsApp anywhere in the world for free.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
? fair point ? but you know what I mean – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and whatever the others are.
This is the only blog I visit or post on as well.
I don’t mind WhatsApp coz we can still use that to text and call while we are on holiday – but that’s every sparingly to keep in touch with relatives – they miss speaking to the boy ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think we need some clarity on when the experts think this will end or at least when we can go out again. I know it is a fluid situation but they have estimated that it will peak in 2 weeks, so what happens after that. All I see is recriminations and threats for people not doing as they are told. I think there are idiots out there but how do we know this is the best course of action? Sweden is doing things differently.
I do know that if this goes on for another 2 months it will crash the world economy and a lot more people will die from poverty that C-19. The world stock markets are already pointing to a recession which I think will be short and sharp in the US but not sure about the UK as you have the Brexit hangover to deal with.
Updates on the number with the virus and number dead are not enough. We need them to formulate a plan and convey this plan to the public.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think that football is a microcosm of how effed up all of this is with everybody looking out for themselves and nobody really having any idea about anything. You have all of these disparate groups who really should be on the same page and they can’t really agree about anything, except that a group of owners want to exploit the situation, and exploit the Government’s good intentions and by proxy exploit the British people. Disgusting and they have to be held to account. If possible they need to reverse their furloughing decision now.
I have never written to NUFC before but I might just on this matter. Maybe NUST could do something useful for once and start a petition. I know it wont sway Ashley but it would allow me to vent some anger at this.
I am also in 2 minds about whether all of this blaming the PL and players is just to take the spotlight of Govt inadequacies and the chronic underfunding of the health service over many years that now has many chickens coming home to roost. Clapping every Thursday will not fix that.
I think the NHS would have been overwhelmed anyway but there is some smokescreening going on here by changing the bloody subject to footballers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe even The Chronic could start a petition instead of just having Ryder write the same 200 word article every day. A petition to Ashley saying he should stop exploiting the government’s well meaning programme and pay his fair share.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Man City are the first club to say they won’t use the government scheme. Well done:l. They’ll probably break FFP rules now… ?
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim – The owners of the ExCell aren’t charging rent. They actually waived any rent. This was just yet another lie perpetrated by the media who are increasingly doing no research. They see something on Facebook or Twitter and post it as fact.
The facts are the, the owners who are from Abu Dhabi are allowing the NHS to use their building for free. Maybe that’s not as good a story.
Stuart79(Quote)
I reckon Fenway Sports Group may back down. They are losing so much good will by furloughing and they are undermining their manager. Doing this goes against everything Klopp has said. I don’t think they really want to p!ss Jurgen off. He has performed miracles. If you look at their squad it is nowhere near as good as Cities. I think Klopp is an intelligent and honourable man and he will hold a grudge if they don’t reverse their decision. There was already talk that he might be interested in the German National team job sooner rather than later.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is a PR disaster for FSG. Klopp is the face of Liverpool and will have to explain this. I am not sure he can. They have totally screwed him. And Henderson has been thrown under the bus as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wouldn’t surprise me if Klopp paid for them himself. How much would it cost per month? £200k?
Can’t see Jabba backing down. He won’t even be aware of the fuss it’s caused. Or maybe he’s thinking it won’t be his problem for long so fuk it? Wishful thinking.
What is interesting though is the rate in which football is sinking deeper and deeper in a pit of despair. It really is a mess and it’s done an awful lot of damage to reputations. I’d be really thinking if I was him to get the fuk out before the **** really hits the fan.
Stuart79(Quote)
On the other hand there is nowt Brucie can do about it at NUFC. He knows his place and that is under the Fat Man’s thumb.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: this press release that the PL was pushing on Friday about giving the EPL 125 million is a hoax as well. This is not new money. It was a planed payment as part of a long-standing agreement and was to be paid in a couple of months anyway. All they did was bring it forward and they are acting like it is out of the goodness of their hearts. Lots of lies and sleight of hand going on.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart Mate, Klopp or even the Liverpool players cannot pay the furloughed wages. It would make their employers look so bad and would make the situation even worse. They either change their minds or try to ride out the storm which in my opinion will not be possible. Any goodwill to Klopp, Henderson and the team will be lost.
I already want the season VOIDED to deny them the title if we cannot finish it. Purely based on this furlough by FSG.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It has taken the action of Liverpool to crystalize my views on Ashley. I was against a boycott because I didn’t think it would change anything. Not now. I am in favour of a boycott just to hurt the fat leech. I didn’t get mad to begin with because I thought – typical Ashley. I was wrong. I should have got mad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is fckn disgusting. Exploiting a worldwide pandemic for their own gain.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nobody is going to come out of this looking good. Not the Health Secretary. Not the PL. Not the PFA. Not the players. Not the owners. Not even the Managers who are saying nowt. And especially not Kyle Walker 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If they had all got together and said “how can we make this as big of a cluster-fck as possible” then this would have been the plan.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I am not buying the excuse of poor Bournemouth, they are a small club and need the Govt handout. They spent 16 million on Jordan Ibe, and 20 million on Tyrone Mings FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Boris has been admitted into hospital. Persistent symptoms so precautionary visit to Ozzy.
Stuart79(Quote)
Another day without a story on the takeover. That’s good news…
Stuart79(Quote)
Like all of us I wish the Prime Minister Boris Johnson well. I have no medical background so it will be interesting to see how this disease works in real time. Boris is probably the most high profile person in the world after Trump and Putin so everything he does will be watched and monitored. Sorry that he has to be the guinea pig for this, but it will give the rest of us an idea of the symptoms and progression of this in real time and possibly the treatment. I have seen there is no cure, just time to get it out of your system for most people.
On the face of it Johnson doesn’t look to be in a high risk group. Certainly not ultra high risk like pensioners. But he probably does have more risk than the rest of us. He is 56, overweight and in a very stressful job. I am sure he hardly gets any sleep either with the schedule he is on. It is sort of a recipe to get run down which I am sure would raise the risk.
Get well soon Boris.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Been stuck in the house for 10 days now. Only crossed the door threshold to pick up a couple of food deliveries on the porch. I was thinking about having a walk to get some fresh air but might leave it a few more days. I am the same age as Boris but not overweight.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu, As i understand it they were charging rent but have since said they won’t.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Knew Boris would be admitted, said it after his last video chat. He looked washed out and really not good. Also to still have a temp after 10 days is a red flag which i said to Lews carer only hours before they took him in.
Hope he recovers .
KIMTOON(Quote)
They have a letters to the editor section on the Football365 website which is owned by Sky. It is funny seeing certain Liverpool fans twisting themselves like a pretzel trying to defend the Liverpool owners for the staff furloughing.
To give them credit, there are others that are calling it like it is. That they are no better than Ashley and Levy.
Some of the numbers quoted were that total payroll is >300 million and this is estimated to save 120 million.
Also, FSG also own the Boston Red Sox and they have kept on all staff at full pay.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I somehow deleted part of the last post.
Savings from the Furlough are estimated to be less than 1 million.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The original document where it states no rent is payable was doing the rounds yesterday on line. They didn’t relent it was always the case.
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s my annoyance, Eric. These none playing staff will be on max £50-£60k a year but most on less than £30k so for a month it would easily be covered by the club or worst case a 5%cut in players wages ffs!
Stuart79(Quote)