NUFC Fans United is a coalition formed with the single goal of establishing a forum through which proper communication could be established between groups of fans, and individual supporters with the ultimate goal of creating effective lines of communication with Newcastle United Football Club.  We have been asked by a number of groups to arrange a meeting to discuss the current situation with regard to rebranding - which we have done (6:30pm 14.11.11 at the Tyneside Irish Centre.)

This is obviously a difficult and emotive subject and one which has threatened to destabilise the positive air that has surrounded NUFC of late.  We would like to remind anyone hoping to attend this meeting that firstly we welcome all views  and all individual opinion must be respected.  Secondly we are simply a conduit to allow discussion and debate; we cannot, and it is not our intention to, lead or form any kind of protest or direct action.  However that is not to say the meeting point would not allow any like minded groups to gather and share their intentions with other similar organisations.  We are simply here to discuss and gather the full range of opinion with the intention of carrying this forward to reflect the breadth and depth of feeling within the fan base of NUFC.

If you can't attend the meeting but  would like to have your feelings shared with those in attendance, please email a  "testimonial" to us: nufcfansutd AT gmail DOT com

Below are some we have already received.

"I can't make the meeting - but both as the councillor for the ward that houses St James' Park and a life long supporter I am shocked (but not surprised) at the re-naming. It seems that just as an opportunity to build bridges between the supporters and the club was beginning to emerge, they do something utterly stupid and crass. They clearly have no understanding of the supporters and the traditions of the club. It's simply money and perhaps another step by Ashley to sell the club. I wish you all well and hopefully will be around for the next meeting." -- Geoff O'Brien, Westgate Councillor, Lord Mayor of Newcastle.

"I am saddened but not surprised at this latest farce at our club. This regime appear love hitting the self destruct button and the timing of this announcement serves only to provoke the fans with the team sitting pretty in 4th place. The removal of the East Stand signage took place in the last International break so are we beginning to see a pattern here? What's next? Sports Direct on the strip...take that for granted folks...red and white stripes? Never say never! The Sports Direct theme tune playing the lads onto the pitch...why not...Get used to it folks....this abuser in an abusive relationship will keep slapping us round the face...its up to each one of us to decide whether we keep going back or not." -- Steve Wraith, Players Inc Event Management.

"Speaking as a 53 year old ex pat Geordie now living in Yorkshire, i have followed & supported the team all my life, so now do my two sons. Through all those 43 years + the team has been 'co-joined' with their 'home' SJP, in fact of course through out generations before. Yes, it is just a name, but in reality much more than that.  How about changing Wembley to The Microsoft Arena, or St. Paul's Cathedral to The Stadium of Eternal Osram Light, got to worth a few bob eh? Which is where it's at now, down to money & sod the heart felt Geordie emotion linked to its home name. The message is simple, please Mike, give us our 'home' back." -- Stuart Blackham

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing; and nothing is what the good men (and women) of Tyneside have been doing over the last four years while NUFC is slowly but surely transformed from a football club into a souless marketing tool for Mr Ashley’s first love. We’ve all been outraged, incensed, offended or insulted at some point but when it comes to the crunch as a collective we’ve done next to nothing to defend the club we claim to love.  Renaming St James’ Park is a watershed moment. If we don’t get our act together now we never will and the steady trickle of disrespect will become a flood. Supporters need the influential voices of the NUFC scene to put aside their differences and back a call for action. How and what doesn’t matter right now. The important thing is we stop shrugging our shoulders and saying there’s nothing we can do. Without us there is no business. We have it in our power to put up a real fight but we need to stop throwing in the towel when the bell is rung. Doing nothing isn’t a decision that is forced upon us, it’s a choice. We’ve chosen to let people who can’t spell carry the baton for NUFC, chosen to absolve ourselves of  responsibility."  -- Matt Flynn

"A few words about our stadium being raped of its heritage and history.Text Message - Get on Twitter now, you'll not believe what he's done now...The thing is, I had a feeling about was awaiting me when I logged onto the social networking equivalent of a fat loud mouth wifey, wearing leggings leaning over her back fence spreading bile into the ether.When I read the news, it didn't surprise me, it still doesn't. What else did he have left to desecrate with his red and blue rubbish? At first I was a bit numb towards the whole thing, kind of ignoring it, shrugging it off and going about my day. Now, however, I've had nearly a week to stew and now I'm boiling over with anger, shame, embarrassment and downright incredulity at how one mans ego trip can be used to strip a local landmark of its Identity in order to peddle third rate sportswear.Ashley has made some unbelievable PR blunders over the years, but how out of touch do you have to be with your customers, to think that this is a good idea.He says "we had no choice" "it will make the club £8-10m a year". In my opinion, the name St James Park is worth ten times that amount and the memories and history which we have experienced are literally priceless.Regardless of what our stadium ends up being officially called, it will always be St James' Park to the people who matter. The fans." -- Taylor, Taylor & Besty

"The renaming of St. James' Park is a classic case of penny wise and millions of pounds foolish. Americans like us who have adopted Newcastle United as our Premier League passion provide a perfect illustration.Why is the Premier League gaining audience so fast in America? It's not like we don't have enough on our plates already. We have leagues in four sports that rival the Premier League's popularity in England. And we have our own Major Soccer League that's growing in popularity as well. What's so attractive about getting up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday to watch English matches instead? One word: tradition. We're enthralled by the layers of history, the depth of support, the colors, the chants, the songs - and yes, the quirky, old-fashioned, covered-stand stadiums that don't exist in our younger nation and are so striking on our televisions. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field in baseball are venerated above all American stadiums for their age and coziness, and those ballparks are fundamental to the Red Sox' and Cubs' massive fan bases. English soccer has Fenways and Wrigleys dotted across the national landscape. That has tremendous pull for American fans, even those who may rarely if ever see the stadiums in person.We're entering a decade in which millions of Americans will choose a Premier League club to follow and support. For reasons previously stated, we think Newcastle United has a chance to be a huge club in America, and the steadily growing readership of this blog is yet more evidence. In that respect, St. James' Park is a decisive advantage for Newcastle over a bigger club like Arsenal that plays in a spaceship with corporate branding.At the critical, semi-conscious moment in which a club wins a fan's heart, branding can be as important as reality, especially when that reality is experienced at our distance. At that key moment, watching players march out behind a TV graphic that says "St. James' Park" might make all the difference. If I'd turned on a match one Saturday morning being televised live from Sports Direct Arena, is it possible I might have gravitated instead toward Old Trafford, or Stamford Bridge, or White Hart Lane? You bet. This site and its thousands of readers - maybe, before long, millions - might not exist. Or, worse, it might read 'I Wish I Was A Scouser.'Maybe Mike Ashley doesn't care about America. He'd better. The untapped market for English soccer in America is staggering. As global money continues to pour into the Premier League, it's grow or suffer for each individual club. Like it or not, America is where the growth is. We have enough sterile modern stadiums with awkward corporate names. Differentiation from the American experience means everything for a Premier League club seeking to plant a following in our fertile ground. "Sports Direct Arena" sounds more ridiculously American than most stadiums in America.So go ahead Mr. Ashley, if you must, and collect your paltry £10 million for the piecemeal sale of Newcastle's brand and soul. Try not to think about the hundreds of millions it might cost you down the line." -- Bob Schwoch, Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA www.newcastleunited.us

From our friends at United For Newcastle
On 9th November 2011, Newcastle United wiped away over a century of history and renamed their world-renowned stadium the Sports Direct Arena.  As expected, many fans responded furiously at the latest decision from the unpopular regime headed by businessman Mike Ashley.


One of the most common criticisms we receive at United For Newcastle is that we are overly negative, failing to highlight the good work of the regime and getting wound up over something as “meaningless” as the name of the stadium.

Others point to the decisions made at Newcastle as being symptomatic of a wider trend in world football: where commercial interests have to be considered, and finance rules supreme.

Whilst these fans are more than entitled to their views, the situation at Newcastle is not this simple.  The hypocrisy of the club and the lies they have peddled over the last half-decade simply cannot be brushed under the carpet.  They are numerous, from guarantees that for as long as Mike Ashley remained in charge that the stadium name would always include St. James’ Park, to promises of reinvestment from the sale of players that hasn’t yet materialised. 

The key to maintaining power with weak support – in politics, as much as in football – is to promise what will happen.  For instance, we will get back into Europe; we will buy new players; we will find someone else to sponsor the stadium.  The hallmark of a great regime, however, is their ability to look back and say “look what we have achieved”.  The current administration at Newcastle has precious little to show for five years in charge outside of relegation.  They have sold top players, sacked multiple managers and acted – all in all – exactly how one would expect from two people who, in the words of Kevin Keegan, know nothing about football.

It is clear that Newcastle United is not Mike Ashley’s priority: money is.  I would never be so ignorant as to claim Mike Ashley wants Newcastle to perform badly; why would he?  A successful club has global appeal and wide-reaching advertising potential both for brands such as SportsDirect in which he has a vested interest, and others willing to pay. 

However, the heritage of the club and what it means to the fans of Newcastle is of no concern whatsoever.  Most Newcastle fans would agree that the name St. James’ Park is worth more than a mere £8 million a season.   Especially when we can hardly trust that money to be reinvested fully.  As Kevin Keegan’s tribunal revealed, the club intentionally and repeatedly misled the supports and the media to suit their own needs.  How can we trust these assurances?

Do we even really need that money?  Can we really sympathise with an owner who will sell the heart and soul of the club for every penny its worth, when he then proceeds to blow £1 million in a single gambling session.

The Guardian summed the situation up on the 10th November 2011, when David Conn wrote that “part of what feels so wrong about the 'rebranding' of St James’ Park is clear to anybody who has actually been in Sports Direct.”

The real question is: what do we want from Newcastle?  Do we care only about the football on the pitch?  Or do we care about the history of our club, and of the city above which St. James’ Park proudly stands.  If we care only for the former, then sadly we have lost from football the spirit that has endured for generations.

There will be those who claim I am being a doom-mongering negativity junkie, and am blowing everything out of proportion.  I disagree.  I’m standing up for the history of the club I love, and trying to protect something more valuable than money – the soul of the club and the city – from vanishing forever.   

Minutes from 7.11.11

Attendees: Zahra, Duncan J, Graeme C, Martin W, Kevin M, Matty P, Brett C, Steve W, Malcolm D, Tom L, Ian C, Steve H, Paul R, Gary R, Dave A, Dennis T.

Apologies: Bill C; Neil M; Jamie F; Simon E (NUFC), 

Before we launched into the formal meeting, it was agreed that NUFC Fans United wish to acknowledge Newcastle United’s current form on the pitch. The record equaling start to the season is a source of great pride for all Newcastle United fans and NUFC Fans United feel that it is only right that the Club be praised for this success on field. 

We also take note of the clubs recent statements concerning the direction it is taking with regards to club finances and the making of amends for errors of the past. We support their endeavours in this regard and hope that supporters and club can work together to build a sound platform for two way communication with the club on the basis of our shared desire for success both on and off the field. Newcastle, united – can never be defeated.

Tickets For Troops - resolutions/ ongoing
Following the recent announcement by the club and their gesture towards the Tickets For Troops Initiative, it was agreed that we need to close the loop as far as NUFC Fans Utd is concerned. There is still the matter of a number of Fiorentina Ticket stubs that we have already collected or had donated. It was agreed that (after consulting fans who donated) we should select another local charity who might benefit from any remaining tickets; possibly one locally that works with former military personnel; as this is in keeping with the original spirit of the initiative.  We have set an informal deadline of the end of 2011 to finalise arrangements.

Christmas Party - yes/ no - resolutions
After a short discussion it was agreed that as we are still in our infancy as a group and as we are already into November that any pre Christmas get together should be an informal affair - in a pub somewhere in Newcastle. Dates and venues suggested included The Bridge Hotel on December 3rd (after Chelsea H).  This will be finalised and announced as soon as possible on our website and via Facebook and Twitter

Til I Die Book Series Participation
Til I Die is a series of books cataloguing fan memories from various football clubs. Fans are invited to write about their experiences and memories of supporting their club and as a many as possible will see their words in print. As a fans coalition, we have been approached to participate in the pending Newcastle United edition. It was agreed that we should open this up to as wide an NUFC fan base as possible and use our resources to help this happen and we will shortly announce how fans can get involved. 

Jackie Milburn/ Alan Shearer Statue
Local sculptor Tom Maley (whose previous work includes a statue of Jackie Milburn) has put together a proposal for a new piece that he would like to see commissioned in Newcastle.  This new artwork would consist of life size statues of Alan Shearer and Jackie Milburn on 5m high plinths that would stand on St James’ Boulevard, near Gallowgate; joined by a 10.5m arch of footballs.  He is currently in discussion with Newcastle Council and Nexus and would like our support in helping to publicise his idea in the hope of getting support for the installation to be in place in time for next year’s Olympic football tournament.  A short film with 3D rendering of the artwork will be posted on the NUFC Fans United website in the next few days to allow fans to provide feedback on the proposal and show their support. 

Fans Liaison Officer
“The introduction of a new UEFA licensing requirement from season 2012/13 for all clubs to have an operating supporter liaison officer (SLO) marks an important new chapter in club-supporter relations and emphasises how important this relationship is considered.

Under Article 35 of the new UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations, clubs will have the obligation to appoint an SLO to ensure a proper and constructive dialogue between a club and its fans. The move is the result of close cooperation between European football's governing body and Supporters Direct – the body that provides guidance and backing to fan groups in 17 countries throughout Europe. 

Supporter liaison officers at clubs already exist in a limited number of European countries and primarily help improve the dialogue between the fans and the clubs they follow. Most importantly, SLOs must be credible with supporters, and therefore should have experience with, and contacts to, the networks in the club's fan base.”

The above is taken directly from UEFA’s own website (uefa.com) 

Other than the statement above, little seems to be known about how this role will be implemented at a practical level or the emphasis clubs will place upon the requirement in terms of appointing the right person into the role. Questions raised include; should the SLO role be filled by an ex player or a prominent local personality; someone with experience from within the local business or political arena, or even an outsider with a background in diplomacy, mediation PR or be from a sporting background?

If an SLO is a role that needs to be filled by the club then we feel that now may be a good opportunity for supporters to help the club understand how all parties see the role being fulfilled and by what type of candidate. Is this a role that fans think should be appointed or elected? What function should the incumbent serve?  What do we (the fans) want from a supporter liaison officer?   

With this in mind we think it might be useful to canvas further opinion than our own on the role and how Newcastle United fans may wish to see this role at the Club filled. It was agreed that we will conduct a poll to get feedback from as broad a cross section of the NUFC fan base as is possible.  This will run from the NUFC Fans United website and will be online shortly.  We will be looking to share this poll as wide as possible and will actively be linking up with other fans’ groups to make this possible.

Racism
There have been a number of reports of pockets of racist and islamophobic abuse occurring at recent away games.  Although these are still being seen as isolated incidents it was agreed that as a fan base all Newcastle United fans need to be vigilant to prevent this behaviour spreading and hence bringing our support into disrepute.  Self policing is always the best policy - but this is often not possible, especially at away grounds, when the even stewards witnessing such racism do nothing to intervene. We understand that humour can often be misinterpreted, but blatant racism cannot.

With last weekend’s Sammy Ameobi incident, the Club demonstrated that it can and will act decisively when racist incidents are brought to its attention, and this is to be applauded.  However there is a vast difference between tweet reporting incidents to the Club and getting up the courage to stand up to small pockets sitting or standing among in the fan base and indulging in racist comments or chants.   

We welcome and invite the Club’s thoughts on the best way to manage this situation.  Often people are scared or worried about reporting incidents for fear of reprisals, how does the Club propose helping fans in this respect?  It was suggested that some form of anonymous reporting portal (along the lines of ethicspoint.com) could be a useful tool to help facilitate reporting . This type of portal is used successfully in many employer institutions to good effect and perhaps this is something the Club can investigate?

We must stress that at present we do feel that these are isolated incidents and we hope they are not part of a growing trend, however there was genuine concern shown that as a group, Newcastle United fans may all be “tarred with the same brush” if we do not stand together with the club and work to eradicate such intolerant behavior.

Bring Back The Scarves

This initiative is seen as still being important in helping to improve the atmosphere at St James’ Park. We will continue to push it and we are currently exploring sponsorship opportunities with local businesses to see if some form of discounted scarf loyalty scheme is feasible. We encourage ideas from fans on how this can be developed and we are actively asking for sponsors.

Website Articles/ blogs, links, publicity
It was suggested that as a group NUFC Fans United does not make full use of its website. We had an open discussion to come up with some ideas as to how we can improve our web presence. It was agreed that we should be generating a load more content by way of articles and blogs as well as improving the visibility and popularity of the forum.  Another suggestion was to introduce weekly or monthly features from NUFC Fans’ groups from other parts of the country or world.  This and other suggestions will be looked into and we should see a much improved website in the coming months.

Club Discount Season Ticket Policy
It was agreed that although we understand and appreciate the gesture by the Club of offering discounted season tickets to friends and family of existing season ticket holders, the scale of the discounts and the way in which the Club announced and handled the scheme, has left many existing season ticket holders feeling disgruntled.  We all want to see a full St James’ Park at every home game and we agree that this offer by the Club has helped significantly towards achieving this goal. However it was felt that some acknowledgement or reward for those who did not need such an incentive to buy a season ticket would be a fantastic gesture from the Club. This gesture does not have to be massively expensive for the Club and would go some way towards easing the feelings of resentment, discounted cup tickets was one suggestion mentioned.

Away Ticket Allocation
It is noticed that as a club we appear to be getting significantly less away tickets than in the past and many are questioning whether there is a reason for this.  Frequent and long term away day fans feel that we could easily sell more than our paltry allocations for Man City and Man Utd and we question whether this is this a long term trend to not take full allocations; Is this a league wide trend or a decision that the Club have made in isolation?

Also with regard to away tickets, NUFC Fans United condemns the minority of fans who caused disruption at Darlington in the pre season. As a consequence, the Club implemented a members/ST only policy for away tickets and at the time it was announced that this policy was being adopted “until further notice” - will the Club be removing these sanctions any time soon? Or is this now a permanent policy?

AOB
A suggestion was received that we may wish to consider the streaming of our meetings over the internet for those unable to attend. However at the current time those present felt this to be unfeasible.  Audio recording and podcasting was also suggested - however it is felt that both options will bring a degree of formality to the proceedings that we feel will be detrimental to our group at the present time.  This will be reviewed in the future.

Representatives from United For Newcastle gave a short presentation on the small North East based charity Josie’s Dragonfly Trust; an organization that makes funds available for children with terminal cancer.  It was agreed that we would help United For Newcastle in their fundraising endeavours for this worthwhile local charity.  Also United For Newcastle wish to let Newcastle United fans know that there are a limited number of Great North Run places available for next year for anyone wishing to raise funds for the charity via sponsorship. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

It was agreed that a structure would be put forward for discussion concerning a number of initiatives and ideas that had been suggested by individuals that may be of interest to supporters. These include contact with expat fans overseas and fans throughout the UK that can allow them to feed in to the Newcastle Fans United discussion process through the network of fan group affiliations 


Time and date of next meeting TBC

This past weekend Newcastle United FC released its long awaited mission statement.  NUFC Fans United welcome this as hopefully the beginning of a new era in communication with the supporters of Newcastle United.  It is pleasing to see a board committed to achieving success, long term stability in troubling financial times and investment in youth, nurturing the local talent that has for too long slipped away from the region.  Most importantly it is heartening to see recognition of the supporters as the lifeblood of the club and also of the special relationship that NUFC shares with the people, the city and the region and the synergy that they all share.  It is now vital that the interaction of club and community continues in a positive way and the commitment shown includes proper, honest and open communication and interaction with the fans.  To show our commitment to this NUFC Fans United are pleased to release our own mission statement reaffirming our desire to seek, establish and maintain communication between NUFC and its fanbase, to be a conduit for all fans of NUFC to have their views shared with the club and to be and honest, supportive and, if required, critical friend to the club acting in the best interests for all who love Newcastle United.


1. To encourage and promote open and honest communication between NUFC and its fanbase, encompassing individual fans and members of supporter associations or similar organisations, with the aim of helping the club excel both on and off the pitch.

2. To respect all participants and their views in order to be an accommodating forum for anyone with an interest in the betterment of NUFC.
 
3. To form a credible coalition, representative of the diverse range of opinion held by all those who comprise the fanbase of NUFC.
 
As a coalition we are open to and accepting of all opinions except those which are discriminatory on the grounds of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

NUFC Fans United

Minutes from 3rd October 2011



Attendees:

Andy S, Steve H, Brett C, Kev M, Gary R, Mark, Tom L, Ian C, Martin, Zahra


Apologies from absentees
Steve W. Bill C, Neil M, Jamie F, Malcolm D,

There was no formal agenda therefore we took the opportunity to go back over some of the most recent discussion points from the previous meetings and then build on points raised by the attendees.


Recap from last month:

We are still awaiting feedback from the club on whether they would like to work with us on the suggestions put to them concerning the tickets for Troops initiative.  There is interest from the club and they have promised to respond but since the last meeting there has been no positive dialogue. The suggestion put forward was that something could be developed around the Everton game on 5th November; this being the nearest home game to Remembrance Sunday and could involve veterans and representatives of the Help for Heroes Charity with admission to the game being covered by the generous donation from supporters of ticket stubs from the abandoned Fiorentina game; with numbers perhaps matched by tickets donated by the club. Such an act of generosity would certainly be welcomed by many.

This lead to a long conversation around how we talk to each other and how the meetings are the forum for debate and that once announcements are made there needs to be unity.  With so many groups coming together to discuss what can often be contentious issues where opinion can vary, it was important that everyone’s opinion was respected.

It was suggested that we look into a private forum for conversations to continue off the mailing list but not on public platforms like Twitter. This option was viewed as a sensible move and the idea would be explored and developed further if deemed appropriate. Forum topics could then form the basis for items raised for future agendas.

Over use of the email list and the endless email “tennis” has been a cause of frustration for many, and it is hoped that implementing a private forum will address these frustrations.  It was agreed that if the forum could be introduced, emails would only be used to announce meetings and circulate minutes with other discussions developed either in person or on the “private forum”.

It was also agreed that people who “represent” other fans should try to refrain from responding to any goading and baiting online and to try and engage other fans in a courteous manner when using their “group” Twitter/ online presence and to save more controversial or argumentative comments for their personal accounts. It was pointed out that one of the things that has got us this far as a group was the pledge to “leave egos at the door” - that doesn’t mean we can’t have different opinions - for it is those differences and that diversity that provides our strength; rather it was felt important to distinguish and separate our personal opinions from those of the group/ groups we represent.


Tickets for Troops

With the clubs response still awaited, it is still planned that we continue moving forward regarding the Tickets for Troops day at the Everton game on Nov 5, pending their response. It is the closest match day to Remembrance Day, has been declared a Category C game, is an inconvenient for many 12.45pm kick off and is also being televised. We are working with H4H and hope that NUFC will help with any accessibility problems raised by facilitating a potentially larger number of disabled supporters than usual at the match. More news and updates will be given when available.


Christmas Night Out

It was suggested and agreed that we organise a Fans Evening similar to The Seats Tweet Up’s of last season. An evening with speaker(s), music and an opportunity to meet and talk to fellow Mags, Any money raised from the event would be passed on to a local charity. 


Reserve Team Fixtures

This should have been discussed at last month’s meeting but due to an oversight it was missed from the agenda.  We understand that a new Premier League directive has meant that more reserve team games/ development squad matches can be played behind closed doors. Unfortunately those games which are public matches are often announced at short notice, meaning those fans who want to attend can’t.  We ask that the Club endeavours to publish in advance those reserve team fixtures that will be open to the public in a more timely manner to allow those fans who wish to go the opportunity to do so. Once again it was reiterated by all in attendance that better communication between the Club and fans is of paramount importance to ensuring a happy and supportive fan base and it was hoped that the Club would take heed of such advice regarding communication.

 
Communication

We then discussed the general issue of communication between the Club and fans an example used being that of the new signage on the East Stand. Had fans been informed about the clubs plans in a constructive and sensible manner; yes, there would have been a number of disgruntled reactions but overall it was felt that supporters are big enough and grown up enough to handle what might be perceived as bad news - if it is delivered in a sensitive and appropriate manner.  The general consensus was accepted that the SD signage is within Mr. Ashley’s rights as owner to display but the colour scheme is what makes it particularly gaudy. A comparison was made to the halcyon Champions’ League days when the ground was smothered in Adidas signage - this was less bothersome mainly because it was black and white.  Regardless of all this it was agreed that it would have saved a lot of sniping had the news been announced rather than leaked.   It was acknowledged that Mr. Llambias pointed out that the Club are “damned if they do and damned if they don’t” in this regard; however the feeling was that better communication, by which we mean honest and without PR spin, is the way to help improve fans’ relationships with the Club.


Bring Back The Scarves

Once again this was cited as a positive example of how the Club does listen and act positively when it suits them. As a group we want to keep pushing this supporter led initiative and it was suggested that the Club may wish to run a promotion where scarves are given away or offered at a reduced in price on presentation of a ticket/stub. Nufc Fans Utd will continue to promote the idea of bringing your scarf to the match and displaying it and we ask all NUFC supporters groups, fanzines and websites to support and publicise it.


Level 7 / Strawberry Corner

This situation is still causing a lot of friction within the fan base and we are still waiting for feedback from the Club as to whether they are willing to try and resolve the situation or will simply continue with the draconian one and two match bans that are being imposed on “persistent offenders”.  We understand that there are requirements of Health and Safely legislation and that the Club is acting to uphold the law. However it was pointed out that NUFC seems to be upholding the law more vigorously than other clubs and in a rather selective manner. Away fans can and do stand persistently at St James’ Park and this does not seem to be policed in the same manner as that of the Strawberry Corner. Indeed, the club is encouraging more away support by increasing the size of the allocated space on L7.

Fans have reported that they are being monitored, scrutinised and intimidated very closely in this section; far more so than in other sections of the ground.

The question to be answered is whether this was a deliberate strategy by the Club as a result of perceived trouble or because the club is being placed under pressure by the City Council Licensing Authorities to enforce the legislation. NUFC Fans United sees this matter as very much a problem of the Club’s own making and we would like to work with them to resolve it constructively. It was agreed that the comfort and safety of all who attend SJP was paramount yet you have to question whether upsetting the equilibrium among fans in the Strawberry Corner was the right course of action to take, simply for the purpose of disbanding the L7 singing section.


Mission Statement

It was agreed at the previous meeting that the group might benefit by working under some kind of mission statement. A number of suggestion were forwarded and a final draft will be circulated for sign off and adoption before the next meeting.


Next Meeting

Monday 7th November 2011, venue and time TBC.



Contacts

Website: www.nufcfansutd.com

Twitter: @NUFCFansUtd

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nufcfansutd

email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Written by Chris Webb, the chair of the Argyle Trust - posted on the PASOTI forum this evening.

"We understand that Paul Stapleton, Tony Wrathall and Phil Gil have been making contact with Lombard to make an offer on the debt owed on the principal basis that it would protect the money that messrs Stapleton and Wrathall may lose as guarantors of the Lombard loan through the Brent bid. 

This development is unsettling a key stakeholder at a time when the Club sits on a cliff edge. 

The players, staff and fans of Argyle can not accept anymore game playing. Too many people have been loyal for too long to see our Club fall into the wrong hands. 

We will not accept the involvement of any of the M7 in our Club. We have made that clear from the start and will not be changing this position. 

We are currently obtaining the emails of the individuals involved in this saga. They will be published asap and we will call on supporters to bombard them asking all three to stay away from our Club. 

These individuals are putting personal finance above the future of the Club. This cannot be tolerated by any of us. 

Any further delays will kill Plymouth Argyle. 

If by the close of play on Sunday we have not received confirmation of their withdrawal from the process / contact with Lombard then protests will be called at strategic targets. 

We have come too far now to throw it all away. We are on the brink of a new dawn as a Club. 

Mr Stapleton, Mr Wrathall and Mr Gill; Please leave our Club alone."


For those who are not up to date with the situation at Argyle: Members of the old board are attemtping to derail the current takeover bid, any delay in finalising the current deal means a huge risk of liquidation.

And just a reminder as to why we feel the need to stand in solidarity with PAFC.

1. Proposed fan bans for persistent standing and problems in the Gallowgate Corner.
It was agreed that this is being caused by a clash of fan culture brought about by the disbanding of Level 7.  The trouble was predicted by many fans when the closing of Level 7 was announced. Level 7‘ers are not hooligans but like to stand, sing and be generally noisy, which is at odds with fans from more sedate parts of the ground. It was agreed that much of the atmosphere in the ground (especially during the Championship season) was kept alive by the Level 7 fans.  Now however that section has been re-allocated and the fans from that area dispersed around the ground (esp into the Gallowgate Corner) this has resulted in many ugly incidents with NUFC fans fighting each other.

 LETTER FROM FAN WHO WITNESSED TWO 16 YEAR OLD EX L7‘ERS ASSUALTED AT ARSENAL GAME BY MIDDLE AGED GALLOWGATE INCUMBENTS. 

What is the reason for the Level 7 move? The reasons given by the club ring false ie:

• The need to accommodate more away fans (why when our away allocations have been reduced?)
• The need to increase family/ young people seating (not working still many empty seats)
  

It was agreed that this is still a pressing issue that needs to be fully addressed and answered by the Club rather than just being swept under the carpet of Health and Safety Regulation and over-aggressive stewarding, especially as the atmosphere at St James’ Park has suffered since the disbanding of the Level 7 Singing Corner.  

The Chronicle has covered the Gallowgate incidents at the Arsenal game but from a sensationalist and divisive angle. NUFC Fans United propose that there are two sides to the situation and the flash points could have been avoided if the Club had listened to the fans’ concerns before bulldozing on with the Level 7 move. Perhaps we could get case studies/ testimonials from both sides (legal actions permitting) to illustrate both sides of the argument and bring better understanding to all parties?

NUFC Fans United would like the Club to explain the thinking behind the closure of the Level 7 Singing Section and consider sensible action to remedy the problems and the backlash created by the closure rather than threatening blanket bans.



2. Response to Newcastle United sign being removed/ replaced

Do we know what the new signage will be? Malcolm Dix suggested the signage was old and worn. Other suggested that it will be replaced by a crest flanked by Sports Direct adverts. Steve Wraith said that he doesn’t have an issue with this in principle, but it depends on the terms of the deals being arranged between NUFC and SD. Are they full commercial deals? The most recent accounts showed £47,000 from Sports Direct was paid to NUFC for the “sponsorship” arrangements, this seems to be a very small sum compared to the reported £10m that Arsenal receive(d).

What are Mr Ashley’s long term intentions for the Club? And how do they play into these sponsorship deals? Is NUFC being tied up to long term low worth sponsorship deals with Sports Direct that will pass on with any potential new ownership of the Club? 


3. Fiorentina match ticket stubs update and match selection.

Steve Hastie proposed that fans may need an incentive to give up their stubs for other people. He suggested linking up with Help For Heroes via the RNR and various regiments to offer the stubs/ tickets to returning servicemen/ servicewomen. Malcolm Dix proposed also tying up with the NUFC Community Foundation to increase ticket numbers. All agreed it would be great to have a bank of uniformed personnel at a match.

We also need confirmation of what matches are Category C - proposed talking to the Club to find out.


4. Bring back the scarves. 

It was agreed that this has been a success so far - but that it needs to be pushed properly and in a sustained manner for the rest of the season. It was suggested that as the weather turns colder it will be easier to encourage more fans to bring scarves.  Also it was proposed that we talk to a number of popular pre-match pubs to see if we can get a commercial tie in that would give fans free/ subsidised branded scarves.  The Club seemed to latch onto the campaign for the Fulham game and had posters in the Club Shops. This is seen as a sign that the Club does listen and act on fans’ ideas when it convenient for them to do so. Perhaps we should CC them into the delivery list for minutes form our meetings and invite them (ie Wendy Taylor and Simon Esland) to our meetings in future?


5. Neil Mitchell has been asked to submit questions to the club via The Evening Chronicle. We are looking for suggestions.

Neil reported that the Club had shifted the goal posts and changed the deadline for receipt of questions to noon on September 5th (the day of this meeting) so he had had to come up with some questions that he felt were representative of the thoughts of the fanbase generally and NUFC Fans United in particular.  Below are the questions he submitted via Lee Ryder at The Chronicle:

1.  Since the disollution of the supporters panel there has been no vehicle to canvas supporters opinion and give the board direct access to the fans.  What steps, if any, are being taken to rectify this, what format would any replacement take and how would members be selected?

2.  Is the stadium rebranding of "Sportsdirect.com@St James's Park" still, as was originally claimed, a showcasing exercise to demonstrate the possibilities to other potential sponsors or is it now a fully fledged sponsorship arrangement?  If so what actual benefit does NUFC gain from this?

3.  Why, given the amount of time the club has had to identify potential striking target since receiving £35million for Andy Carroll, is the club hiding behind a statement citing there would be no knee jerk reactions"?  Surely over 200 days was more than enough time to recruit an essential addition to the team that everyone from the manager down over has asked for yet it seems has been failed to deliver.

4.  Given that players have been criticised by the club for their actions in both how they act and behave socially and in their use of social networking, how does the board of NUFC respond to pictures released at the weekend of the owner undressing in public and how will the club be able to explain their moralistic stance towards a number of issues that inevitably arise with players and their social lives in the light of this?

It was agreed that Neil’s questions were very good and it is hoped that the Club answers the questions fully and openly.


6. Do we need a cohesive response to Mike Ashley’s latest embarrassment at the weekend?

Most present agreed that what Mr Ashley does in his spare time is entirely up to him, but that as he is the defacto figurehead of a publicly facing organisation like NUFC that he should perhaps act in a manner more befitting his position.  

Also in light of the very public dressing down of 3 players who were photographed flashing their abs in a Newcastle nightclub, 48 hours before a match in which none of them was fit to play, his Full Monty behaviour is at best hypocritical and at worst has the potential to undermine the discipline Mr Pardew is attempting to instill in the squad.


7. The club needs a Fans Liaison Officer in place by 2013. What would the group want from that individual and how could we put suggestions to the club on how that individual acts and relays between board/club/supporter/ level. 

In the months before relegation, Steve Hastie, Neil Mitchell and others attended a number of “supporters’ panel” meetings with the Club, including at least one attended by Derek Llambias. Both admitted that they had been impressed by Mr Llambias’ willingness to talk openly and at length about various matters.  At other times however the meetings were used to gauge opinions on subjects like “are the chips hot enough?” - it was felt that on the occasions when the club asked the “right” questions, that it was a most useful exercise for both parties.  This iniative stopped after the Club was relegated.  

Under the previous ownership, Steve Wraith had been the Fans’ Liaison Officer, however he felt that it was a position that was merely paid lip service and that it wasn’t every properly utilised by the Club.

Everyone at the meeting on September 5th 2011 agreed (even the most ardent Anti-Ashley quarter) that the first step to improving relations between the Fans and the Club would be improved communication from the SJP hierarchy.  The lack of communication and the perceived “strange” decisions by the Club (without explanation) are what cause the feelings of discontent and disenfranchisement of fans which subsequently causes unrest, talk of protest and boycott and also the 10,000 empty seats at Fulham.

It was therefore agreed, once again, that the primary focus of NUFC Fans United should be to foster lines of communication with the Club.



8. AOB

There was much discussion about boycotts, full NUFC boycotts, concessions boycotts and Sports Direct boycotts. Opinions on this are varied and wide with no clear consensus at this point. However it was agreed that as we are an open group whose aim is to unite the fanbase then these options should be discussed freely at our meetings and if consensus across the fanbase is reached then we will act in accordance with that consensus.

Consensus was a theme that was discussed throughout the meeting and it was agreed that as an organisation we need to grow our numbers significantly. This will give us credibility from both the fans and the Club, this credibility is necessary if we wish to be a truly representative force in any future conversations with the club.  It will only be by uniting the fanbase that we will make any progress in this regard.  For these reasons it was proposed that we ramp up promotion of the group and that we continue to try and engage the other fanzines, websites, groups and NUST.  Leaflets were suggested and will be designed and distributed to supporters ASAP.

Another situation that needs resolving is a MISSION STATEMENT for NUFC Fans United, this will enable us to promote the organisation more effectively and will hopefully answer any questions people will have about the nature (and intentions of NUFCFansUtd).  A mission statement will be drafted immediately and circulated to the group for approval.

It was also agreed that the club and The Chronicle (plus other journalists) be added to the distribution list for minutes and that the Club (ie Wendy Taylor and Simon Esland) are invited to these meetings in future.


9. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Monday, October 3 2011; and every First Monday thereafter. Agenda, venue and time to be confirmed and circulated in due course.


Contacts:

Website: www.nufcfansutd.com

Twitter: @NUFCFansUtd

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nufcfansutd

email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Written by Dan Greet 3rd September 2011
As I am sure anyone with more than a passing interest in football is aware, Plymouth Argyle are in trouble. Real trouble. The imminent danger of liquidation is all so prominent these days at Home Park. Stories of players not being paid, staff being paid by the manager out of his own pocket, administration, debt and the delays securing the new owners have dominated all news relating to Argyle since March of this year. This nearly came to a head this week when there was talk of the players and staff going on strike and refusing to play today's game at Burton. Fortunately strike action was averted when the players and staff agreed to receive 40% of owed wages now and the remainder on completion of the long overdue takeover by Bishop International Ltd on the understanding that the takeover will be completed by the 31st August 2011. Troubling times indeed for a club who just two short seasons ago were playing in the Championship having steadily increased league position including two promotions between 2000 and 2008.

Enter Brighton and Hove Albion. Back in 1997 Brighton were at their lowest ebb due to the shameful asset stripping of the club by Bill Archer and David Belloti. The club was run into the ground and evicted from its Goldstone Ground home (where they had played since 1902 and is famous for being the stadium where David Beckham made his Manchester United début as a substitute in 1992). The atmosphere at Brighton games during this period was less than warm and  protests and pitch invasions were commonplace. A protest during the Lincoln City game on 1st October 1996 resulted in a two point deduction given by the football league in December. Relegation looked likely at this point and the fan forum (www.northstandchat.com) was overrun with anger directed at the Belloti, Archer and particularly the FA due to their perceived lack of support during this period. Fans of other clubs left messages of support on the forum but none resonated more than a post from a 14 year old boy named Richard Vaughan – a fan of Plymouth Argyle. His post was as follows:

“I see the scum FA have now taken 2 points who do they think they are they wouldn’t do this to Man United. It makes me sick what is happening to your club and it’s an insult to your fans. I’m a Plymouth fan and I think that one week when we’re away I`m going to come up and support your protest. I think it would be a good idea if LOADS of fans from different clubs turned up at Brighton (with their shirts on) and joined in it would show that we’re all behind you 100%”

The passionate post from the young man brought Albion fans and campaigners against Albion's treatment together and a date was set for the 8th February 1997 for the Hartlepool United game to be the first ever Fans United day. From the previous foggy and anarchic atmosphere that had dogged Brighton games all season came a revelation as thousands of fans from all over the country (and a party from the German club Eintracht Frankfurt) joined together to cheer on the Albion and provide a wonderful atmosphere that helped propel the players to a 5-0 win. Albion went on to survive relegation on goal difference by three goals. How different things might have been should Fans United had never happened! Fourteen years on Albion played Argyle in League One this past February and whilst Richard Vaughan was not able to attend the game, he managed to send Brighton a message which was read out at half time and was very warmly received by both sets of supporters. 

Brighton has always felt a debt of gratitude to Argyle due to the snowball effect caused by young Richard's post and now in an attempt to repay them for the help they provided to Albion at their lowest point they are attempting to return the favour. In the last 24 hours on the very same forum where it all started 14 years ago, Fans Reunited has been born. A grass-roots uprising started by forum member Woodchip has become something of a phenomenon. In just 24 hours, 121 fans have already agreed to make the trip down to Home Park on the 24th September to cheer on Argyle in their match with Macclesfield. And with three weeks to go and the campaign only just getting started and spreading with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter the number can only multiply. In the day and age where the internet, and more importantly social media, has become an integral part of everyday life the message has a chance to surpass the impact it had all those years ago.

The knock on effect caused by the potential liquidation of Plymouth Argyle through football as a whole could be catastrophic. In an age where footballers earn huge wages and command bigger transfer fees than ever before, a domino effect for lower league sides is a strong possibility. Therefore, as football fans, we need to make this day the biggest event that we can to not only support Plymouth Argyle but also to support the beautiful game as a whole. No club with a history as long as Argyle's have been liquidated before and, whilst other teams have come close (notably Brighton's rival Crystal Palace last year), this would be and could become the first of many. We need to act now to ensure this doesn't happen.

So I implore you, if you are a fan of our great sport, please head down to Home Park, Plymouth on the 24th September wearing the shirt of your preferred team and lets show football that we still care.

To find out more please visit us on Facebook.
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Remember how good Plymouth Argyle where to us when we were promoted?