Newcastle United Supporters Club

:"Newcastle United Supporters Group redirects here"

The Newcastle United Supporters Club (NUSC) is an organised grouping of the "Toon Army", the supporters of Newcastle United (NUFC), an English football club. The prime role of the group is to "represent the interests of and provide a voice for the fans of Newcastle United" [NUSC first official statement, 19 September 2008] . The group was set up as an initiative by the fanzines "True Faith" and "The Mag", and the fan website NUFC.com, aiming to be independent of but maintain a working relationship with the owners of the football club.

Background

The group was formed in September 2008 following on from large scale fan demonstrations against the NUFC board and club owner Mike Ashley after the shock resignation of manager Kevin Keegan, culminating in a long and emotional statement from Ashley on 14 September announcing he intended to sell NUFC, stating that he had listened to the fans who "want him out" [http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1392670,00.html NUFC official statement from Mike Ashley] , 14 September 2008] . A backdrop to the demonstrations was a general feeling of disorganisation through lack of a common voice, resulting in various competing and conflicting ideas of how to protest against the club. Fans also sought an outlet to offence felt by the insinuation by Ashley in his official statement that he or his family would be assaulted if he attended a game [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/newcastle/2969338/Newcastle-owner-Mike-Ashley-enlists-help-of-former-Fooball-League-chairman-to-sell-club---Football.html Newcastle owner Mike Ashley enlists help of former Football League chairman to sell club] The Telegraph, 16 September 2008] , and that the fans demanded unrealistic Galactico signings. Fans were also seeking to correct the percieved innaccurate and stereotypical depiction of their aims and intentions by sections of the national media, such as unrealistic expectations and demands.

In parallel while these events were occurring, the actions of Mike Ashley saw the setting up of the Save Newcastle.com website on 15 September by an American fan to explore ways of achieving fan ownership of NUFC in a manner similar to Barcelona F.C.. On 17 September, Newcastle Fans United (NFU), a group of business consultants led by a Newcastle fan and backed by a sports lawyer Mel Goldberg announced they were exploring a plan of how to purchase the club using fan and local investment, and aligned themselves with Save Newcastle.com [ [http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/51366/Owen-set-to-lead-Newcastle-exodus/ Owen set to lead Newcastle exodus] The Daily Star, 18 September 2008] [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Ashley-draws-buyer-blank-in.4503326.jp Ashley draws buyer blank in Dubai] The Scotsman, 18 September 2008] [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/09/18/toon-fans-urged-to-help-buy-st-james-s-park-72703-21846528/ Toon fans urged to help buy St James's Park] Website of the Evening Chronicle, 18 September 2008]

Formation

The day after Ashley's statement on 15 September 2008 a press release from True Faith and The Mag announced a public meeting would be held on the night of 16 September 2008 to judge support for a proposed new supporter's group, initially identified as the "Newcastle United Supporters Group".

The release stated that while the continuation of the protest against the Ashley regime would be the initial focus of the group, the group was also intended to be a long term initiative, and the proposed group would be "energetic, intelligent and responsibly represent the broad church of Newcastle United's support" [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/tm_headline=new-supporters-club-to-give-fans-a-voice&method=full&objectid=21820259&siteid=72703-name_page.html New supporters club to give fans a voice] Website of the Evening Chronicle, 15 September 2008] . The group would through an inclusive mass membership attempt to be the legitimate voice of the supporters of NUFC [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4761805.ece No let-up in Newcastle fans' actions against Mike Ashley] The Times, 16 September 2008] , something which neither supporting fanzines, despite earlier releasing a joint statement over the desired form of the Ashley protest, had "never claimed to be" [NUSC first official statement, 19 September 2008] .

The meeting was held in the Tyneside Irish Centre opposite the Gallowgate End of St James' Park, home stadium of NUFC, attended by a "few hundred" fans. The meeting sought comments from the floor, and was attended by an invited speakers panel made up of John Gibson, Malcolm Dix and Colin Whittle [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4773573.ece Newcastle United supporters begin rebuilding] The Times, 17 September 2008] .

Sports writer John Gibson was a veteran reporter for the Evening Chronicle. NUFC honorary life vice-president [ [http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/interviews-with-business-people/2008/08/11/shearer-and-che-guevara-on-his-team-51140-21509888/ Interview with Malcolm Dix] www.nebusiness.co.uk, 11 August 2008] [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1626723,00.html Comment on football article from Malcolm Dix] TIME Online, 31 May 2007] Malcolm Dix had formed the Magpie Group to take over NUFC in 1987 with Sir John Hall, eventually succeeding in 1993 [ [http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/ItemDetail~bookid~44668.aspx So You Think You Want To Be A Director of a Football Club: A view from inside the Boardrooms at Newcastle United and Kettering Town] Autobiography summary of Peter Mallinger, former NUFC director] ] . Dix had also formed the Newcastle Supporters Association in 1977, which folded in 1984, as well as editing an early fanzine "The Supporter" [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/09/19/mike-ashley-could-have-sold-up-months-ago-72703-21855693/2/ Mike Ashley 'could have sold up months ago'] Website of the Evening Chronicle, 19 September 2008] . Solicitor Colin Whittle was involved with the Save Our Seats campaign, a dispute in the late 1990s between fans and NUFC over seat ownership at St James' Park [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/09/17/nufc-fans-team-up-to-form-supporters-club-72703-21838809/ NUFC fans team up to form supporters' club] Website of the Evening Chronicle, 17 September 2008] .

Following the initial pubic meeting, a further private meeting was held on 18 September 2008, at which an interim committee was established. NUSC made their first official statement through this committee on 19 September 2008 on a newly launched website, which also contained a registration form for prospective members to register their interest in the group. In the statement, NUSC expressed the feeling that for progress to be made, the club should be sold at the "earliest possible opportunity".

Funding

The start-up costs of the new group have been initially been funded by the fanzines and nufc.com website

ee also

* Newcastle United Independent Supporters Association
* Football Supporters' Federation
* Football in England

References

External links

* [http://www.newcastle-united-supporters-club.co.uk/ Newcastle United Supporters Club] official site
* [http://www.savenewcastle.com Save Newcastle.com]