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Newcastle United’s own goal over St James’s Park signs
FOR SALE ... St James' Park signs on Newcastle United's official website.
BOSSES at Newcastle United have been accused of scoring an own goal in their battle with fans over the club’s name.
For they are still selling merchandise bearing the historic St James’ Park title – just a day after banishing the main remainder of it from the ground.
Supporters going online or into the club shop can pay £8 to buy an imitation street sign which reads ‘St James’ Park NE1 – Newcastle United Football Club’.
They are still on sale despite the club this week removing lettering from the front of the stadium which spelled out the iconic footballing name.
Supporters say Mr Ashley is happy to move the goalposts in his battle to rebrand when it suits him.
Toon Talk fanzine boss Steve Wraith, 40, said the irony of continuing to sell items bearing St James’s Park had not been lost on disgruntled fans.
Mr Wraith said: “We know these signs are still on sale. The club should leave them there because fans will probably buy them all up.
“The fans want the ground called St James’s Park – we want this wrong righted.”
Mr Wraith confirmed an amalgamation of supporters’ groups, called NUFC Fans United, planned to meet Newcastle City Council chiefs to discuss the naming saga.
He said he hoped the council, which has criticised the club over the issue, could bring pressure to bear.
And he added: “As far as the name goes, they have won the battle but they have not won the war. Fans have been quite quiet lately because results have been going well, but there is still opposition to Mike Ashley and his regime.
“If he carries on like this the club will soon be playing in red, white and blue – the colours of his shop.”
The club announced its decision to rename the ground the Sports Direct Arena last November, sparking intense criticism.
It has claimed up to £10m could be generated each year by rebranding it with a sponsor’s name.
Bosses claim the name change is temporary in the hope of showcasing the sponsorship opportunity.
A Newcastle United spokesman was unavailable for comment.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
wasthatthatguy
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:27 AMI think it would be OK to call the stadium The Sports Direct Arena at St James' Park, which could be changed to eg The Virgin Arena at St James' Park, or anything else as any other sponsors come along.
tropicalmag
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:21 AMIt,s only the older fans(myself included) that really care.To the younger ones its league position above tradition.I think inside the ground is swamped with the tacky logo.That should have been enough. The administration has lied since day one.What happened to St James would never go.Then it was to be Sports Direct@St James.This latest move is another Con.The signage looks pretty premanent to me and I,d guess that no advertising revenue is going into the club.Or any reduction in the debt to MA. Two hundred years of tradition part of the area,the city and the culture being trampled on by London businessmen.But the worst of it is the fans are doing nothing about it.
joeking
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 12:28 AMAshley and his like speak only one language, Money. The ground would be called Al Qaeda Park if the price was right. He's laughing at you. The only way to get through to him is to stop giving him your money, A boycott would work, but it will never happen. Wake up Geordies, a bit of short term pain is worth the long tern gain, An empty SJP on MOTD would make the point. Just do it or pay the price.
RobbieJ
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:39 AMAs The Menace says, if fans stopped buying tickets, Mike Ashley would soon get the message. This will never happen though, the fans will just keep moaning about it.
Cobbler
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 02:16 PMWhat about "NE SILVER"? 1969
scraper0191
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 01:50 PMThe immediate area surrounding the stadium is still called Saint James Park.
The Menace
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 01:33 PMThe best part is, the fans will still purchase them along with tickets for the match and season tickets. Rather than whinge on about it why not stand united and stop buying the stuff and tickets he will sharp get the message then.
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