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LONDON%CALLING
Having been sent recently, the February 2014 Newsletter of ‘The Magpie’ courtesy of the
Newcastle United London Supporters Club, below are extracts from within. It is well worth a read and
we at Number Nine are looking forward to receiving more from Steve Cole et al.....
From the Chair
I was privileged to be invited to a preview
o f To o n Ti m e s , a n e w e x h i b i t i o n
dedicated to the history of Newcastle
United at the Discovery Museum. The
exhibition runs until mid October and is
well worth a visit. Admission is free, not
only to Toon Times but also to the
museum itself. The Discovery Museum is
handily between Central Station and SJP
in Blandford Square, just off St James
Boulevard.
50th Anniversary - We intend to make a bit of a fuss about
our 50th year. The weekend starting Friday 6th of June is
marked for a sportsman’s buffet style function with
speeches & entertainment. A great deal of people has
been a member of this supporters club and we wish them
to take part in events too. These will be ideal
opportunities for people to meet folk that perhaps they
have not seen in a long time. If you are still in contact
with past members, please give them notice about our
events, we will make them most welcome. There will be
published at some point a commemorative edition of The
Magpie. We are certain that there will be lots of memories
& stories tucked away. Please send them in. To assist
with the organising of things an informal 50th year
committee has been set up. We welcome anyone to take
I attended the 2nd Fans’ Forum after the
Cardiff game, the highlights of which you
can read later on in this Magpie. The next
gathering is scheduled for the Monday
after Aston Villa so if there’s anything
you want brought up, please contact me.
A page is dedicated to ‘The Joe Harvey Memorial Plaque’
and ‘Spreading the Word’ and two further pages on the
NUFC Fans Liaison Group where the following has been
extracted –
I opposed the banning of NUST from the
forum but I am sick and tired of their
constant claim that they are the only
properly constituted, democratically
elected supporters group. They are not! If
you are a member of the Trust, please
contact Secretary Andrew Harrison.
There followed an open forum session, chaired by Bob
Moncur. When asked what the Club’s expectations for the
season were following the Cardiff defeat the Board
representatives stated that with the exception of Loic
Remy, Alan Pardew had fielded his strongest available 11.
They stated that ‘the aim this season remains a top ten
finish, clarifying that everyone at the club naturally wants
to finish as high as possible’.
Pool Team - In case you didn’t know. The
NUSC (L) pool team again last season won
a league & cup double. The final game saw
the pool team led by Martin Clubb beat
Sheffield Wednesday 7-2. Well done team!
This season the pool team stands at the
top of the table having played 4 & won 4 of
their fixtures.
Darts Team - Kari Mawhood (also the
subject of a three page, In the Spotlight, an
interesting read) the club secretary now
captains the darts team, taking over from
long standing captain Alec Ferguson. The
team is currently second in their league.
With over 400 hundred members in tow, Mr Cole
has afforded permission to use his contact
details should people be interested in receiving
their newsletter so feel free to email him on
[email protected] or visit their website
www.nufc-london.com for more information.
In response to the question ‘Regarding strength of the
squad, if we did qualify for the Europa League this
season, would we strengthen where we didn’t last time?’
The Club responded saying that The Europa League
generated circa £6m – not sufficient to strengthen the
squad. Any funds available would be used to strengthen
for the Premier League and not for the Europa League
When asked about possible signings in the January
transfer window the response was that the Board
considers that’ the current squad is stronger than it has
been for some time. It was stated that if the right player
became available for the right price, perhaps the club
would bring someone into the squad. If not, it would not
add to it’
When asked about the relationship between the Club
shops and Sports Direct, John Irving explained that
Newcastle United were simply taking advantage of Sports
Direct’s purchasing power and warehousing facilities.
Their Player of the Year for 2012/13
was that of defender, Davide Santon