View From the Other Side — Newcastle (H)

Great format! Great stuff!

One of the Barcodes fan-sites mentioned it when giving its opinion about the points deduction.

It was 1988 and Newcastle United had recently sold Gazza for a record transfer fee of over £2m.
We had spent most of the money on Dave Beasant, Andy Thorn, John Hendrie and John Robertson.

When we headed to face Everton at Goodison Park, we had high hopes that Newcastle United would have a good season.

How wrong we were.

Everton crushed us and their own recently acquired £2m man Tony Cottee bagged a hat-trick. It was on this day that yours truly gave them the nickname the ‘scouse mackems' and it stuck.

You see, we had received dog's abuse on our way out of Goodison Park after the game and it had became a bit feisty. I was a strapping foot soldier back then and I was game for any challenge, confronting them with the spontaneous verbal response of “Come on you scouse mackem ba..ards.”

Myself, my brothers and friends have referred to them as the scouse mackems ever since, and it quickly caught on amongst the Toon Army, the term has endearingly persevered to this day.

Scouse Mackems Everton get their comeuppance BUT where were the Premier League Septic Six points deductions?

I'm all for peace and harmony between rival supporters and a bit of banter, but if your trophy cabinet isn't rammed to its fullest and you have only added one significant trophy – only seen by those over the age of 54 and it was won prior to Neil Armstrong walking on the Moon – perhaps it's best to keep quiet and show a little more humility.

I also never forgave that Newcastle team that wiped out half of our first team, back on New Year's Day 1986, which probably ruined our chances of retaining the title.

I used to have a soft spot for Newcastle United, and others such as West Ham, in my younger days, but with the advent of social media, it's far more difficult to like any 'second' team.

Any success now will be of the Chelsea, City variant resultant of oodles of cash. They go mental when you mention it but without oil money would they have gambled on potential like Gordon at £40m and would he have gone there?

Fervent one club city but no marks otherwise

That one gave me a laugh.

See you next week.

Not sure if this was offered or solicited but I quite enjoy these views from the other side. Seem to recall we had one from Norwich before? Also our mate John Hood from Brentford has become a welcome poster any time we play them.

Now obviously I'm not suggesting we give air time to any RS but hearing perspectives from smaller clubs with undistinguished histories like Brentford and Newcastle always puts a bit of perspective on our situation.

Imagine it could get difficult trying to weed out "reasonable" supporters of other teams (just look at TW ffs!), but the view from the other side is a great counterweight and perspective is a good thing. I for one would welcome more of it.

I'm massively stereotyping now, so no offence meant to Ash, who gave a very balanced view in response to the questions.

Newcastle are an interesting one. I think they riled other clubs with giving the perception they thought they were as big as Manchester United and they are the self-proclaimed best supporters in the land, a theme supported by Sky for decades.

I have a very good friend who I've known for nearly 30 years who is a Newcastle season ticket holder. We talk regularly about all things football. Unfortunately he can't make it tomorrow. I always say to him that, despite regional rivalries with the likes of Sunderland and Middlesborough, they are one club in one city, unlike Everton or the Manchester clubs. It's a totally different context.

One final question if Ash is reading: Why do Newcastle get away with pushing away supporters into the gods and those 140 steps? Yes I've counted them.

Premier League clubs have agreed to a new rule whereby away supporters will be seated together at all stadiums, and at least one block of away fan seats will be made available pitchside.

There is no funnier sight in football than watching their drunken hoards of shirtless, smelly neanderthals singing "You stole my stereo".

I was up for the Iwobi game when we beat them with ten men. The violence before the game was horrendous. No Evertonians were involved. Two or three dozen of them punched and kicked fuck out of each other all they way up Spellow lane... All the money in the world won't buy you class

Rivalry ??? I feel a greater rivalry with the likes of Forest, Derby, Leeds and yes even Sunderland. At least those clubs have lifted Silverware in my lifetime.

While NUFC have drifted between divisions. We have racked up more top flight games than any other club in world football. We have won so much more than them...and when we move into our new stadium we will be getting bigger crowds than them.

On what level does that club rival ours ?

Last season. I heard a group of Geordies in a London pub telling an Evertonian that we were going down. He laughed at them and said "Who d'you think we are ? Newcastle or someone? "

Big club ? As somebody more articulate than me once said. "My arse !!!"

You were a great sport for coming on here. You knew what was coming and no doubt you will give plenty back.

Well done.

I meet with a lot of football supporters of other clubs on my travels.

I have often had the opinion that Newcastle can be very fickle. I suppose you could say that about a lot of clubs, including Everton (not me). I'm probably going to get myself into trouble here with the wife's roots, but I find Villa the worse for that.

Dave, kind of linked, the one and only England match I went to was in Luxemburg in the 1980s. I was only about 12. Horrendous. Newcastle and Chelsea supporters fighting amongst each other on the open terrace behind the goal during the match and then horrific violence on the way back into the City. I always remember the hordes overturning a car outside a Church as the Nuns came out and pleaded for calm.

By the way, Ash, I'm not accusing Newcastle supporters for that last bit. Just a lasting memory.

I've never liked England anyway or the culture of their following.

Thanks for your comments and questions, guys, glad you liked it, just wanted to address this one:

One final question if Ash is reading: Why do Newcastle get away with pushing away supporters into the gods and those 140 steps? Yes I've counted them.

I have no idea. I think it's killed the atmosphere since the away fans were put up there. The back and forth is what makes games interesting but if you can't hear the away fans, you've got nothing to respond to. Also, I've sat on that level, it's like watching a game of Sensible Soccer!

Perhaps I'll downgrade them to being big clubs. My usual go to answer would include trophies won but appreciate that they haven't been very successful recently. Of course, success can be cyclical.

I suppose it's also subjective and a combination of things.

I would also consider Leeds, Aston Villa, Sunderland also to be big clubs but that might be due to my age, 59 and can remember those clubs in the late 60s and 70s when I first started taking an interest in football.

I wouldn't include Notts Forest to be a big club even though they won 2 European Cups.

So, in no particular order.

Traditional/historic reasons/well-established.

Clubs that have attracted decent players/managers over the years and not just because of how much the clubs can afford to pay them, but because of the overall stature of the club and perhaps the perceived style of play.

In my opinion, there's a number of clubs that managers who are out of work would be keen to manage given the opportunity and Newcastle/Tottenham are included in those, as our Villa, Sunderland and Leeds. I would include Everton in this list.

Decent stadiums (White Hart Lane wasn't too bad). Aston Villa's stadium is fantastic (I would recommend their stadium tour to anyone).

Large and passionate fan base including overseas.

Well-supported - Big (massive) clubs tend to have highish average attendances at home games. Fairly stable (not necessarily dependent on how successful the team is) and a larger number of supporters who travel to away games.

I won't include financial ability because most clubs have experienced their fair share of financial wobbles over the years.

I recall the comment supposedly attributed to Nicholas Anelka when asked about the appeal of Bolton Wanderers replied "its very close to Manchester Airport". Not sure if this was true or an urban myth but I guess it summarises the challenge clubs like Newcastle face in competing with the big boys.

It is what you say. We may have our posts and obstructed views (not for long mind with Bramley Moore Dock rising above the Mersey). But once you've caught your breath, you almost need binoculars!!

Apart from tomorrow, best wishes for the season.

Ian, Villa Park is my favourite stadium and that was before the wife. Two semi-finals and how they have redeveloped it is fantastic. It's retained the original character but modernised. We could have done that with Goodison but that ship has sailed and we are moving on.

Ash, I remember going to St Jame's Park around 1988. There was the one stand (I think its still there). The Gallogate was open terrace, the other side along the pitch was open gate and we were crammed into a corner behind the goal next to a scaffolding temporary stand.

You had some Brazilian playing for you. The stadium has come a long way from them days!!

Fuck all youv'e never won fuck all..Ahahaha.

“Let's face it, nobody would miss them because they have been stinking out the Premier League for the best part of the last 30 years.”

“Both teams will always live in the shadow of their more illustrious near neighbours”

Well, if we've been stinking the premier league out for the past thirty years, fuck knows how long the skunks have been stinking the Football League then Premier League out for 50 or 60 years… maybe even 70 years! The last trophy they won was the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in1968-69. Some of you may have to ask your great grandfather what that cup was! The last domestic trophy they won was the FA Cup in 1955, a whopping 68 years ago!!

And as for the More illustrious neighbours bit……..I imagine determining how big a club is can be gauged by how many league titles you've won………..Sunderland have won the Football League Six times, Newcastle four times, the last time being in 1927, so 96 years ago! Nobody alive on this planet today will remember that.

So go and crawl back under your stone, you Skunk maggots. Big club, my arse!!

We need the 3 points and they need bringing down to earth.

Break this horrendous home record and also the bad run against Oil Money#2 FC.

Show the corrupt organisation that we're going nowhere.

I was also at that game in the scaffolding, looking down onto the away section. Mirandinha was the Brazilian who scored for them, Snodin got our equaliser, finishing 1:1. That was my first ever Everton game and I so wished to be in the away fans.

I pointed out to some Toon fans in a bit of online banter that there was no one alive who could remember them winning anything of any consequence. Fell on deaf ears though, as did the ‘one club in the city' argument. Ash seems a decent bloke but, in general, Skunks are way above their station.

SEE YA!

I never took to cricket. I fall asleep watching tennis as it takes too long. Only football and athletics for me.

Pete; you should try my train journeys. Once I finally bite to "We pay your benefits" and they look almost stunned, we end up friends, talk football and I give them advice on where to go.

I got a taxi one morning to the airport and chatting to the driver (as you do), I rather stupidly revealed that I worked for Mike Ashley, not at the football club but at Sports Direct. He immediately stopped the cab on Cheviot Way and made me get out, luggage and all, didn't ask me for the fare, just drove off.

Kind of says it all. Always had problems with the Barcodes. Years ago, I had to climb out of a pub toilet window to avoid a hiding. So not my favourite bunch of lads. And the walk up to the away section – don't get me started!!!!

I do, however, have quite a few Geordie mates with whom I've watched a fair few games and I've never had any problems with their fans or in the city.

My opinion was canvassed on the transfer of the ginger one and I'm probably now completely indifferent to him and what he does for them.

There are far worse than the Geordies out there and I find the sight of their fat bellies in the stands a homely tradition of sorts, so there.

Even with the fitness levels that the football and the Army installed into me, those steps are a lick out and test of endurance!

Pete, I'm mostly surrounded by Chelsea and QPR (peculiar bunch). Not forgetting the lifelong London Lucifer's children who I often have to embarrassingly educate them on their supposed own club.

The better half cringes when I start.