NEW START...
St James’ will be a mecca for Geordies to kick off Saudi era
IN THE Strawberry pub yesterday lunchtime, a Joelinton slice away from St James’ Park, the news flashed up on the TV screen – Steve Bruce to take charge of Newcastle United this weekend.
In the Magpies shrine decked out with images of black-and-whitestriped heroes of yesteryear where, behind the bar, the sign reads ‘Nee Mackems’, there was no throaty uprising.
Instead the news was greeted with a shrug or two of Geordie shoulders. The sun was out, the sky was blue and with their club awash with Saudi millions, nothing was going to spoil the view.
That is not to say the locals want the embattled manager to remain in post for another day. His time is up in their eyes.
But the most controversial takeover in English football history has brought with it an infectious feeling of optimism in the Northeast that is even Bruce-proof.
Tottenham are the first visitors post-desert storm tomorrow. The game is sold out. It could have been sold out twice over.
“We’re not quiet anyway but it’ll be a different kind of busy,” said the barman at The Strawberry.
It is unlikely the new chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, will be popping in but you never know. “If he does, I’ll be after a big tip,” added the barman.
In Newcastle, the new owners are seen as the white knights who finally put an end to the Mike Ashley years. In the club shop, which was doing a steady stream of business yesterday, they reported requests for shirts with ‘Staveley 1’ on the back.
Five minutes’ walk from the stadium, the superb Back Page football memorabilia shop displayed a picture of The Angel of the North and another of Tino Asprilla in its window. Separating them was a large green Saudi flag. Replicas were available inside, where Dave Thorpe was taking delivery of face masks embossed with black-and-white camels. The Newcastle badge, toxified under Ashley, has been cleansed by one of the most repressive regimes on the planet. It is quite some juxtaposition. “It’s sport, not politics. There are other questionable owners in the league,” said Thorpe. A season-ticket holder through the Ashley years, he has felt the lift in the mood of the city. “It’s like when Keegan came. You can’t get a ticket for love nor money,” he said. Nor can you get hold of a tea towel. The ghutrah look, favoured by the Saudis, will be out in force tomorrow. As the new era dawns, the fake sheiks will file past Sir Bobby Robson’s statue at St James’ this weekend, lagers in hand and in full voice. Quite what Sir Bobby would have made of it all would be interesting to know, but whatever the reservations the revolution is here and it begins in earnest tomorrow.
You can’t get a ticket for love nor money