Having a dig at Toon fans is out of order

I WAS as angry as all Newcastle United fans this week when I saw Tim Sherwood and Craig Bellamy’s comments about Magpies supporters.

I just couldn’t make head nor tail of it – they’re just plain wrong. They reckon Newcastle United fans only sing when the team is winning? They need their heads checking.

I wasn’t overly surprised by Sherwood. He’s never played for Newcastle. He’s never been deeply involved with this football club.

He’s misguided and misinformed – so he should get his facts straight before he makes such ridiculous comments.

As for Bellamy, well, he just can’t help but stick his oar in where it’s not wanted.

Bellamy did play for the club, and he should know better.

I can tell you from personal experience as a player that I have never witnessed fans as loyal and passionate.

This season, I don’t think Newcastle would have secured promotion without the fans – particularly during these last few weeks, the supporters have pushed United over the line.

Just take last Friday, for example.

Almost 4,500 Newcastle fans go down to Cardiff on a Friday before a Bank Holiday. How many other clubs would you see attract such dedicated support?

The fans did not stop singing during that game, as they haven’t away from home all season.

But even at St James’ Park, there have been 50,000-plus fans for just about every game.

I did a talk-in before the Cardiff game at Thomas Wilson FC in Gateshead, and there were hundreds of fans squeezed in to watch the game.

They live and breathe football on Tyneside. I mean, it was also the fans who finally convinced Rafa Benitez to stay.

He has admitted on several occasions this season how instrumental supporters were in his decision.

That Spurs game on the final day of last season, the club had been relegated and yet St James’ Park was as loud and as raucous as it has ever been.

Rafa felt he owed a debt to the fans to bring them back up, and he has duly delivered.

I really was angered by both Sherwood and Bellamy. They’re wrong – and they should keep those misguided opinions to themselves.