I’m 89 – I want to see United win something before they put me in a box!
IF there’s one man who should have no problem getting into St James’ Park – it’s Sir John Hall. The former Newcastle United owner has his own private suite and access to the directors’ box given his title of life president of the club.
But of late, Sir John has had a lighthearted struggle to get into his own box. With the club now under new ownership, and fans feeling positive – Sir John has come to find that where he once couldn’t give seats away, he’s now having to ask people to leave to get to his own!
Speaking at the opening of the Newcastle United Foundation building on Diana Street in the city, Sir John said: “I’ve had my box all these years and under the previous managers, no one wanted to come – but I couldn’t get into my box the other day because the family had taken it over. I said ‘you, out,’ they replied ‘Grandad, you’ll have to go upstairs’ and I said ‘I’m not going upstairs, you get out!’ That shows the interest, thanks to Eddie and the takeover. But it has always been there, the passion for the club.
“The other day, I walked up from Stowell Street to the match, and I have never seen the supporters so joyous, filled with hope, and you could just see it in their faces – it’s a new era, a new time. We’re going places. Let’s enjoy it.”
It’s quite the claim from the former Toon owner, especially given the fanfare that surrounded the club at the height of his ownership during the mid-90s. Under Kevin Keegan, Sir John bankrolled United to within a touching distance of the Premier League title – and the team’s exciting brand of football was matched by the excitement of fans.
At 89, Sir John remains as passionate about Newcastle as he always has done, and stripping back his wealth and standing within the region, he’s just like any other fan. He’s excited of where the new owners of the club could take Newcastle.
“Talking to Amanda,” Sir John added, “their plans for the club are tremendous and we can only look forward to the many, many years ahead. Amanda, she understands what needs to be done.
“They paid £300m for Newcastle, you look now at Chelsea – they’re talking £3billion. Here at Newcastle, you can invest another £500m into the club, perhaps take it up to £1bn, and still, in a sense, you’d be under your value because all that can happen here is the club will increase in value. We have the fan base, can
have the facilities, and they’re going to buy more players for the team – it’s happening at the end of my life. I’m disappointed in a way that I might not live to see the success of ‘69, but it’s for the younger people of today to enjoy – it’s a wonderful time to be a Newcastle supporter.”
Sir John sold Newcastle to Mike Ashley in 2007 – and the Sports Direct founder was in charge for 14 years until Staveley, backed by Jamie Reuben and The Public Investment Fund, finally secured a buyout in October 2021. At that time, the club was 19th in the table, and it took new head coach Eddie Howe eight games to secure his first win.
But fast forward six months and Newcastle are 14th and nine points above the drop zone. “I thought we were candidates for relegation,” Sir
John conceded,
“In my day if you were at the bottom of the league at Christmas time you never really got out of it.
“Howe had done a great job. I don’t think we’ll go down now – they just need to stabilise the club. I don’t know him but I watched a couple of interviews before he came here and I was very impressed. He seems to be doing well but time will tell.
“We’ve had some managers at Newcastle United who when you talked to them were brilliant but what they actually did was useless. I don’t want to name any. There are too many. But what they actually did to the club, was spoil it. I just hope that Eddie can deliver. It’s all about delivery now.”
Sir John has been taken along on the wave of optimism that has swept
the fanbase. He’s not one for looking back on the past – when asked about the 199596 season in which
Newcastle threw away a 12-point lead and lost the title to Manchester United, he more often than not finishes with a response of “you can’t live in the past”.
And it’s fair to say Sir
John is following his own mantra. Asked about the future of the club, he said:
“It’s a new generation of players. New managers coming in. The game is constantly changing. Eddie, Amanda and the people they’ve brought in are aware of that. Look at the training ground they’re going to build.
“What more could you wish for? To be a supporter of Newcastle at this time is unbelievable. I am here, at 89 – I just want to see them win something before they put me in a box!”