In 1892 two football teams joined to form Newcastle
United and to play at St James’ Park, and what was once a sloping
patch of grazing land became one of Britain’s most famous football
grounds.
The passing years and the legendary players who graced its turf
burnished the old name into something more than a stadium: the
title spoke of a proud history, of 1950s’ cup victories, of Alan
Shearer scoring, of Sir Bobby Robson pacing the touchline, of Kevin
Keegan urging his team forward.
Now the title speaks of an online sportswear company. For the
next six months the cathedral of Tyneside football shall be known
as [email protected] James’ Park.
The fans are incandescent.
The names of newer stadiums have been sold for the purposes of
sponsorship. Bolton Wanderers play at the Reebok Stadium, York City
play at the Kit-Kat Crescent. But the rebranding of St James’ Park
is being seen as one more insult in a long period of humiliation
that began in 2007.
That was the year that the man behind the rebranding assumed
control of the club. Mike Ashley, the billionaire businessman and
founder of Sports Direct, paid £134 million. Fans were cautiously
optimistic. He seemed enthusiastic about the club, he was in the
stands at games and he certainly knew how to make money.
He had, however, completed the purchase without undertaking due
diligence and did not realise that a change of ownership meant that
much of the club’s £70 million debt would need to be repaid.
His new regime declared that it would take a long-term approach
to running the club. Then it sacked Sam Allardyce, the manager,
after half a season, and replaced him with Keegan. A heroic figure
on Tyneside after an earlier spell in the dugout and his time as a
player, Keegan walked away when players that he did not wish to
sign were forced upon him.
Keegan, who had been told to view a new signing on YouTube, was
subsequently vindicated in his case for constructive dismissal.
In his place Mr Ashley hired Joe Kinnear, an out-of-work
manager, but when he fell ill, Alan Shearer was appointed on a
short-term basis. In spite of Mr Ashley describing it as his “best
decision” at Newcastle, the former England captain was not off-
ered a full-time contract. Poor results led to relegation and
redundancies and attempts to sell the club failed.
Demoted from the Premier League to the Coca-Cola Championship,
fans have gained a brief respite from the troubles under Mr
Ashley’s fifth manager, Chris Hughton. Out of the discontent
Hughton has forged a team that is top of the Championship.
But even as the club was confirming that it was no longer for
sale and that Hughton had been given a permanent contract, it gave
fans another reason to be tearful. At the bottom of that official
statement, Newcastle announced that offers for the naming rights to
the stadium would be welcomed.
It unleashed a wave of resentment from fans, who had shown their
support in the previous home match, when almost 44,000 attended the
game against Doncaster Rovers.
Petitions have been set up — the Newcastle United Supporters
Trust (NUST) has collected more than 16,000 names — and
demonstrations are planned for Saturday’s game against Peterborough
United.
Derek Llambias, the club’s managing director, said that the St
James’ Park name would remain and that they “could have worded”
their statement better. He added that Mr Ashley’s running of the
club had been “nearly spot on”. The form that St James’ remains —
prefaced by the website of a company of which Mr Ashley is still
the majority shareholder — is both peculiar and an affront to most
supporters.
“We strongly believe the name and the soul of our ground is not
theirs to sell,” NUSC said. Newcastle will also not receive a penny
from Sports Direct in branding fees.
But it is questionable how many companies will want to be linked
with a club suffering such agonies.
Llambias issued a rallying cry to fans: “The negativity around
the city, it needs to stop. You need to concentrate on supporting
the team.”
At the famous [email protected] James’ Park. Or whatever it is
called.
