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07 Nov 2009 01:58
Saturday November 7th, 2009 last update 00:45 GMT
Hughton makes appeal: now it's over to you...Speaking ahead of Saturday's game, Newcastle manager Chris Hughton said of the renaming debacle: "I sympathise with the supporters. I am quite sure though that, in everybody's eyes, St James' Park will always be St James' Park. "The fans give us wonderful support and there is no doubt this is their club but, for me, this is a purely commercial decision. To the fans and the people of Newcastle it will always be St James' Park.
"Football matters are the things that are most important to me. I'm trying to keep this team in the position we are now and I'm sure that is what the supporters want as well. It's vital that they continue to get behind us. "There are two ways of supporting a club and, how they do it is our fans' prerogative, it is their club, but my concern is that they stay behind the team. "No other club in this division has crowds likes ours and, after everything we've been through, their backing has been wonderful to see."There's a certain sense of deja vu here, as Hughton prepares for his first home game as the permanent Newcastle manager.In the aftermath of Keegan's departure in September 2008, he took the reins for the first time when Hull City came to SJP - on what became a low point in our history. Mass protests outside the ground and the Cockney Mafia banner inside contributing to an eerie atmosphere in which the players wilted - Charles N'Zogbia certainly distracted by the goings-on as Hull scored what was the winner. As we wrote in our report of that game, "Unfortunately that poisonous atmosphere can only have a negative effect on the team, as was shown today. "We may only be in September but the evidence of this encounter is that we lost a relegation six-pointer, unless something is done very quickly to halt the slide."
On such moments do seasons - and relegations - depend (as well a litany of poor performances, feigned injuries and regrettable transfer activity). Handing three points to the sundance kid's team ultimately put us where we are now. As it was in 2008, the talk is of boycotts - both of club outlets and Sports Direct outlets. Unfortunately, those seem doomed to failure, due to the collective local appetite for A) alcohol before/during/after home games B) cheap hoodies & trackie bottoms. And for anyone who doubts that, recent TV Vox Pops of unhappy fans underline the issue - be it lads condemning Ashley and his schemes before returning to their half -supped pints outside Shearers, or shoppers slagging off the owner, while clutching a Sports Direct carrier bag. The argument of putting further local jobs at risk in a fragile economic climate has also been put forward, as it was last time. The sad reality is that after a year of discontent and numerous cringeworthy episodes, the "FCB" and his sidekick are still in charge - and thousands of punters are paying him £20+ every home game to abuse him. No wonder he's laughing - and dreaming of new wind-ups. The only boycott that will really make a mark is non attendance at home games - we won't advocate it, because we won't comply with it. While we admire and respect those who have opted to stay away until the current administration is toppled - it's not in our DNA. Hopefully the soon-to-be released NUST buyout will strike a chord with enough supporters, businesses and financial institutions to bring an end to the present stalemate. Nothing else looks likely to. In the same way that we consistently refuse to appear on radio or TV for fear of our views being misrepresented as your collective opinion, we certainly won't be advocating that you pawn your family heirlooms or sell your house. What we will ask though is that you give consideration not only to the NUST plans published next week, but also to what you want from this season - and whether banners, chants & protests are the right way to achieve that goal. returning to the Ashley "you win - I quit" statement released following that home defeat by Hull in 2008, he signed off by pledging to be: "...determined that Newcastle United is not only here today, but that it is also there tomorrow for your children who stand beside you at St James' Park."No mention of yourname@ there - and given the lies that have spewed forth from Barrack Road since, there's no reason to suggest he has any interest in preserving the soul or the dignity of this club for future generations.
The only thing that will make him walk away is cash.
Darren Ferguson's Posh side make their first visit to St.James' Park since - and what is only their second-ever away league fixture against Newcastle. On the weekend of Remembrance Sunday, a minute's silence in memory of victims of war will be observed by the teams and crowd before kickoff.(hamstring) wasn't expected to be risked, after a new centre back pairing of
Derby County 2-1 Coventry City
:Baggies/Foxes on TVAnd our January trip to Leicester City has also been altered for Sky coverage. The Saturday January 30th date remains unaltered, but kickoff is now @ 5.20pm
Ex-Mag:Loon gets Georgia gig Former Newcastle player Temuri Ketsbaia has been appointed as the new coach of the Georgian national side, two months after his previous managerial role at Olympiakos ended amid some controversy. The 41 year-old is a previous Georgian international and among the players at his disposal when he comes to select a squad is United's on-loan defender Zurab Khizanishvili.
Sat 30.01.2010 Leicester City (a) 5.20pm7th November 1944 John Pickering born, Stockton-on-Tees. Former apprentice, later coach under Willie McFaul.
1959 John Anderson born, Dublin.
(1982-92) Now a regular part of BBC Radio Newcastle's Toon match coverage.
1962 Darren McDonough born, Antwerp, Belgium. (1992-94)
Bought by Kevin Keegan for £80K from Luton, midfielder McDonough arrived at SJP along with fellow bargain basement signing Peter Garland as relegation looked a possibility. In the event we avoided the dreaded drop to Div III but McDonough had precious little to do with it, his two starts and one sub appearance bringing just one point and seeing us concede ten goals. The injuries that had curtailed his Kenilworth Road career ultimately finished him at United and he retired in April 1994. McDonough then returned to the Oldham area, where he'd been brought up and played his first professional football for the Latics, after joining them as an apprentice. He built the house he now lives in and runs a sandwich shop with his wife.
1963 John Barnes born, Kingston, Jamaica. (1997-99)
A mixed post-NUFC career for the man recruited by Kenny Dalglish for his SJP Dads Army - along with messrs Rush & Pearce. A brief stay at Charlton was followed by a reunion with Dalglish, when Barnes took the Celtic manager's job - with Terry McDermott coming along for the ride. However, his Parkhead tenure was just eight months, with defeat by Inverness Caley Thistle the low point (although he did win the League Cup before leaving the club). Barnes then made a career out of TV football punditry and presenting, also becoming a contestant on "Strictly Come Dancing" and supporting various humanitarian efforts for children overseas. Reduced to a part-time overseas scouting role for the mackems, he accepted the job of Jamaica coach in September 2008. Tranmere offered Barnes the chance to resurrect his club management career but after just 14 games and ten defeats he was shown the door. The man nicknamed "Digger" was awarded the MBE in 1998 and has six children - Jamie, Jordan, Jemma and Jasmine from his first marriage; Tia and Isabella from his second.
1967 Marc Hottiger born, Lausanne, Switzerland. (1994-96)
Defender whose major contribution to our history was banging home a great goal in the FA Cup at Ewood Park in 1995- although he did also net to earn us a point at Chelsea. The Swiss international had moved to SJP from FC Sion, after beginning his playing career with hometown club Lausanne Sports. A move to Everton in March 1996 followed a season when he'd barely featured in the United first team, following the arrival of Warren Barton. His time at Goodison was marred by injury though and a return to Switzerland came in 1997, first to Lausanne then back to Sion. He then moved into coaching with Echallens and Neuchatel Xamax in his home country and is now Director of Academy Coaching for the Brad Friedel Premier Soccer Academies. Also involved with the PSA are toon old boys Barry Venison and Scott Sellars, along with Roy Tunks - who was goalkeeping coach at SJP during the Souness era.
1896 Darwen (a) 1-2 Miller
1903 Aston Villa (a) 1-3 (0-3)Templeton Bache 320,000
1908 Bury (h) 3-1 (3-0)Ridley, Rutherford, Veitch Hughes
1914 Liverpool (h) 0-0 24,000
1925 Bury (a) 1-1 Cowan Bullock 6,882
1931 Arsenal (h) (3-0)Allen, Boyd, McMenemy Lambert, Jack28,949
1936 Coventry City (a) 2-2 (1-1)Mooney(pen), Smith Fitton, Macdonald 33,0001942 Gateshead (a) 1-4 Wartime Stubbins(pen) 5,000
1953 Cardiff City (h)
4-0
Broadis 2, Hannah, Milburn
42,355 Debut for unsung goalscoring hero Alan Monkhouse, who
hit 11 goals in 23 appearances.
1955 Hearts (a) 6-4 Keeble 3, Hannah 2, Davies
Wardhaugh, Cumming, Parker, Urquhart
12,500
1959 Everton (h)
8-2
(4-0)Luke(4), Hughes(6), White(11,49,78),
Eastham(43pen), Allchurch(59,85)Thomas(67,72)
23,727 A canny debut for George Heslop at centre half.
1964 Rotherham United (h)
3-1 Suddick, Iley, McGarry
Butler
32,870
1970 Southampton (a) 0-2 (0-0)
Division One
19,250
Channon(63),
Gabriel(87)
Tommy Cassidy made his debut. Terry Paine also hit a penalty wide for Saints.
1970 Terry Johnson scored in a 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers Reserves at St. James' Park. 
1973 Birmingham City
(h)
0-1aet0-0
League Cup 3rd Round Replay Francis(pen)19,276 United perished in extra time.
1981 Chelsea (a)
1-2
Waddle Lee, Fillery16,509 Debuts for Alan Brown, on loan from Sunderland, Kevin
Pugh who came on as a substitute for Varadi and Wes
Saunders.
Chelsea fans attacked the four
supporters club coaches as they left after the match,
smashing many windows and injuring some of the occupants.
1984
Ipswich Town (h)
1-2
(1-1)
League Cup 3rd Round ReplayWaddle D'Avray, Gates23,372The programme cover features Kenny Wharton during his
Charlie Chaplin moustache phase - a look later replicated
by the bloke out of the White Stripes.
1987 Luton Town (a)
0-4
M.Stein 2, Nwajiobi, B.Stein7,638 Michael O'Neill made his debut as a substitute. During
the match the Luton side derided their opponents on the
pitch. Revenge would be had at St.James' later in the
season....
1994 Nottingham Forest
(a)
0-0
Premier League 22,102 Sitters missed at each end by Kitson and Collymore
made a point a fair result against Frank Clark's men.
1999
Everton (h)
1-1
(0-0)
Premiership Shearer(46pen)Campbell(62)
36,164A wet day for those without a roof above their heads
as the building work continued.
2004
Fulham (h)
1-4 (0-1)
PremiershipBellamy(77)John(28), Malbranque(65,71pen), Boa Morte(76)51,118A triumph of tactics for visiting
manager Chris Coleman as Graeme Souness lost it in more ways than one,
being sent to the stands as his side disintegrated. It was Fulham's first win at St. James' Park since Malcolm Macdonald's Cottagers left Tyneside with the full points in 1982. The score that day? 4-1 to the visitors.
2006 Watford (a)
2-2aet
1-1 (0-1)(5-4 on penalties)
Carling Cup 4th RoundSibierski(3), Parker(116)Francis(69), Shittu(108)
16,791The third part of a staggering trilogy even by this club's standards. Within a week United had beaten the Italian league leaders Palermo, lost at home to a side that hadn't scored on their travels and then seen off the penalty shoot-out hoodoo. Unbelievable x3.A penalty save put Steve Harper into the United history books as the man who finally helped us win a competitive shoot-out.
This was our eighth attempt to win a major penalty contest and the success couldn't have come at a better time as an extra-time exit seemed likely.
Scott Parker popped up with four minutes remaining to take the tie to penalties after Shittu had threatened to drop us into a whole load more trouble with an extra-time header.
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