Paul Dixon has been following Newcastle United for more than 35 years, 16 of which have been as a season ticket holder in the Gallowgate End at St James’s Park. Each week in his column, he takes a wry look at all things football – from a black and white – perspective.
AM I going to open my eyes to realise it’s all been a bad dream?
Not the death of the world’s most famous entertainer, but that our new second strip had been a figment of my imagination.
This appalling, sartorial abomination is patently the work of a designer on his last day before redundancy. It’s only going to be bought by end of the pier comedians. As has been noted, the yellow stripe is appropriate, just needs a white flag on the crest. Oh for the halcyon days of black and white television.
As for the interminable takeover, I suppose it could be argued that, if anybody buys us, they will do so knowing the full situation. I just hope we get shot of Stan and Ollie before they do any more damage.
It looks like Alan Shearer is the only game in town for any new owner. Heaven knows if they’re right, but past appointments of “proper” managers hasn’t been a roaring success.
All we want is a reason to turn up. We realise the usual top-four good teams, plus Manchester City, are operating on a different financial planet to everybody else.
This is no reason not to aspire to those heady heights, mind. Liverpool cannot keep re-financing vast loans, and build a new stadium. The poor sod who takes over from Taggart at Man USA has to keep 70,000 flying in from all over the galaxy every fortnight.
One bad season from either of them will herald financial meltdown.
I normally veer away from plugging stuff, ever since my brazen mentioning of the Ferrari 430, resulted in my still owning an ancient Corsa but I’m going to risk it. I went to the Live Theatre on Saturday night to see You Couldn’t Make It Up and it highlighted two things in particular:
l 1 – It is possible to derive great entertainment from something associated with Newcastle United.
l 2 – Thanks to inspired voice mimicry by Dave Nellist, I now realise we weren’t bought by Ashley, but by “Genial” Harry Grout from Porridge.
More entertaining than a Ferrari methinks.
blackadderboy@yahoo.co.uk
