Superb fans deserve better than relegation

May 25 2009 The Journal

THE GEORDIE hoards flocked to Birmingham with their hearts full of hope.

But the estimated 20,000 die-hards who filled the stands in Villa Park and the pubs of the Second City left broken-hearted.

The message from across the football world was the same – Newcastle United’s magnificent supporters deserved better than the club had given them.

It was no consolation.

The thousands in Villa Park bellowed their defiance beyond the final whistle, proclaiming their undying loyalty to a broken team and performing one last act of worship to Alan Shearer – the man they hoped would be their messiah.

A couple of hundreds miles north the pubs were packed with singing fans, shunning the sunshine and glued to the big screens.

Hope came from Hull – a Manchester United goal meaning a draw would have been enough for Newcastle to survive.

But it was followed by despair, which for many became anger as they came to terms with their beloved club’s first relegation in 16 years. There were tears, tantrums and tirades of abuse aimed at everyone from Mike Ashley, to Sam Allardyce.

Thousands then flooded into the Bigg Market and beyond to drown their sorrows and talk about where it all went wrong.

Those who kept their overheated emotions in check spoke of the “surreal” feeling of watching their team succumb to a tame draw in a game they so desperately needed to win.

Steve Wraith, editor of the Players Inc fanzine, said the team deserved to go down, but would come back up.

He said: “It’s been a hard season but our season didn’t come down to a game at Villa Park.

“Newcastle have been on a gradual decline.”

He said he thought caretaker boss Alan Shearer would stay on as manager in the Championship and said relegation would take the club out of the media spotlight.

Mr Wraith said: “Maybe the bonus is it will take us off the front pages and back pages.”