Foreign stars must respect the Geordies says David Ginola

Jul 20 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

Building a team based on Geordie pride sounds like a ‘canny’ way to run a football club. At least that’s what a French winger who lost his heart to the Magpies believes. Stuart Rayner on David Ginola’s Newcastle United blueprint.

IN the often-xenophobic English football, foreigners are seen by many as the root of all evil. When the final whistle blew on another World Cup of under-achievement and the soul-searching began, those from overseas bore much of the blame for the Three Lions’ failings.

Sub-standard foreign mercenaries threaten the development of young English talent but not every footballer lacking a British passport is sub-standard or a mercenary.

So it is perhaps fitting that the man adamant acquiring a passion for the North East and its most high-profile football club should be a pre-requisite for joining Newcastle United this summer, is a Frenchman who knew little of the region before he began embracing it in 1995.

At a time when a Geordie can manage Sunderland, David Ginola reminded us those from overseas can be passionate about Newcastle United.

He hopes all those who don the famous black-and-white stripes in the future take the same attitude. “I don’t want the club to repeat the mistakes it made in the past,” says the former winger, signed in an era when the Magpies’ present seemed as exciting as its past.

“The club has brought in so many names, and so many players. It is now time to concentrate on the qualities the club already has.

“Newcastle has history. It has a logo, it has colours. They have passion. Every single player who signs for the club should be aware of that. You are not signing for any old club. You are signing for a great club with a tremendous heritage.

“New players should be shown books on the history of the club. If you like it sign, if you don’t then off you go. It should be as simple as that.