Why Did You Start Supporting Newcastle? Please Vote!

Last updated : 29 September 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

(Taken from our NewcastleUnited-mad message board.)

A post suggesting all supporters should follow their local team.

But, at the end of the day, it is down to the individual who he or she supports.

Accepting (being on this website) you are a Newcastle United supporter, why did you stettle for the Magpies?

Newcastle United Mad vote: What convinced you to follow Newcastle United?

Running from Monday, 29th September 2014 to Wednesday, 8th October 2014

1) My local team
2) Influence from parents
3) Influence from friends
4) Saw them on TV
5) Like black and white strip
6) Hate the Mackems!

 

http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp

 

Sherwood Mag -

About living away from the north east,is lack of local support for clubs.

This morning in my local Gymn locker room there was a Man U supporter arguing with a Liverpool fan then a Chelsea fan butted in.

I live in Mansfield about 12 miles from where Forest won 2 European Cups.

What is wrong with people supporting their home town clubs,before long half the country will be supporting foreign teams.

Geordie_Exile:-

It's the same here in Germany. There are two local clubs playing in the Top League (Hannover 96 and Wolfsburg) but the most you see are people wearing either Bayern or Dortmund shirts. 
 
newcastle9:-

Its the same in Berwick. 20 years ago there was an equal split of toon and sunderland fans, whilst all would invariably go to watch Berwick Rangers if either was away. You may have seen the odd liverpool or manure top but not many. Nowadays you see Chelsea, Arsenal even Tottenham fans in Berwick despite them only going to watch them when they play toon or mackems.

The tv armchair supporters see it as an insult to even talk about teams like Berwick Rangers.

I blame the media saturated football coverage where they only talk about the big clubs, even encouraging support of these teams. It takes effort to support the toon, emotional effort. Anyone can support a teams that spends £150 million to spend their troubles away. It takes commitment and devotion to support a team that never succeeds, that takes your support for granted.

It takes devotion to never let that support waver or follow a team that simply outspends the rest for success the media make it easy to support the best. 

STOKE CITY - BRITANNIA STADIUM

What Is It Like For Away Supporters?

Away fans are housed on one side (towards the Players Tunnel and Main Stand) of the Marstons Pedigree (South) Stand at one end of the ground, where around 2,800 supporters can be accommodated. This stand is shared with home fans on the other side. At first I was quite perturbed by a large sign advising fans that persistent standing would result in ejection from the ground, however the facilities and view of the action from this stand are good. The concourse is adequate and there is a large choice of refreshments available such as Wrights pies, sausage rolls, cheeseburgers, rollover hot dogs and chips. Alcohol is also available in the form of Carlsberg lager (pint), Bitter (pint), Strongbow cider (can) and Smirnoff Ice (bottle).

The stadium is quite high up in an exposed position and the open corners can mean that a cold wind can whip through the stadium, so bear this in mind, especially in the winter months. I thought the inside of the stadium was quite disappointing being rather bland and lacking character, although I'm sure that this can be developed in time. Listen out though for the Stoke anthem 'Delilah' being sung by the home fans, they can still give a great rendition of that Tom Jones classic song.

It is also worth bearing mind though that the Stoke fans are passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere, so it is best to keep colours covered around the ground. Don't be surprised if you are kept in after the game, in a fenced off compound to the rear of the away stand, whilst the Stoke fans are allowed to disperse.

 

Where To Drink?

Next to the stadium is a Holiday Inn and a Harvester Pub/Restaurant that do allow in away fans. You can also park at the Harvester itself for a cost of £3. A bit further away on Dennis Viollett Road (off Sir Stanley Matthews Way) is a Power League complex that also has a bar, which also allows in away supporters, shows SKY television and you can even park in their car park for £4.50. Further down Sir Stanley Matthews Way (and turning left along Eastern Rise) is the Longton Rugby Club, which has two bars also showing SKY Sports. Parking is also available at £5 a car. It is around a 20 minute walk to the away turnstiles from the Club. Otherwise alcohol is available on the concourses at the back of the away end, but queues can be lengthy, especially if there is a big support.

If arriving by train then the Terrace Bar on Leek Road has been designated as an official away fans pub. The pub which is only five minutes walk from the railway station (turn right out of the station entrance, left at the crossroads and the pub is down on the left) also shows Sky Sports and offers food too. The shuttle bus to the ground (return cost £3 adults) that runs from near the station, also stops at the pub and returns after the game.

How To Get There By Car And Where To Park

Leave the M6 at Junction 15 and then go straight across the roundabout onto the A500 towards Stoke. Continue along the A500 passing the junction with the A34. Leave the A500 at the slip road following signs for the A50 towards Derby. At the top of the slip road turn right at the roundabout (still A50) and then move into the second from left lane (signposted Britannia Stadium). You can see the stadium over on your right. Turn right at the top of the slip road and then right at the next roundabout for the stadium. The Britannia is quite well signposted. Car parking at the stadium costs £5.

Matt Goldstraw adds; 'If you have a ticket for the official south car park, then after going onto the A500 towards Stoke from junction 15 of the M6, leave the A500 at the first junction and turn right at the large roundabout and onto the A34 towards Stafford. Go past the Bengal Indian Restaurant and after about a mile you will reach a small roundabout that on the right has the entrance to Trentham Awakes (previously known as Trentham Gardens). Turn left at the island and then continue straight up this road for about three miles. You will pass a golf club, a Toby Carvery, go over a railway bridge, over the canal and past an Esso garage. Then at a set of traffic lights where there is an obvious industrial estate to the right, turn left on to Stanley Matthews Way for the stadium'.

Just off Sir Stanley Matthews Way is a Power League complex that allows parking at £4.50 per car. Nearby on Eastern Rise is Longton Rugby Club which also has parking available at £5 per car.

Alternatively there are still some parking spaces at various commercial sites between the old Michelin Car park and the site of the old Victoria Ground. Bear in mind though that if you do park in this area then allow a good 20 minutes to walk (mostly uphill) to the stadium. If you are intending parking in this area then from Junction 15 proceed along the A500, passing the junction with the A34. The stadium will appear over on the right and then leave the A500 at the next junction and turn left to go down to this area.

Justin Herriman informs me; 'There are 300 parking spaces available (weekend matches only) at the Screwfix direct site on Stanley Matthews Way. The Screwfix direct site is based 1 mile from the ground and allows quicker access back onto the A50 after the game has ended. The cost for parking is £4 per car (no mini buses). If arriving from the M6, follow signs to the Britannia Stadium on the A50. Continue past the stadium for approx 1 mile and the Screwfix site is on the left. The post code for SatNav's is ST4 8GR.' Whilst Andrew Catmur adds; 'There is also car parking south of the stadium on Stanley Matthews Way between Screwfix and the Stadium opposite Pets at Home (Sat Nav ST4 8GR ). It costs £5 and you can get to this car park via Stanley Mathews Way from the A50 or Trentham Road. After the match all traffic goes south which means you avoid all the congestion by the stadium. See www.parkbythebritannia.co.uk for more details.

Robert Hardy a visiting Norwich City supporter informs me; 'We've been to watch the Canaries play at the Britannia Stadium on numerous occasions, and have tried parking at several places in the vicinity of the ground. Although there's a good choice of places to park - usually charging about £5, we've always found that getting away after the game is a total nightmare. You just seem to get stuck in never ending queue's of traffic trying to get away, and it takes an eternity to get anywhere. For a change, I tried instead using the shuttle buses from Glebe Street near Stoke Railway Station, and was well rewarded for my effort. I found a nice bit of on street parking nearby at the former PMT bus garage, walked around the corner, and paid just £3 return on the bus, which had us at the ground in about 5 minutes or so. After the game, the buses back to Stoke line up behind the Novus Stand - which is just a short walk from where the away fans are situated. From the final whistle blowing, and walking out of the ground, I was back to my car in 20 minutes. Getting out of Stoke and back onto the A500, was also completed in a matter of minutes. An absolute piece of cake, and far less hassle!'

Post Code for SAT NAV: ST4 4EG

By Train

Stoke station is just over two miles away from the stadium, so unless you are feeling fit, it maybe best to hire a taxi. Tim Rigby a visiting Wolves fan adds 'there are some shuttle buses than run from Glebe Street in Stoke up to the Britannia Stadium, which depart every 15 minutes before kick off. There are return buses after the game back to Glebe Street from behind the Sentinel (East) Stand'.

Björn Sandström adds; 'To catch this bus, turn right from the station and head down Station Road. At the bottom of Station Road at the traffic lights, turn right to go along Leek Road (A52). Then go straight across the A500 dual carriageway and into Glebe Street which is straight across in front of you. You should then see the line of buses that will take you to the stadium. It is only about a five minute walk from the station'. The shuttle bus costs for a return ticket £3 Adults, £2 Concessions.

Colin Bell adds; 'It took us less than 30 minutes to walk to the stadium from the station, using this route: Turn right from the station and head down Station Road. At the lights, turn right along Leek Road (A52), under the railway line and then left down on to the tow path of the Trent & Mersey Canal. Follow the tow path all the way until you are level with the stadium, where two footbridges take you over the canal and then the railway line, straight into the ground near the South Stand away end.'