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What Happened When I Bumped Into Nile Ranger Last Saturday Night

11 years ago
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Forest Hall…….home of Newcastle’s finest and Nile Ranger (future England international)

The Reading game has to be particularly disappointing, it was a must win game, and the thought of defeat was really unbearable.

So, heading off to drown my sorrows, my thoughts turned to what had just happened and I very nearly passed on the pub and headed home. I live in Forest Hall which is home to a decent shopping centre, couple of good clubs, a lively pub, some strange characters…and of course Nile Ranger.

Instead I met the lads in The Junction and had a few after match sorrow drowning bottles…out of the blue my phone vibrated and it was a mate who for some obscure reason follows Nile Ranger on twitter, he texted me Nile Ranger’s latest tweet from after the game.

Nileranger@Nilepowerranger “certain fans need to not come and support this team..coming to BOOO us..Stay at home..Dont need your Boo’s…say no more!!!!

Now living in Forest Hall I get the chance to go to the training ground to watch the reserves and juniors, four years ago I made the bold prediction that young Nile would play for England within five years.

Anyway, back to Saturday night and I headed home to Forest Hall for a few more beers with the Mrs before heading for home via the Chinese takeaway.

Whilst waiting for the food I noticed the Charcoal/Black Range Rover pull up outside, then the occupant jumped out and came into the very takeaway I was in. This car by the way seems to be double parked at lots of strange hours outside Bet Fred in Forest Hall, I do know the Roulette machines do very well for some reason.

Now let’s face it, Nile is a big lad, while I am not the most fit of 48 year old blokes. However, I have followed this club for 41 years, and while I don’t boo very often I was not going to let this “gangsta man” get away with telling us how to support our club

We then had the following conversation, which got quite heated on my part, and the only credit I offer him is he did not overreact.

Me: You were wrong to tweet what you did about Newcastle fans today.

NR: No I wasn’t.

Me:Yes you were, you’ve got no right to tell us how to support the team, the fact is the manager got it wrong today.

NR: Booing still does not help.

Me: I agree but we pay lots of money to watch that sh*te, money some of us don’t have, not that it would bother you.

I then left and was going out the door when he winked and grinned at me, in what can only be described as a sarcastic manner, so straight back in I went with a slightly more raised voice.

Me: You think it’s funny do you? You know there were 2000 supporters who did a 720 mile round trip to Brighton a fortnight ago, to watch people like you not be interested, it was an insult, I know cos I was one of them.

NR: Nobody makes you go.

Me: Then another 500 mile round trip for the loyal ones to Norwich and you don’t give a toss.

I then ranted…

Me: You know 4 years ago I told quite a few people that you would play for England within 5 years.

NR: I will play for England one day.

Me (laughing): Play for England, you can’t even get out of bed to get to training on time, Sheffield Wednesday did not want you, quite frankly you’re not good enough for Darlington and they went out of the league 2 years ago, why were you not playing today?

NR : Manager’s choice who he picks.

Me: Fact is you’re not bothered, you don’t know what it means to wear that shirt, it is everything to people from here, go and ask Peter Beardsley who just happens to be from the area. I’ll be at Aston Villa a week Tuesday, will you be?

NR……………………….no reply

For a few seconds I thought I would ask what happened at Southampton when he suddenly found himself out the door, Southampton – a team who have produced quality of the likes of Walcott and Bale, he could and should have learnt so much.

I could see now he was getting irritated himself and the takeaway owners were also getting nervous, the Mrs had long since scarpered, I then mumbled something about him needing some life coaching in the often lively Flying Scotsman, but again he had no answers so I left him to his curry and chips, yes that is what he ordered.

His Range Rover still had its engine running parked across 2 bays but hey he is Nile Ranger so it is ok.

For unlucky people like you and me we have no choice, we love our club and I have written so many times that players (and owners) come and go but fans are for life. Nile Ranger in my eyes epitomises everything that is wrong with the modern day footballer, he really has no idea nor does he care, and that is appalling at best..

I am sure I will see him again, I will just pop into Bet Fred one afternoon, and I am sure he and his “gangsta” mates will be swamping the roulette machines, good example for sure.

There are so many stories that go around Forest Hall regarding Mr Ranger, including the real reason Sheffield Wednesday did not want him, or should I say the reason he did not stay, but I daresay it would be risky publishing something that may not be true, although my gut feeling is everything I hear is true.

A recent article in one of the Fanzines was entitled ‘End of the Nile’, he clearly does not want to be a footballer, get rid now, that is what I say.

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