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Opinion

Statement from Toon For Change after lowest Newcastle United Premier League crowd for 7 years

5 years ago
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Toon For Change have released a statement after Newcastle picked up a point against Watford.

However, the NUFC fans group weren’t commenting on events on the pitch.

Instead it was the impact that Mike Ashley is now having on attendances, with a serious number of empty seats for a 3pm Saturday not on live TV game at St James Park.

Thousands and thousands of Newcastle fans clearly having had enough of the owner’s damaging actions on Newcastle United:

Joe Halliday, a spokesperson for the Toon For Change supporter group:

“Thousands of fans didn’t renew their season tickets ahead of the new season and today’s attendance is further evidence that supporters are unwilling to continue filling Mike Ashley’s pockets.

“The lack of ambition shown by the current ownership is leading to fans turning their backs on a club that they once loved – it’s heartbreaking.

“Within our group – we sat down at the start of the season and asked ourselves why we should continue financially supporting Ashley’s Newcastle United, if he isn’t prepared to invest appropriately in the club’s squad and facilities.

“As you might have guessed, the conclusion we came to was that we shouldn’t.

“The numbers are clear.

“The attendance at the Arsenal match earlier this month was the lowest for an opening day Premier League match at St James since 2011.

“The attendance for Leicester in the cup was 5,000, or eighteen per cent down on the last EFL Cup second round match at St James’.

“Today’s attendance was the lowest attendance at St James’ Park since December 2012, when we were at one of our lowest points under Pardew having lost four games in a row.

“Despite last week’s fantastic result at Tottenham, the feeling around the club is rock bottom and we’re only three games into a new season.

“We’re becoming a zombie club – and that’s down to one man, Mike Ashley.”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Newcastle 1 Watford 1 – Saturday 31 August 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle:

Schar 41

Watford:

Hughes 2

Possession was Watford 51% Newcastle 49%

Total shots were Watford 13 Newcastle 13

Shots on target were Watford 3 Newcastle 5

Corners were Watford 5 Newcastle 6

Referee: Graham Scott

Newcastle team v Watford:

Dubravka, Krafth (Manquillo 78), Schar (Fernandez 85), Lascelles, Dummett, Willem, Hayden, Longstaff, Atsu (Muto 82), Almiron, Joelinton

Unused Subs

Darlow, Clark, Ki, Shelvey

Crowd: 44,157  (approx 1,500 Watford)

(Watch official match highlights HERE)

(Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to Newcastle 1 Watford 1 – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Watford – Lowest NUFC PL crowd in 7 years see Bruce’s team struggle against bottom club – Read HERE)

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