Jilted Newcastle Fan Pulls Up Father’s Commemorative Brick Outside ‘Sports Direct Arena’

Chris Wright

18th, November 2011

13 Comments

By Chris Wright

According to the Beeb, this ‘ere jilted Newcastle fan has dug up and removed a commemorative brick from outside what used to be St James’ Park in protest over Mike Ashley’s decision to award the stadium’s naming rights to himself last week and rebrand the ground as the ‘Sports Direct Arena’.

Graeme Cansdale, a card-carrying member of the ‘Mike Ashley Out’ campaign, bought the £50 slab for his father as a 72nd-birthday present 11 years ago, but has since hired a stooge to tear it out of St James’ Way and replace it with a plain brick in protest over the running of the club.

Said Cansdale:

“Eleven years ago I bought what was called a ‘heritage stone’ that was sold by the club, Newcastle United, to, you know, be part of the fabric of St James’ Park.

“Now, almost a week after Mike Ashley decided to annul the name of St James’ Park, and ignore 119 years of history, I decided to safeguard my part of St James’ Park by chiselling my brick up.”

“I’ve actually reclaimed my own property. It has a certificate of ownership. Now that St James’ Park no longer exists I think I’ve every right to protect my property.

“For those who are worried about health and safety we did replace it with the same sized brick.”

Phew. That’s certainly a weight off my mind. Wouldn’t want the integrity of the newly renamed ‘Sports Direct Cheapo Golf Umbrella and Lonsdale Jogging Bottoms Walkway’ compromised in any way.

Cansdale also said he would not be returning the brick while owner Mike Ashley remained at the club. So there.

Posted in Newcastle Utd

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13 Comments

  1. Davy says:

    What a prick….But more anti-Newcastle bullshit again Chris??

  2. CFC_Jay says:

    A little over the top dont you think? i still dont get the anger of the supporters?!?! if they all continue to call the ground St James Park then what difference does the actual name make? West Ham’s ground is called the Boleyn Ground, but people nearly always refer to it as Upton Park. Some people are way too sensitive these days!!!

  3. Tinez says:

    Some of these lads need to get a grip. City isn’t going to change direction signs from St James park, supporters arent going to call it the ‘£2 cricket whites’ arena so it’s not a problem. I think Mike’s doing a decent job, I’m glad he is at my club. His financial acumen is second to none.

  4. Ross says:

    As a Newcastle fan, SJP will always be SJP to me, no matter what the owners deem to call it.
    At the end of the day, if Newcastle can get some decent money in and that is put back into the club, then where is the problem?!
    The bloke was fleeced by Fat Freddy in the first place for buying a daft brick…just another fan making the press see all of us fans as idiots.

  5. the queen says:

    Sports Direct Arena sounds better anyway. Sounds more American. Doesn’t this guy know that the Cleveland Cavaliers play in the Quicken Loans Arena?

  6. Tinez says:

    @Ross

    Precisely

  7. pkhakheria says:

    When city changed “eastlands” to “etihad stadium” , I personally thought “etihad stadium by name, eastlands by heart” . Though I will say, one thing I’ve always admired about sports arenas across the pond was they had interesting and somewhat inspiring names. In the states you would be hard pressed to find an arena without a corporate sponsership. Be that as it may , you support Newcastle United, not St. James United , not like the clubs going to be renamed “Sports direct united” …don’t be getting any ideas Mr. Ashley

  8. Mr. Sparkle says:

    @the queen

    Seriously? That’s a bad name. Than again North American stadiums are generally christened stupid names.

  9. sloth says:

    “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet;”

    Fans should be pleased Mr. Ashley is infusing cash into the club. They’re currently friggen 3rd in the Prem. IF I were a Newcastle supporter, I’d rather watch them qualify for Europe at the Cheapo Cricket Whites Stadium than get relegated at St. James Park.

  10. sloth says:

    And to be honest, it could be a lot worse. At least “Sports Direct Arena” is just a fake name and they can always call it St. James Park. Emirates Stadium doesn’t have another name. My beloved Vancouver Canucks’ (ice hockey eh?) arena’s naming contract just expired, and General Motors Place became Rogers Arena, and we can’t call it anything else (nicknames like “The Garage” no longer apply, and new ones like “The Phone Booth” are lame).

  11. david says:

    as a middlesbrough fan.. (its funny) we have had more than one stadium and the riverside has been called a few names( bt cellnet/cellnet) so just get over it. i BET! in the near future it will be called st james park again

  12. Ray says:

    What the hell. It might as well be called Crazy Johns phones arena rather than Crazy Mikes Park !!

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