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Fan-owned football in Newcastle

Could FC United be an alternative to Mike Ashley's unpopular regime?

By Andy PottsPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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On Tyneside, Newcastle United’s fans are desperate for a takeover to rid them of hated chairman Mike Ashley. There’s even talk of raising funds to buy a stake in their club. However, far from the Premier League, fan-owned football already exists on Tyneside.

FC United of Newcastle, currently playing in the second tier of the Northern Football Alliance, are in the eighth level of non-league football in England. That’s 11 promotions away from a Premier League derby with the better-known Magpies. At this level, with games played on a glorified school field, it’s not unusual to see more people on the pitch than watching from the sidelines. The Tyneside faithful describe St. James’ Park as ‘the cathedral on the hill’; this is more the jerry-built chapel in a rundown neighbourhood.

Dugouts at the Langdale Centre in Wallsend, home of FC United of Newcastle.

Alan James, co-founder of FC United along with David Grandini, was once among the pilgrims heading to St. James’ Park. However, even in the heyday of Kevin Keegan’s entertainers, he was looking for ways to rebuild a connection between football and fans. The all-seater era left him cold; today’s hyper-inflated transfer market and battle of the billionaires is, for him, the logical conclusion of a process that began in the 1990s – a fiscal arms race that Newcastle, under Sir John Hall, pioneered, only to be outstripped as millionaires were bought out by billionaires. Now, inspired by the rise of FC United of Manchester, he’s working on a Tyneside version.

But he’s quick to point out that it takes effort and commitment from those same fans to force a change – and moaning on social media isn’t going to be enough.

“It’s down to us,” he said. “Fans need to be more active. It’s no good just shouting at the TV. Stand up, take action, form supporters’ groups and get behind the ones that are already there. It’s about people taking action for the game, for what they love about it.”

FC United open the scoring in a Northern Alliance game against Whitley Bay 'A'.

For James, that means going back to basics. “We’re not trying to compete with Newcastle United, we’re looking to complement them,” he said. “It’s not about trying to get rid of Mike Ashley – I’d be happy to have a pint with him. I think that’s why a lot of the supporters’ groups at Newcastle can’t get their heads around it.

“We want to create an alternative to the Premier League, something that can bring people back to grass roots football and let them shape their own club. The vision is to have a 5,000-capacity stadium with 80% standing and for the whole thing to be owned and run by the supporters. Fans making the decisions, raising and spending the money, even picking the team.”

Fan ownership is key to the vision. Across the Tyne, Hebburn Town clambered from the brink of extinction to a Wembley appearance in the FA Vase, while South Shields average four-figure crowds – COVID permitting – as they climb the non-league ladder. Both benefit from substantial investment, boosted by marketing nous. James and his colleagues want to do it differently.

“What [South Shields] are doing is great, but it’s another millionaire spending his money on his hobby,” he explained. “We’re not against having money and investing it in the club but we don’t want someone coming in with a pile of cash and taking over. That just gets us back to the place we’re trying to leave.”

Action as FC United of Newcastle take on Whitley Bay 'A'

The FCUN story began in 2017/18 – and the club was created in a hurry. Grainger Park, an existing Northern Alliance team, ran into difficulties and FC United had a chance to get into the top division of the league. It was a rush job, and on the pitch that was all too obvious. Forming a club and getting a team out at short notice with no budget was a struggle – no league wins in that first season – but the club survived, paid its own way, and is ready to build even if it is currently regrouping in the second tier.

A 25-year lease on the ground, the name – and all the positive connotations shared with the Mancunian original – is secured. Publicity pushes have involved leafleting the renowned People’s Theatre – once patronised by an Edwardian Magpie legend, Colin Veitch; more recently a site where James cleaned windows – as well as more conventional sources. There’s even been encouragement from former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall: “I wrote to him asking for some advice about leadership and we’ve spoken on the phone a couple of times since then,” James said.

Hall famously dreamed of making Newcastle the “Barcelona of the North”. And James, too, believes his club can outstrip its famous inspiration. “I’m full of admiration for what FC United of Manchester have done,” he said. “But if you look now, it seems like they have similar crowds to when they started. I think we can do better than that, we can build something even bigger here.”

A version of this story first appeared on Groundhoppers in December 2018. All photos were taken earlier that season during a Northern Alliance game at home to Whitley Bay Reserves.

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About the Creator

Andy Potts

Community focused sports fan from Northeast England. Tends to root for the little guy. Look out for Talking Northeast, my new project coming soon.

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