Why Newcastle fans are one of the marvels of the modern game - and I've got the numbers to prove it

By Simon Bird

Published 13:15 21/12/09

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If you haven’t seen the crowd figure from St James’ Park yesterday here it is: 49,644.

Read that again. And again. And marvel.

Just short of 50,000 fans turn out to see a Championship match, in sub zero temperatures, on a weekend when money is at its tightest and Christmas shopping beckons.

Seeing thousands of happy Geordies trooping off home for Christmas with their club back on its feet, storming away at the top of the league, was a heart-warming sight.

Remember these are the fans who are still coming back for more despite two years of turmoil on and off the pitch.

They’ve stayed ridiculously loyal, despite the most testing year to be a fan in a generation.

Fervour, passion and devotion is what you get from the men, women and kids in black and white shirts sitting in the cold yesterday.

Rival fans should remember that crowd figure when they next thrown mud at the Geordie Nation. 49,644.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Spurs, Manchester City, Birmingham, Fulham, West Ham, Everton. None of them can beat it.

Even local rivals Sunderland, last home crowd down to 34,000, despite generous offers of £19 season tickets for kids, can’t get close. To nick a phrase from one acerbic observer who taunts his Mackem mates: “It’s Niall Quinn I feel sorry for.”

Newcastle have also taken 7,000 on away trips to the likes of Barnsley.

So next time you hear the old cliches being wheeled out: Newcastle fans expect too much success, they get managers sacked, they think they are better than everyone else, they are always crying on the telly. Just stop and think.

Newcastle fans are actually one of the marvels of the modern game.

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