Part 1 - NUFC

Well this is my first entry into the world of blogging. I aim to pick out some themes as I progress and in my own style rant about them on my blogs as well as updating on the ups and downs in my life in a tongue in cheek manner so hope you will enjoy whats to come.

The first topic I will be blogging on is the shambles that is Newcastle United, a team I have supported for 24 years. I've seen it go through the motions and have detailed a brief history of those the stages below.

• A badly run football club (Mckeag era) to
• An exciting team to watch (Keegan Part 1 as manager)
• A well run business and growing (Freddie Fletcher and John Hall)
• World Record Holders for highest Transfer fee paid (Alan Shearer 15 million 1996
• Business side of the club takes a turn for the worst (Freddie Fletcher leaves) boring team and wheels falling off (Keegan leaves, Dalglish and Gullit break things and John Hall departs)
• The beginning of the end - Part 1 (Fat Freddy takes control)
• Arise Sir Bobby (Bobby brings back the good times)
• Murderer (Fat Freddy Sacks Sir Bobby 5 games into the season, he's never looked the same since.)
• Things start to go badly wrong (Souness, Roeder and Allardyce appointed)
• Light at the end of the tunnel (Rumours of a takeover)
• The beginning of the end - Part 2 (Mike Ashley buys the club)
• 52000 sent to sleep (Allardyce bores the pants of everyone and gets sacked)
• Special K returns (Ashley pulls off the unthinkable)
• The Cereal (Special K) Leaver does it again (King Kev leaves)
• Downhill Spiral (No leadership, No ownership, No communication)
• Game Over (Kinnear appointed)
• Heart Attack (Kinnear in hospital)
• SAS (Shearer returns to try and save things)
• Heartbeat (Whilst results aren't changing the good feeling is back)
• Relegation (We are down and down without a fight)
• Appointment..........................
• Takeover..................................
• I'm selling up...................................
• Takeover.............................................
• ??????????????????????????????????

The years since the departure of Sir Bobby have been nothing but a disaster and got me thinking. Football clubs are classed as Businesses now so if that's the case, I am therefore a customer and an investor.

In 24 years the business I have invested in and been a customer of has quite frankly delivered nothing in terms of a return on my investment and in terms of my customer experience or Customer Satisfaction it has been zero and for some time. Maybe its time to complain and see if I will be treated like customers do, up and down the country and receive refunds, or gesture's of goodwill and if not I'll go to watchdog to do something about it, I'm sure 52000 others would do the same................................

Importantly, unlike a business, where customers move to competitors, better performing companies or cheaper options, with football you just don't do it. I'll be back next season to add another chapter to the woes mentioned above and despite the disappointment and angst on the surface, deep down there is an excitement and an enjoyment to still see 11 people walk out on the pitch and represent Newcastle United whether they care as much as I do or not, there is nothing that will take that away.

So come 5.30 on Saturday the 8th August I'll be there standing proud and shouting loud and to coin a well used phrase, I would love it if we beat them, love it.