What makes a big club?

[KemptownMag]

One that's won f♡ck all for years but the media can't stop talking about and keep saying they aren't a big club
Liverpool and Man U are massive but would they be without the huge amounts of success?

It's easy to follow the winners and look at Man City now
Lauded as massive club but a laughing stock not long ago
Media rarely mention it these days

Swings and roundabouts

To be fair, Citeh have always had a good solid support and mostly locals, unlike Man United.

Even during the dark days when they were down in the old Third Division their fans stayed loyal.

I used to work with a bloke who was a Citeh fan. London-based Man U and Liverpool "fans" used to rip the piss out of him, but he followed his team through thin and thinner - very similar to us like.

Had a great time with them at the 1976 League Cup Final - and anyone who was there that day can never forget Dennis Tueart larking around with us Newcastle fans during Citeh's lap of honour.

[trinitoon]

No, we are not. Attendances do not make a club big.

Historic reputation does not make a club big. Our name is known by football fans of a certain age internationally for historic exploits but this does not make a club "big".

You'd have to go back 15-20 years to find anything resembling "nearly-men" success. But the success that everyone commenting above is brushing under the carpet is key to the definition of big.

You've got to tick many of these boxes:

• Have a rich and storied history
• Spend big regularly
• Have a massive attendance in a big stadium
• Have a massive domestic and overseas following (not just the names Keegan and Shearer ringing a small bell)
• Win cups and leagues or be in the frame to win things a few times a decade
• Have significant turnover
• Be a place that footballers want to come
• Take part in the premier continental cups regularly
• Be respected and command respect for footballing reasons within the current decade

A good indication of whether you are a big club is gauging the reaction of fans that are not from your club (or bitter rivals) when asking if yours is a big club.

With the right ownership, Newcastle can be one of the biggest. But we'd have to do more than talk about attendances, point at greying (or balding) giants of yesteryear and reminisce to claim to be big.

Newcastle was a big club. It no longer is.

[ranat22]

were not newcastle united nevermind a big club!

we are a branch of Sports direct with a football team.

[KemptownMag]

No, we are not. Attendances do not make a club big.

Historic reputation does not make a club big. Our name is known by football fans of a certain age internationally for historic exploits but this does not make a club "big".

You'd have to go back 15-20 years to find anything resembling "nearly-men" success. But the success that everyone commenting above is brushing under the carpet is key to the definition of big.

You've got to tick many of these boxes:

• Have a rich and storied history
• Spend big regularly
• Have a massive attendance in a big stadium
• Have a massive domestic and overseas following (not just the names Keegan and Shearer ringing a small bell)
• Win cups and leagues or be in the frame to win things a few times a decade
• Have significant turnover
• Be a place that footballers want to come
• Take part in the premier continental cups regularly
• Be respected and command respect for footballing reasons within the current decade

A good indication of whether you are a big club is gauging the reaction of fans that are not from your club (or bitter rivals) when asking if yours is a big club.

With the right ownership, Newcastle can be one of the biggest. But we'd have to do more than talk about attendances, point at greying (or balding) giants of yesteryear and reminisce to claim to be big.

Newcastle was a big club. It no longer is.

Fair points Trini, but I travel abroad a hell of a lot and whenever anyone hears where I come from their first reaction is usually "Ah - Newcastle United".

I lived in Guernsey for many years and had a Guernsey driving licence. It always caused confusion whenever I picked up a hire car abroad. Many's the time the hire car rep would look at my birthplace and again, the eyes would light up and they'd come out with "Newcastle - United. All clear now!"

[ronandtet]

its a matter of perspective - when we were in the championship we were "the big club" it inspired the likes of brentford and burton to play like they were at wembley

to me we are a big club - end of

[TheBigSausage]

A big club is trophies won , European football , exposure across the world .. How many turn up each week is fairly irrelevant .

[toptoon]

A big club is trophies won , European football , exposure across the world .. How many turn up each week is fairly irrelevant .

Can´t agree wi that. You go to St James´ on match day - you are at a big club.

Someone disagrees with me? I don´t care. Call us a small club if you want - makes no difference to what it is, but don´t be surprised that our huge and very loyal support desire something better and want some success - not because we think we are a big club but because that´s what supporting a team is all about.

[TheBigSausage]

Can´t agree wi that. You go to St James´ on match day - you are at a big club.

Someone disagrees with me? I don´t care. Call us a small club if you want - makes no difference to what it is, but don´t be surprised that our huge and very loyal support desire something better and want some success - not because we think we are a big club but because that´s what supporting a team is all about.

If Brighton , burnley or even Leicester build a 70000 seat stadium and fill it .. It doesn't make them a "big" club.
Leeds were a big club years ago but have won jack **** and languished in the lower divisions .. Nobody considers Leeds a "big" club .
Likewise Man City are now a big club cos of money spent , trophies won , global exposure .. Nobody mentions how many they get in the stadium each week .. Nobody cares.

[ronandtet]

A big club is trophies won , European football , exposure across the world .. How many turn up each week is fairly irrelevant .

If Brighton , burnley or even Leicester build a 70000 seat stadium and fill it .. It doesn't make them a "big" club.

so is leicester a big club or not?

[ASHLEY OUT]

A big club is trophies won , European football , exposure across the world .. How many turn up each week is fairly irrelevant .

If Brighton , burnley or even Leicester build a 70000 seat stadium and fill it .. It doesn't make them a "big" club.

so is leicester a big club or not?

Then how can man city be a big club? They have only won 1 more first division trophy than us and 1 less than the mackems, both of which havent won the league in about 90 years, and thats after having the most successful 7-8 years in their history.