Magpie Group.

[Geordie1974]

If they did start going bankrupt, could he use club money to prop them up ?

Having thought he couldn't as he doesn't own Sh1te Direct.He seems to a have it all worked out.These fake loans seem to be a clever idea.
Whenever he needs cash he can just say he has paid them back out of the club accounts.Seems he has done this to buy House of Fraser.
So if his main love is ever in trouble he can just do the same.

[Geordie1974]

8th October 2018


The Magpie Group Newsletter #4

Welcome to the fourth Magpie Group newsletter, which comes after another very busy week for us...


Second Public Meeting
Our second public meeting on Wednesday evening saw hundreds of passionate Newcastle United supporters pack out the Newcastle Labour Club to listen to Chi Onwurah MP, Ian Mearns MP, and Kevin Miles of the Football Supporters’ Federation speak brilliantly about the wider campaign against Mike Ashley and Sports Direct.

Those in attendance were also given the chance to put their own questions and suggestions forward. Everybody spoke impressively, and some of the most well-received ideas included further investigating of the legality Ashley’s purchase of the land around Strawberry Place, speaking to the Freemen of the city about the rent paid by Newcastle United to play on the St. James’ Park pitch, moving protests to a national level, and boycotting of a televised match later in the season.

Local reporters and camera crews from both the BBC and ITV were on-hand to cover the event and record interviews with members of The Magpie Group. Other representatives of the written press (both local and national) were present too, with Mark Douglas from The Evening Chronicle live blogging the event online here.

All-in-all the night built upon the success of our first meeting back in September, with the guest speakers adding a unique perspective and the collective weight of their experience to our cause. Many thanks to all who came, and especially to those who took the microphone or offered their services to us at the close of the meeting.

If you were unable to attend the meeting but would like to catch up on everything that was said, you can listen to a full audio recording of the night here.


Options for Action
We also encourage all of you who weren’t present at Wednesday evening’s public meeting to complete the online version of a poll card that was placed on the tables at the Labour Club.

We would love to know what your most and least preferred methods of action against Mike Ashley and Sports Direct would be moving forward, with this list of 11 options taken from suggestions we received at our first public meeting in September.

You can complete the poll here, but don’t forget to include your name and email address at the end so we can match your answers with your newsletter subscription.

The more responses we get, the more representative any future action will be, so please take a few minutes to get involved.


Rialto Protest
Towards the end of the public meeting on Wednesday night, word spread around the Labour Club that Mike Ashley was in Ponteland for the “morale-building” meal he had requested with Rafa Benitez, the coaching staff, and the playing squad.

Sensing an opportunity, those members of The Magpie Group in attendance who hadn’t been taking advantage of the cheap pints on offer filled their cars with willing volunteers and made the short drive northwest to Rialto restaurant on Main Street.

Upon arrival, it was clear that the press had been tipped off about the event in advance, with a number of journalists and photographers already present. A photo opportunity at the front of the restaurant was gladly taken before attention turned to making sure Ashley was well aware of our presence outside.

What followed was a short period of anti-Ashley chanting, before the Group took up a position between the front and back exits of the restaurant to watch out for his departure. The entire playing squad drifted out - some even expressing support or sympathy for our cause - before Rafa and the coaching staff headed home, leaving Ashley inside with Barnes, Bishop, Charnley, and a number of private security.

After long deliberation from the security guards, Ashley’s car was brought to the front of the restaurant as a squadron of Northumbria Police vehicles arrived to help escort him from door-to-door amidst a loud chant of “where’s the money gone?” from protestors. He then appeared to stick his fingers up as he departed, although he has since vehemently denied this…

Ultimately this was a spur of the moment small-scale protest, undertaken because the chance to turn Ashley and Bishop’s shameless attempt at garnering positive press into potential negative press was too good to turn down. None of the players or coaching staff looked upset with us or complained about our presence, and Northumbria Police seemed entirely happy with our conduct as well.

Our belief is that wherever Mike Ashley goes, peaceful protest should follow.


Second Sports Direct @ St. James’ Park Protest
Last Saturday afternoon seems a long time ago now, but ahead of the desperate defeat to Leicester we held a repeat of our last protest outside the St. James’ Park branch of Sports Direct; although this one was bigger, louder, and eventually a lot angrier.

With Kevin Keegan due in town to promote his new book, we took the opportunity to commission a special KK flag with “HONESTY” emblazoned on it, and this was hung alongside the Rafa “HOPE” flag from the concourse of the Gallowgate End. Not for long, though, as club stewards quickly moved in to take down both, much to the fury of the hundreds of supporters amassed below on Strawberry Place.

The Leicester game also marked the first appearance of Mike Ashley at St. James’ Park since May 2017, in what appears to be a new PR strategy brought to you by the geniuses at Keith Bishop Associates. Yes, that’s right, those clever people who said this would all “blow over by September”. You can make your own mind up, but the timing of this resurfacing seems incredibly coincidental to us…

Things are clearly getting to him, so we have to keep the pressure on whether it’s a match day or not.

Thanks for your continued support,

The Magpie Group

Our truth is stronger than their lies. If you love United, stand united.