An hour before the game last night Newcastle United announced they had agreed a two-year deal with Virgin Money to become the club’s new shirt sponsor.
Virgin Money logo on display last night – Demba Ba seen after scoring first goal
Looks like Shola is trying to tear of the new logo!
That supersedes the Northern Rock deal, which was worth only around £2.5M a year over four years, but the new two year deal is thought to be worth up to £20M in total.
Virgin Money had only recently bought Northern Rock and they decided to continue the deal that had been struck, for another two years but under new financial terms negotiated with Newcastle.
Newcastle have been seeking out a brand that would take on both the shirt and stadium name sponsorship rights, but it is thought that Virgin is not in talks with Newcastle to secure the naming rights to the famous St. James Park Stadium.
With negotiations only just being completed on Tuesday night, when Virgin finally met Newcastle’s financial demands, there was then a race on to get Virgin Money on the team’s shirt Wednesday’s night game against Manchester United, which was broadcast around the world.
Steven Taylor shows off the new logo yesterday
Indeed, Virgin were forced to use stick-on logos on the players’ shirts for last night’s game, due to th severe time constraints, but they still looked very good.
And no doubt Virgin Money would have received great publicity during last night’s game and today’s follow-on vast press coverage of Newcastle’s wonderful 3-0 win.
Virgin have also offered the first 10,000 Newcastle supporters, who bring in their old shirts to the club shop, a free replacement logo to cover the old Northern Rock one.
That’s a good move by Virgin Money and certainly the terms of the deal, if they are correct at £20M over two years, are simply excellent for Newcastle United.
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
ilovetoon8788
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Comment #1We look so much more better without Obertan running down the right and losing the ball. Outstanding performance by all. Makes me wonder, why can’t the team perform like this on a more consistent basis?
And Tiote and Cabaye midfield combination is outstanding. They broke up so much of united’s passes with extremely high work rate. One of the best midfield pairing in Europe.
And Demba Ba.. Nothing more to add about him which others haven’t. Just give him the number 9. I’ve never seen a striker since Shearer who is so deadly in and OUT of the box. His goal, was of such marvelous techni
Toon Tang
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #2Is anyone else sponsored by virgin ??
Rosted Pork
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #3any1 from.india wana watch the match again . watch on espn at 9pm 🙂
Graeme
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Comment #4Wonder where the money is destined?? A Striker? A class CB?
Or maybe more plumbing, free transfer fees etc??
With a couple of good signings, added to a performance like last night and this team could qualify for Europe, simple as that!!
Just pray that MA can see what could be and back Pardeau to achieve it.
Rosted Pork
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Comment #5toon tang i guess no
WWJBD
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Comment #6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokzVtnP_lM
Rosted Pork
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Comment #7a real scum
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/01/05/exclusive-nicklas-bendtner-held-over-brawl-72703-30065108/
sirtoongospel
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Comment #8Anyone notice that Pardew stated last night that he had his best available team out (Steven Taylor aside) ???
Very interesting that Raylor played instead of Obertan. No pace there but he at least moves the ball quickly.
shola was getting slated here yesterday before i went to the game, but i thought he was cracking. When him and Demba play close together like that it is very effective, and a great run by Shola to pull Ferdinand away which led to the foul for Cabaye’s goal.
Fair play to Pardew on team selection.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #9Where can you get this syrup then? maybe they put it in the water bottles last night? Demba is a funny guy.
roshan MAGPIE
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #10I AM FROM INDIA
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #11sirtoon – plus sho’s head on for Ba’s goal…..
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #12Thought Webb was good for Man U last night although he faded a bit when the booing subsided.
martoon
Jan 5, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #13There seems to be large discrepancies in the value of the deal – this mornings radio was reporting it as £3m a year – which seems more likely as the old deal was £2.5m a year so I think £20m for 2 years is just ridiculous.
NUFC_DOWNUNDER
Jan 5, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #14Imagine last nights team with a quality left back and santon on the right… Sisohko maybe.. Imagine someone like hoilett or dembele in place of Taylor.. That’s a team challenging for Europe…
Colo needs to get resigned… And quick
Solaidback
Jan 5, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #15I’ve got a sneeky feelinig that if it is indeed £20m over 2 years, then it’s for the naming rights also but as the new deal doesn’t actually start until the summer, then the namiing rights will remain the same until the summer, when it will be announced that the stadium will change to Virgin Money Arena imo.. 🙂
As for Ashley to accept only a 500k increase for a shirt deal, I don’t think he’s that stupid, not as well as give away 10,000 free shirts, get real!!!
blip
Jan 5, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #16martoon, the previous deal was also negotiated when we were in the Championship. Gotta think the PL is worth more than £500,000pa…
toonashwin
Jan 5, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #17i m from india too
chris_g
Jan 5, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Comment #18Solaidback – Ashley isn’t giving away 10,000 free shirts. Virgin are giving away 10,000 new logos for people to stick on their old shirts.
Rowan Milsted
Jan 5, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #19So, this is just the shirt sponsor, not the stadium naming rights? Hmm. I wonder why. Well, it’s good that we have a more beneficial deal now anyway, and what an advert for Virgin last night! It still makes me laugh though… Virgin Money… like money that has never been sullied by being spent… like the Andy Carroll money then!
martoon
Jan 5, 2012 at 12:38 PM
Comment #20Blip – I take your point but there wasn’t exactly a large queue of potential sponsors – hence keeping the price down. If the stadium naming rights are included then I could well believe£20m but according to reports it is so far just Shirt Sponsor.
RobertLeeNo.7
Jan 5, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Comment #21@NUFC_DOWNUNDER what are you talking about 2imagine a decent left back last night with santon on the right” Simpson was solid last night there was a couple times man utd tried to thread balls through the area and simpson was perfectly positioned and read the game well to cut them out!!! oh and lets not forget his goal line clearance which was again great positioning!! Lay off Simpson his positional play this season has been spot on. No wonder he won’t sign a new deal with morons like you that don’t know a thing about football slating him,.
Premiership Manager
Jan 5, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Comment #22The performance last night was outstanding and although he contributed to the goal I thought Shola was slow cumbersome and way off the pace, unlike Ba who ran all over the place and tracked back when required.
Best looked good when he came on and hopefully he’ll get a good chance during the AN while Ba is away.
Simpson has been solid all season and people should give credit where credit is due. Taylor was better than I imagined on the right and it’s crosses like the ones he put in that can make or break a game.
Unfortunately both Jonas and Obertan can’t cross for toffee and it’s about time Jonas was given a spell at LB with Santon infront of him playing LM. He looked class last night and IMO he’ll only get better.
It’ll be interesting to see how we play without Ba and Tiote however Guthrie is a good player so all we need is somebody who can score goals. If we have to rely on Shola we’ll be in trouble.