It’s now exactly five years since I started the Newcastle United Blog back on Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 with three initial articles.
Alan Pardew – Newcastle’s latest and very successful manager
You can check any and all of the articles in the archives, but at that time Glenn Roeder was the Newcastle manager and Freddy Shepherd was the Chairman.
But since then, Newcastle have had 7 managers in those five years – Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce, Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer, Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew, and the last two managers have been the star men – that’s for sure.
Mike Ashley bought the club a short two months after we started, and we’ve been relegated, promoted with a massive 102 points in our first season down below, and are now 4th place in the Premier League table, and restoring some of that Geordie pride back to Newcastle United.
To say it’s been a rocky ride for Newcastle over those five years is still a massive understatement however.
But with Newcastle’s great win yesterday against Stoke City 3-0, we are now as high up in the Premier League table, since the great Bobby Robson was manager of the club back in 2003.
Here are juts a few facts and figures about the blog:
- There have been 15,184 articles published – that ‘s an average of just over eight every single day – including weekends
- There have been 756,897 comments posted – an average of around 50 comments per article
- We have had 63M hits – which is over 1M a month over the five years time-frame
- We know of at least six Newcastle Blogs started by some of our former readers since we started out – are they trying to tell us something? 😀
- The blog was shut down for a couple of months from November 2009 through January of the next year, when I did some consulting work for Accenture
My goal is to continue with the blog just as long as my health permits me to – and thanks for all your support over the last five years.
95 comments so far
AmericanMagpie
Apr 22, 2012 at 2:30 AM
Comment #41This is the only source I use for Newcastle news. Thanks Ed.
mattyNUFC
Apr 22, 2012 at 2:34 AM
Comment #42been a few months since i last commented, been working up in alaska but i’ve been with you since the inception of the blog, Ed. Long may you and it continue. I think i speak for everyone when i say your effort is very much appreciated.
on another note, finally caught a full match after not having an opportunity since the tottenham debacle. I pretty much garnered that up until the past few games we were still playing pretty crap football but i was blown away today. that’s the team i believe we can be when we’re really focused. Words don’t explain how i excited i am that we’ve not only been playing a 433 but that it’s working and is bringing out the best in all of the front six.
was guthrie injured today or is perch well and truly ahead of him in the pecking order. i don’t mind perch, think he’s done well since the turn of the year, but guthrie for me is still the superior player
now, for the summer, please a new RB (not aly cissokho for LB moving santon to RB. been watching him, well, was watching him this season since our purported interest and he looks like an absolute donkey) and we’ll be laughing all the way to an easy top 6 finish next year. anything/anyone else will just be solidification
still can’t believe our recent charge. keep it up for the last four, boys! HTL
gonufc (up and Hatem)
Apr 22, 2012 at 2:44 AM
Comment #43Thanks very much for this blog- it really is the best place to talk about the club.
Long may it continue!
prashanth
Apr 22, 2012 at 2:46 AM
Comment #44have been following th team for the past 6 years and this blog for the last year and a half… it is second nature to check this blog as with my email although i seldom post… You are doing a stellar job Ed, hope your health and the team surge upwards in the coming years
aa9
Apr 22, 2012 at 2:55 AM
Comment #45Ed- been reading since the beginning but this is my first comment. Fully appreciate this blog and everything you have done over the last 5 years. As a fan in the US this blog has helped me follow NUFC through thick and thin, thank you so much for all of the articles.
cupiddstunt
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:05 AM
Comment #46A massive thanks for the effort Ed if Carlsberg did blogs they would they would probably give up after reading this one, absolutely immense bit of work Ed immense. Keep fighting the fight, more often positive mental attitudes bring success.
mattyNUFC @ # 40
More often it is not “superior player” that is needed but the “right player” that is needed and at this moment in time Perchinio does just what is needed of him when he is on the park.
Give me the right player every time.
ilovetoon8788
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:11 AM
Comment #47ED for bringing so many newcastle fans across the globe to discuss and support our team.
Your a Magpies Legend as well.
jakesome
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:22 AM
Comment #48dont thank us ed your doing the club a service
p.s this is my fav blog
jakesome
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:23 AM
Comment #49matty bad time not to be able to watch the games we’ve been entertaining again!!!!
Martin33
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:36 AM
Comment #50ED, I read the blog everyday no matter where I am, china, England and even my vocation in Dominican republic, I keep encourage my friends to read this blog…and all I wanna say here now is best wishes for your health and keep the faith. Our black & white blood never give in.
Fan from China:):)
liamHWTT
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:41 AM
Comment #51congrats, Ed. i’ve been on here almost the whole time even though i may have only posted a small handful or two.
as a quick aside. for me what was great about ben arfa’s class move (other than the class move for the cross!) on the left setting up the first goal was that if cabaye hadn’t headed it home ben arfa had come in and was right there to slot it home. even after being way on the left on the cross. he’s really working his @r$e off these last 6-8 matches!
ROSHAN MAGPIE
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:43 AM
Comment #52ed you are fantastic
CAToon
Apr 22, 2012 at 3:58 AM
Comment #53Congrats Ed. You created a fantastic product. May you be writing for many more years.
Dyer8
Apr 22, 2012 at 4:03 AM
Comment #54Thank you 🙂
BringBackTav
Apr 22, 2012 at 4:36 AM
Comment #55Ed-Thank you as always for all the commentary and views on the club. We all appreciate it on a daily basis. Best of luck for your improving health.
lukes26
Apr 22, 2012 at 4:47 AM
Comment #56Congrats Ed! You’ve created a great community for Newcastle fans. Most of the opinions of these fans would baffle and exacerbate a reasonable man….. however… I enjoy it all nonetheless.Well done sir
Ben_BKK
Apr 22, 2012 at 4:53 AM
Comment #57Happy 5th birthday to the blog, Ed! Hope you’re still writing it for many years to come, all the best and hope you’re doing alright over on that side of the pond.
nufcsg
Apr 22, 2012 at 5:13 AM
Comment #58Fantastic job, Ed! I’m from Singapore and read your blog everyday! Thanks for your commitment and wishing you good health! HWTL!
Roscarelli
Apr 22, 2012 at 5:34 AM
Comment #59Good work Ed and thanks for the interesting reading you give all of us each day. Looking forward to more posts in the coming years!
JakartaDean
Apr 22, 2012 at 6:32 AM
Comment #60Not much new to add from me, Ed. Thanks for all your hard work over the last five years. As you say the team has had ups and downs over that time, but I recall the blog had too — a few rather juvenile posters ruining it for everyone. I’m happy to see you handled that with class and the blog has a much better feel about it these days. Great job.
Dean
Klatoon
Apr 22, 2012 at 6:41 AM
Comment #61This blog is the only place i get to interact with fellow Newcastle fans, dont know what I’d do without it.
Great work Ed !
Sambo from belgium
Apr 22, 2012 at 6:47 AM
Comment #62I also have been here from the early days… although I don’t post many comments… I enjoy reading the articles and the debates around it. Keep it up Ed. You sure are one geordie legend
BigKirky
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:18 AM
Comment #63Great stuff Ed! You do a great job in putting up so many articles each day. I read ’em all everyday. Hope your health is improving too.
shamsoftabriz
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:26 AM
Comment #64Thank you Ed! For those of us in the USA and other places thousands of miles away from England, it’s wonderful to have a forum like this that taps us into the community. You’ve done an incredible service for supporters everywhere.
Tjodalf
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:29 AM
Comment #65Happy fifth anniversary, Ed.
I really love the blog. I’ve been a reader for 5 years, and check the blog many times a day, and I have this RSS-service too.
I remember the period when the blog was down, even then I was a daily reader as I wanted to check if it was back up!
I love that when for some reason uou can’t blog for some time, your son steps in and keeps the articles coming.
I also admire that when I send you an e-mail about rumors or just anything really, I receive an answer shortly after !
Keep up the good work, as we enter the most exiting transfer summer in a long time! 😉 much love from Norway!
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:45 AM
Comment #66Congratulations Ed anh hapoy anniversary this us the ONLY place i bother checking for the nufc news!
Also a great place just to have banter with other toon fans there arent many down south so its good to keep in touch with me geordie roots! Keep up the good work Ed and keep getting stronger mate
dcro1
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:50 AM
Comment #67Thanks Ed. Very rarely post but long time reader. You’ve got all my best wishes and hopes for your health, Brilliant stuff. Love direct from the toon to you
SBR4EVA
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:52 AM
Comment #68Thanks for all your hard work Ed…
You have provided an invaluable service for international Toon fans everywhere with your many many many many many (zzzzzzzz) – articles!
Good luck to you and my sincerest best wishes for the future.
Thanks Ed.
Andy from Seaton Burn.
Gateshead-Mag
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:13 AM
Comment #69heres hoping for another 5!!!
great blog always up to date with all news nufc, n best place to see other fans view and opinions.
Davey in Whickham/Gateshead
Badfrandsen
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Comment #70Hi Ed
To begin with, I want to say congratulations on the 5 years.
I have been involved almost from the start, and I feel like so many others that I’ve had the best seat in town to follow our beloved Newcastle.
The 5 year has been a roller Coster ride, but it has always been like that, and that’s probably it that attracted me at Newcastle back then, when I became a fan.
Because being a fan of Newcastle is nearly equal to clean passion. There is always the emotion and passion of all the fans and of a entire city!
I cried when Damien Duff scored that own goal back in 2009 in Aston Villa, and i felt proud when the players took round of honor around the field to thank the visiting fans.
I can also remember how odd it was that Newcastle had to play in the Championship, but we moved the straight up again with an incredible 102 points!
And the Newcastle-ride continues even to this day! Who could in their wildeste imagination have imaged that we would be in the 4th spot, and in a pole position to get into CL.
I would also like to thank you Ed, for when I was in Afghanistan, it was almost a ritual for me to visit this site before I and my platoon was out on patrol. I know it sounds very corny, but for some strange reason, it calmed me down.
Since the message as you had prostate cancer came out, so I have daily thought of you and hoping that you would get better!
“In this world you may only be human, but to one person you can mean a world of difference.”
with regards
BarcelonaMag
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:25 AM
Comment #71Yeah, I echo everybody else’s sentiments. I’m on here every single day. It’s part of my life. Thanks a million, Ed.
BigKirky
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:28 AM
Comment #72Great goal by Hoilett. If he would accept our wage structure he’d be a great addition, although he’d want to be playing each week. As will some of the other bigger names we sign in the summer.
Hopefully Pardew will keep everyone in the bigger squad next season realising that everyone will have to be utilised at different times to accommodate the extra games, therefore to understand that not everyone will be playing ‘each week’ so to speak.
Pardew seems a great management student of of the game and I love that because he will continue to learn and improve, both tactically and as a man manager. Keep reading those books Al!
toonwardo
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Comment #73FANTASTIC blog Ed. My number one NUFC site.
Hopefully it will continue for a looong looong time!
bills-son
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Comment #74Well done Ed.
geoff777
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Comment #75Congratulations Ed.
Having done a daily blog myself for a few years I know how it becomes both an obsession and an ordeal.
I hope your health is improving after your therapy.
MrToon
Apr 22, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Comment #76Five great years ed. I wish i knew about it back then. Only been on for a year and a half, but it is now the first website I visit for the toon news and talk.
Looking forward to many more years of your blog and much more banter with the followers.
HOWAY ED.
murvar
Apr 22, 2012 at 9:04 AM
Comment #77Great work and a fine service for all of us – thank you Ed. Your commitment is plain for all to see.
Marty-Toon
Apr 22, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Comment #78Congrats Ed,
You’re a star man.
Praying for your health and hope you feel well and strong
sirtoongospel
Apr 22, 2012 at 9:18 AM
Comment #79Congratulations and a warm thank you from me Ed. I am as pleased for you as anyone that our beloved Mags are giving us something to cheer about, Reporting good news is always better eh??? Keep it going, it’s appreciated by loads of us.
OLDGEORDIE
Apr 22, 2012 at 9:19 AM
Comment #80Been a TOON supporter since 1949, Jackie, Mitch, Big Frank the lot. Dont post much but always lurk. Tks Ed for great blog and hoping you have speedy recovery. I had “big C’ 8 years ago and now fully recovered. Thinking of you