The news that Wonga will invest in the community and give at least £1.5M to the Newcastle Youth Academy was well received by manager Alan Pardew, and of course bringing youngsters through at the club is a very important part of the overall strategy at Newcastle United these days.
Shane Ferguson – has looked very good in last three games
Alan Pardew is in charge of all things on the playing side of the club, and the good thing is that both Derek Llambias and Mike Ashley leave him to it, and Alan oversees everything – including the Youth Academy, the Reserves side (U21s these days) and the scouting organization too – led by the very impressive and talented Graham Carr.
What would we do without Graham?
And it’s clear that Alan is in the best job he’s ever had (or ever will have probably) and if only he could pronounce Newcastle correctly – he could be on his way to becoming a Geordie. 😀
Pardew talked about the Academy and cited Shane Ferguson as one good example of where it has worked out really well:
“Shane Ferguson has proven there is a route.” “When we came up against the biggest team this year so far he got a game. That shows to our Under-10s, who have a game on Sunday, that they have a route.
“You have to have competition, we have to show we have the right coaches and that £1.5m will help with that. It will also help the facilities we have here, because we want three of four more Fergies. We don’t want one. We want Sammy Ameobi, Tavs – James Tavernier, Jak Alnwick maybe them all to come through and then more beneath them.”
“The timing of the opening of the FA’s national center at Burton-on-Trent is ironic, really. That £1.5M will improve our facilities too. It is not easy, trust me, to get money for the Academy and the Wonga deal will help make sure that happens.”
It’s good that Wonga seem to want to get involved in the community and help Newcastle at different levels within the club.
Now if they would only improve those business practices of theirs.
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16 comments so far
Peter Beardsley
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Comment #1@Toon_Army
“What your basically saying is that people in the North East are not intelligent enough to make their own decisions”
^^If that were true then I would be insulting each and every one of my family. What I am saying is that The north-east has the highest personal bankruptcy rate in the country, this is a fact not opinion. Also the north of England is economically poorer than the south. So when people are poor they CAN become desperate, and desperate people can do desperate things to feed their family and pay rent etc.. The stress of needing to make ends meet day-in-day-out can be torture, so when someone like Wonga offers you temporary relievement it can be very tempting. Just look up some of the effects of cronic stress. Wonga profits off peoples suffering and adds to the problem. I will not buy anything with that logo on it.
Peter Beardsley
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Comment #2@tarie4
“My word, are U serious??? So all Blackpool fans condone wonga’s practices?”
Well they’re not condemning them are they!!
The company logo represents the company and its practices. by wearing it you are advertising and promoting the company, this is why football shirts have sponsorship.
Toon_Army
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Comment #3@Peter
Your saying that it is better to let your family starve than the alternative?
I believe the diversity of each individuals situation warrants their own independent response.
blissna
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #4When we all wore the shirt with the brown ale logo we must have been supporting alcohol abuse. Lighten up.
kingkilkline
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #5Time to move on. Deal is done. We can all stick to our own beliefs and decide whether or not we support the deal or buy a shirt with Wonga on it.
Let get back to football. We have a crucial game after the break. Fingers crossed we have colo tayls and krul back!
Who thinks pards will stick with cisse and Ba?
Toon_Army
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #6I just hope Pardew now has some “Wonga” to sort our our defense.
Oh, a tricky attacking midfielder would me nice also “Santa”!!!
tarie4
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #7Peter Beardsley
They are supporting their team!!!! That’s what fans do. We buy the shirt to support the team. I hope U understand that.
jawballsaswallwell
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #8Peter Beardsley your posts on this subject are excellent. Newcastle fans should at least understand the nature of the business that is sponsoring their team.
toon smart
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #9Personally, i think that vast majority of companies partake in dubious activities whether that be part of their operation eg sweatshops or in the way they order their financial activities eg offshoring profit.
Therefore, i would imagine it is quite easy to criticise any sponsorship that has been made in the premiership.
In the case of Wonga, because their practices are so obviously unethical it is easy to crtiscise them. Other companies (sponsors) just hide their unethical practices.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #10Hello again, you really can’t afford to do anything else this time of day when Ed is at work….got left in the dust there. Luckily, a lot of re-posting on the threads since.
Okay then, my re-post (to conform to blog etiquette of course)…
Sorry, tried to change the conversation and then left….how rude 🙂 It was only a joke given the coverage the subject gets on the blog. However, I do like Simpson as a RB, not fantastic, but nowhere near as bad as some portray.
Right, next discussion.
Might have to Wonga for a minute or two – what’s this about the press and warning Muslims not to wear the shirt? Is this from “credible” reports or just general press wind up stuff? Is it gathering any real momentum? Not wanting to jump in to politics and religion, but, I would have thought, with my shall we say limited knowledge on the subject, that devout Muslim (to the extreme scale) would have issues playing in a league with such a gross westernised mentality and spending methods?
Peter Beardsley
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #11@tarie4
“We buy the shirt to support the team”
You can buy many NUFC shirts without the Wonga logo, here’s one example from the team shop:
https://shop.nufc.co.uk/cgi-bin/live/ecommerce.pl?site=theclubshop_nufc&state=item&dept_id=15&sub_dept_id=10&product_id=300636
oldbobaycliffe
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #12what has become apparent with this deal with wonga is the hatred the southern press has against us especially the mail this problem is proved by no fuss made at blackpool or hearts but i wonder if any muslims are employed by the media as both papers and sky carry adverts for not only wonga but all other lenders so this means they are contributing to their wages.i do feel that the mail has carried this hatred to new levels and should be reported
Munster Mag
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #13Tarie, you can support the team without buying a Wonga shirt. If I wear the older shirt I have, or one of the Toffs ones copied from the 50’s , am I not supporting the team? I wouldnt mind getting a new shirt for Christmas, but think I will get the Virgin one.
Markaccus
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #14Ffs. They are are a payday, short-term loan company. You’re not meant to borrow for more than a few weeks. If their rates were not so high, they wouldn’t make a profit (which is the whole point) it does state in the small print that it is NOT a long term solution (although I think it should be a bit clearer). Its meant for borrowing 50 quid for the shopping and petrol a week or so before pay day, not 2 grand for a used car. The only thing I’d say Wonga were taking advantage of is peoples ignorance and lack of financial awareness. I do agree that they should HELP people rather than let them make the mistake. Other than that I have no problem with them.
tarie4
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #15Munster Mag //
I think U mis-read my post, I said if someone buys the Newcastle shirt with wonga on it, they are not condoning wonga, they are doing so to support the team, this does not mean pple with old shirts are not supporting the team mate does it. To me they are, but some supporters as U might be well aware always want the latest toon top (like me)
Toon_Army
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #16🙂 Can’t wait to get my hands on a “Wonga” Shirt 🙂