Newcastle United has just announced plans to commemorate the lives of its two supporters John Alder and Liam Sweeney, who were tragically killed on flight MH17 on 17th July, when the two lads were on their way to support Newcastle United in New Zealand.
John Alder and Liam Sweeney
This is what the club has just put out on their web-site:
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The Club, in close co-operation with John and Liam’s families, have identified the first home game of the new season against Manchester City on Sunday, 17th August in which to pay formal tribute to the two men.
Captains Fabricio Coloccini and Vincent Kompany will lay wreaths at the centre circle before kick-off, accompanied by representatives from John and Liam’s families as well as Jimmy Montgomery on behalf of Sunderland AFC, whose supporters’ magnificent fundraising efforts Newcastle United wishes to recognise publicly. A minute’s silence will then be observed once both teams have entered the field.
Speaking of the Club’s plans, Managing Director Lee Charnley said:
“Our thoughts and our primary concern since the tragic events of 17th July have been focused on supporting the families of John and Liam in any way we can, and paying tribute to the two men in an appropriate and respectful way to reflect the sorrow felt not just from our supporters, staff, management and players but from the football community as a whole.¨
“We have received so many messages of condolence from across the football family and the compassion expressed by supporters of all allegiances has been very touching. We all understand that our supporters travel significant distances and make many sacrifices to support their respective teams, and the fact John and Liam lost their lives in the course of traveling across the world to support their team is something felt by everyone.¨
“What has been particularly heartening has been the tremendous support shown by the staff and supporters of Sunderland. I would like to pay particular thanks and respect to Gary Ferguson whose incredible fundraising efforts have to date raised £33,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Marie Curie Hospice in Newcastle, at the request of both families.¨
“Whilst the will to win and competitive tension between our two clubs will of course remain, I am sure the actions of Gary and the many other Sunderland supporters who donated to this fantastic fundraising effort, together with Sunderland AFC who have also been in constant contact with messages of support, has created a new level of respect between our supporters which I am sure will be reflected when the teams meet in the future.¨
“The North East is an amazing place and the sentiments and actions since this tragedy have shown that in times of difficulty the region comes together as one – black and white or red and white.¨
“In addition to the tributes to be paid against Manchester City it was very important for us not just to remember Liam and John at our opening game, but in the years to come, to reflect their dedication and support for the club. To this end we will also be creating The Alder Sweeney Memorial Garden which will be a lasting memorial to both men and will become the focal point for all supporters to remember those who are sadly no longer with us.¨
“The Club has also created The Alder Sweeney Community Award in their memory. This annual award will recognise the efforts of an individual or organisation in the North East that has made an outstanding contribution in their community, often, but not exclusively, through their participation in Newcastle United Foundation projects and initiatives.”
The Alder Sweeney Memorial Garden will be situated outside the main entrance to the Milburn Stand. This garden will be officially unveiled in a ceremony, on a date and time to be announced, but prior to the Club’s home fixture against Crystal Palace.
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Those are great words from Lee Charnley, and this is a fitting tribute to John and Liam who were killed as they were travelling to support their beloved Newcastle United.
RIP John and Liam- we will never forget you.
206 comments so far
check the toastie
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:06 PM
Comment #81Hope Siem De Jongs injury isn’t too bad, he will be so important to the way we play, he is going to give Pardew his ready made excuse when we get spanked off City.
One player makes pardews teams. Ala Cabaye.
check the toastie
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:08 PM
Comment #82Full team for Sociedad tonight, reserve team verse us, full team Chelsea two days later, if we are outplayed by Real Sociedads reserves we are in big trouble.
Wonder if Nobber gets his team ‘on the front foot’ on Sunday. Very Unlikely.
welshgeordie9
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:10 PM
Comment #83We are not a one man team
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:14 PM
Comment #84More likely on the back heel
…so how come it’s so quite in here tonight? Where is GT to light up the mood 🙂
Well cafetiere coffee it is. See you guys later
check the toastie
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:19 PM
Comment #85welshgeordie – missing the point. I know we shouldn’t be, but Parsnip will churn out the excuse if De Jong isn’t ready.
lesh
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:26 PM
Comment #86I’ll echo the words of many and pay tribute to all of those who’ve given much thought to supporting and sharing their grief with the families of those two loyal lads.
The powers that be at Newcastle United have also acted in a manner which exudes class and as Owner and MD, Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley must take credit for responding i such a thoughtful manner.
beermonkey
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:42 PM
Comment #87check the toastie
pards has no excuses
we have started most preseason games we have stated 4231
all he has to do is move cabella into the middle with riviere and goofy wide behind chucky
he cant have an excuse there
deeps
Aug 7, 2014 at 8:53 PM
Comment #88Laccazette just scored for Lyon !!
Toonfan8
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:24 PM
Comment #89bring Lacazette, van Dijk and we are really set up for great season…young hungry team with plenty of potential
Laurent Robert 32
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:31 PM
Comment #90” he cant have an excuse there”
Beer, if he can blame science, grass length and being too hyped, you’ll be surprised to find what blame diversion gems he’ll release next once the players’ new club experience wears off.
check the toastie
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:36 PM
Comment #91Pardew – no excuses, its a good one that. Almost slightly funny. 🙁
Jail for Ashley
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:37 PM
Comment #92Just reading an article in the Mag that claims the club aren’t even benefitting from the sales shirts anymore,possibly another reason our revenues are dropping, not taking money out, my ar$e.
welshgeordie9
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:39 PM
Comment #93Has anyone noticed what’s on the newcastle blog where the pre season fixtures are, apparently we have won the game this Sunday coming 9-0
Ha ha ha
beermonkey
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:39 PM
Comment #94check the toastie
I know what you mean but he really is running out on the as attacking front he could use the shit ageing defence we have as an excuse
I am sure he has a few up his sleeve or should I say on his pad
welshgeordie9
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:42 PM
Comment #95Date Opposition Location KO time
Tues 15 July Oldham Boundary Park, Oldham
Lost 2-1 7:30 pm
Tues 22 July Sydney FC Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand
Won 4-0 7:30 pm
Sat 26 July Wellingtom Phoenix Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Won 1-0 4:30 pm
Wed 30 July Sheffield Wednesday Hillsborough, Sheffield
Won 1-0 7:45 pm
Sat Aug 2 Malaga CF Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Lost 3-1 3:30 pm
Sun Aug 3 Schalke 04 Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Won 3-1 5:30 pm
Tues Aug 5 Huddersfield John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
Drew 2-2 7:45 pm
Sun Aug 10 Real Sociedad St. James’ Park, Newcastle
Won 9-0 1:30 pm
beermonkey
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:47 PM
Comment #96welsh
you saw it here first its a sign go put a heap of cash on it
Sliema
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:50 PM
Comment #97Do the mackems even have one play good enough to be in our XI?
Pretty sorry state of affairs for that club, terrible squad.
Now if only we could figure out a way to beat them.
Sliema
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:51 PM
Comment #98player*
Sliema
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:52 PM
Comment #99I honestly wouldn’t take a single player they have.
How do they keep thrashing us 3-0?
BuckLuck
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:53 PM
Comment #100Sliema
To beat the mackems we need a new manager.
JamesToon
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:06 PM
Comment #101Sliema, when we lost 3-0 to their di canio team, the players were tired, we had benfica mid week so they had more preparation time, and we had more possession and chances in that game. However di canio had a better game plan
When we lost 2-1, i have to be fair to percy, we played some very attractive football that game and probably were the better team after 30mins, they won it through a wonder strike.
And the last 3-0 we deserved to lose, we played so poor but our catalyst was sold with no replacement and our main goalscorer in remy injured, so you can’t really blame pardew for that, but you can blame him for the long ball tactics up to shola
stopper
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:06 PM
Comment #102Can anyone identify which of our current squad which has just been released fall into the 8 required “home grown” players that have to be includes in the registered squad of 25.
I ask this because some of the players that people would like sold such as RTaylor and STaylor may well have to be kept because we need them in order for them to be include in the “home grown” player numbers.
JamesToon
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:07 PM
Comment #103But Gus Poyet is a better manager than pardew, much more tactically nous. So i am still worried for the derby, but maybe over their transfer affairs he could leave…
Ciaran
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:07 PM
Comment #104Ian on one of his undercover crusades again? It would appear that his real life is so unfulfilled that he seeks validation – however false it may be – from strangers on a football blog. His comments are nothing more than guess work, deductions and speculation disguised as fact in order to convey to others that he is informed, when in fact he is no more clued in than any of the rest of us.
Let’s not feed the delusions of a clearly disturbed individual.
JamesToon
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:08 PM
Comment #105stopper
it isn’t 8 homegrown players its 8 english players. homegrown players only count in europa and champions league which require 4
Ciaran
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:15 PM
Comment #106Anyway, from my reading of people’s comments, it is apparent that many of us are of the feeling that we’re a CB and CF short of being ready for the new season.
My reading of our squad is that regardless how good SDJ and Cabella are, or how exciting a prospect Aarons is, it’s immaterial given how suspect our defending still appears to be. There just seems to be no coherence in our defending, Colo lacks pace, M’biwa’s positioning and reading of the game looks poor, especially at RB, Willo and Saylor are average at best.
check the toastie
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:15 PM
Comment #107James Toon ? been brainwashed by Percy maybe? , tired for a derby game, come off it man. didn’t even play a full team against Benfica which boiled my piss.
He played Shola that sunderland game who was his normal disgrace, the dye was cast as soon as they were throwing the ball to fullbacks ala last year and all we did was boot the ball long, Pathetic.
Nothing will change this year.
Don’t regurgitate Pardews insipid bullshit please. Never tell your players there tired its stupid to the extreme, which Percy most certainly is. Thick as the shittiest shit.
stopper
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:21 PM
Comment #108@jamestoon
I looked at the Barclays Premier league web site and found this :-
The Home Grown player rule took effect at the start of the 2010/11 season and involves all Premier League Clubs.
All 20 Clubs must include eight Home Grown players out of a squad of 25 for that Premier League season.
A Home Grown player will be defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).
Clubs are able to supplement their squads with unlimited additional players under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences.
Changes to the squad list of 25 may be made during the period of a transfer window. So Clubs must declare their 25 at the end of August when the window shuts and then again at the end of January.
I could be wrong but this seems to say that the squad has to have 8 home grown players in the squad of 25. If that is the case who out of all the NUFC squad named today fall into this group?.
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:28 PM
Comment #109Krul Elliot Willo Saylor Dummet Ferguson Colback Sammi Vuckic.
Vuckic Krul qualify as HG by being at Newcastle for at least 3 years before they turned 21
DJM TOON
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:29 PM
Comment #110dpending on who is announced in the 25 man squad stopper
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:30 PM
Comment #111And Forgot Raylor
beermonkey
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:34 PM
Comment #112stopper
cant you get round the home grown thing by using under 21s
not sure
dazza
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:34 PM
Comment #113We should be going after Rabiot from PSG. Available for 10M. We should of demanded him as part of cabaye deal but he was crocked. He would be perfect for us.
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:34 PM
Comment #114Apparently you are allowed to name an underage player as part of the 8 even though they would be eligible to play anyway
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:35 PM
Comment #115you must have read my mind Beermonkey
Average_Contents
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:37 PM
Comment #116Anyone else know if the club’s ever done/arranged an open day under fatty? I can’t remember one myself but funnily enough I read a few days ago an article in the chronicle I think where they said shalke 04 arranged one whilst they hosted the tournament (on the last day I think) and it would be a good idea for NUFC or any prem club to do the same as it might go a long way in repairing some of the damage and mistrust that currently exists between the supporter’s and the club
The club have announced they will be holding an open day where supporters can watch the first team train at SJP and loads of fun things for kids to do….this to me is a step in the right direction, a small step but a step none the less and maybe they are starting to realise that after treating the lifeblood of the club with contempt and disdain that maybe this wasn’t the best course of action
Baby steps people and I for one (being one of the most staunch anti-ashley,anti dictatorship supporters) find this quite admirable and coupled with the fact the way the club acted with regards to Liam and John maybe the worm has finally turned
Here’s hoping anyway
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:38 PM
Comment #117AC they have an open training session at SJP every year, I think it is on Friday
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:39 PM
Comment #118http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20140807/united-confirm-stadium-open-day-schedule_2281670_4058881?
beermonkey
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:40 PM
Comment #119tequilamag
great minds and all of that
tequilamag
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:40 PM
Comment #120Next Tuesday