When you look at St. James’ Park when the home games are being televised on TV around the world the stadium looks tremendous – it’s the best thing that Freddie Shepherd ever did pushing the plans through and getting the stadium modernized.
We were hoping by now when we started this blog over eight years ago – principally for those away from home base around the world like ourselves – that we would have the capacity up to 60,000 by now – but things haven’t gone well on the playing side of things.
St. James’ Park – that’s some pitch!
The pitch that the Newcastle groundsman get ready for every home game is really good and one of the best in England – so not enough credit goes to the Newcastle ground staff.
It’s just a pity our players playing aren’t as good at that they do then our groundsmen.
Groundsman Andrew Tully has been talking on the Newcastle web-site and he says the field will be fantastic for next Sunday’s game against Norwich:
“It’s good, considering everything we expected from the rugby.” “At the end of the day it’s a football pitch – not a rugby one – and we are in the process of a quick turnaround to get it ready for football again at the weekend.”
“The pitch hasn’t gone anywhere – it’s still there. You’ve got the rugby markings and a bit of damage from the games, which is what we knew would happen and we will tend to throughout the week.”
“We worked pretty late through the double-header weekend – that was always going to be the case. Two games in two days of any sport is a lot for a pitch to take. It’s just general wear in high-traffic areas that we really have to tend to.”
“By Sunday it will be looking fantastic.” “It’s best that we were going on during the games, instead of rugby players stamping on divots, putting them back in upside down or anything like that.”
“We were going on, tending to them properly and putting them back in the right way up, so they had more of a chance to recover.”
We expect the pitch to be great for Sunday’s game.
We just hope our team is as good as the pitch against Norwich City.
Comments welcome.
49 comments so far
toon kk
Oct 12, 2015 at 3:48 PM
Comment #1On thing about SJP it certainly looked much better for the rugby, with all those tacky SD advertising boards down.
Munster Mag
Oct 12, 2015 at 4:08 PM
Comment #2Agree Toon KK, the difference was very evident. And Ireland hammered France – way hey ! ( Different venue but am still sooo happy! )
lesh
Oct 12, 2015 at 4:44 PM
Comment #3Toon
Indeed the park did look better. It’s a pity that Ashley won’t sell most of the space used by SD and its subsidiaries and get some real money into the Club!
Mister Tuff
Oct 12, 2015 at 4:44 PM
Comment #4Jib Jibberish (the blog pest and part-time multiple).
I meant to take you to task the other day about you scoffing at and deriding the expression “the Cathedral on the Hill” – a reference to St. James Park. You also suggested this phrase was coined by George Caulkin – no it wasn’t.
Firstly SJP was built on a small hill which was part of the Town Moor – the club history cites this.
Secondly Sir Bobby Robson used the phrase to refer to SJP long before George Caulkin did – yet you deride the phrase.
You clearly do not know the history of the city and the club -which I suppose is expected.
There is a Metro station at SJP -why don’t you visit and check out the area.
Your nearest Metro Station will be South Hylton or Pallion.
lesh
Oct 12, 2015 at 4:45 PM
Comment #5Gawd, the Blog’s quiet this afternoon.
It must be siesta time!
hibbit
Oct 12, 2015 at 4:55 PM
Comment #6lesh ………..most have just had enough of the troll from pennwell and his rubbish……….jeff/jane/jib…..mackem WUM
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:03 PM
Comment #7Munster
Was that song the Irish were rocking the Millenium Stadium with , the fields of athenry ?
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:12 PM
Comment #8Tuffty
“Sir Bobby Robson used the phrase to refer to SJP ”
No he didn’t
He talked about climbing up the steps clutching his Dad’s hand is all .
He was quite reticent about the number of time he visited SJP as a kid.
Mister Tuff
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:17 PM
Comment #9Jibberish – I’m not refering to the words in SBR’s “what is a football club”.
It is well reported SBR would use the phrase to refer to SJP.
Mister Tuff
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:26 PM
Comment #10I note you did not deny that your nearest Metro stations were South Hylton and Pallion.
(note to fans who do not live in the North East, South Hylton and Pallion are the nearest Metro stations serving the local area of Pennywell in Sunderland. I rest my case).
Mr Tubbs……………………………….OOT
Pennywell Jib…………………………..OOT
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:26 PM
Comment #11“Steve McClaren … has not got the players at Newcastle.”
“He has got some poor ones and it does not look like they have helped him much in the summer with the ones they signed.”
Yes Harry, that’s what we’ve been saying from the start. The knackers who got us in this mess have been entrusted to get us out. You couldn’t make it up. One thing Ashley got right. The buck stops with him.
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:35 PM
Comment #12JIBBER JABBER
Don’t tell me the googlemeister couldn’t find this from an article in 2012 …
“The icing on the cake though was that Wonga had listened to what the fans wanted and had foregone any of their right to have a “Wonga Stadium” or a “Wonga Arena” and decided to restore the name of St James’ Park to the ground which Sir Bobby Robson affectionately called “The Cathedral On The Hill”.
Mag52
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:35 PM
Comment #13Munster.
Ireland could win this thing.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:40 PM
Comment #14Oh No!!
It’s between us and Crystal Palace for Ranocchia’s signature !!!!!
http://www.inter-news.it/calciomercato/ranocchia-niente-milan-nel-futuro-ce-la-premier/
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:42 PM
Comment #15You just got to laugh at some on here.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:42 PM
Comment #16If there are any real gamblers on here.
Argentina for the RWC could be a cracking outsider bet.
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:47 PM
Comment #17JIBBER JABBER
I take it, having not responded, you now accept that Tuff is right. But you are not going to admit it.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:54 PM
Comment #18Blackley
He probably did use it but George Caulkin coined it .
http://europeanfootballweekends.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/george-caulkin-times.html
In this blog he talks about being SBR’s ghost writer for his autobiog and before that for many years the Bobby Robson column in the Times .
SBR probs picked the phrase up then.
By the way I derided no one for using it , I merely said I’ve never heard a regular everyday paying fan use it.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 5:55 PM
Comment #19Sorry for my slow typing Mr Blackley sir.
And Mr Tuff is thick as mince and NEVER right.
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 6:00 PM
Comment #20Jib
What’s the latest odds on Wales.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 6:09 PM
Comment #21http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 6:10 PM
Comment #22Looks like 35/1
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 6:38 PM
Comment #23Jib
Just curious that’s all, mind you the way way we played against the Aussies, if you can’t score a try when the opposition have got two players in the sin bin then you deserve to lose.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 6:45 PM
Comment #24Welshie
Ireland are 11/1
The Scots 150/1 !!!!
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 6:55 PM
Comment #25That’s pretty good odds on Ireland.
lesh
Oct 12, 2015 at 7:26 PM
Comment #26Jib
If Pardew’s in for Ranoccia we might as well forget him.
They’re currently in a near ECL position and we are, well….. And Pardew’ll no doubt call on his knowledge of the Club’s ambition.
So, unless we’re out of the relegation spots by Christmas, we might as well forget any decent signings.
Oh what joys
lesh
Oct 12, 2015 at 7:31 PM
Comment #27Hobbit
You’re cruel, a hard man. Have some sympathy for Jeff/ Jane/ Jib, it’s not his fault. The medics are doing all they can but…… some conditions are beyond hope.
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 7:35 PM
Comment #28lesh
Nice to see you are in a good mood this evening.
Tsunki
Oct 12, 2015 at 7:47 PM
Comment #29I I think egg chasers are infesting the footy blog again. Yaaawwwwnnnn.
http://www.nufc.com/html/webcam.html Views of a cathedral. Circa 2009
Mister Tuff
Oct 12, 2015 at 7:52 PM
Comment #30Mr Blackley – thanks you for your assistance in trying to expose the current misinformation from Jib Jibberish, previous known as Jeff from Bennywell (correct spelling Benwell). This South Hylton Scally, this Pallion Ponce, this Johnny come lately rugby player knows nowt about the club or it’s history.
Next we’ll have the fool from the valleys and Norman Bates the psycho coming on to support him.
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 7:59 PM
Comment #31Do you ever take a day off from moaning.
The Newcastle Armchair
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:03 PM
Comment #32Noticed after all the accusations, Jib still hasn’t denied being from South Hylton.
Jibba jabba the Millfield Mackem!!!
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:05 PM
Comment #33Tsunki
You are a cretin , circa 2009 you put , yet the timestamps on the pics are 2000 , a bit of a technoprat are you ?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:06 PM
Comment #34Well it looks like the George and Lennie show has killed the blog again, oh what fun it must be to see their plans in fruition !
Tsunki,
Didn’t you know Niall and Biffa weren’t real Toon fans.
jane
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:08 PM
Comment #35hibbit and lesh are multiples
Jail for Ashley
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:09 PM
Comment #36Page last updated 24 June, 2009
You’ll find that at the bottom of the page you cretin !
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:11 PM
Comment #37Jail for Ashley
How did you work that out then Sherlock, stop using me and jib as scapegoats, for all you know they are not on here because they could be fed of people like you and tuff moaning all the time, especially you banging on about Ashley all the time.
welshgeordie9
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:12 PM
Comment #38Easy to blame people jail.
Tsunki
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:15 PM
Comment #39Oh dear Wile E. That box of cannonballs has upturned at the top of the stairs better start running!
And this was 2004. Read slowly.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2386623/Hayward-on-Monday-Court-of-St-James-ruled-by-errant-king.html.
But the popular term is mostly attributed to SBR. Despite your attempts to deflect.
And easy on the insults to intelligence jeff, you’re in shark infested water.
Jib
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:23 PM
Comment #40Jane do you reckon ?
Do you see similarities in style or what ?