Newcastle born Mark Clattenburg has left the Premier League and he was introduced by press conference today in his new position as the new head of referees at the Saudi Arabian FA.
There had been some rumors he could take up that position a few weeks ago after he had established himself as the top referee in England and had refereed some big matches in the last two or three seasons.
Newcastle fan m Mark Clattenburg was born in Consett, County Durham in 1975 and started his refereeing in the Northern League in 1993.
Mark Clattenburg – Newcastle referee
He progressed through to the Football Conference and the Football League in 199 and then the Premier League in 2004.
As he introduced himself today the Newcastle fans said that Newcastle were the best team in England.
His press conference was streamed live from Periscope and this is what Mark said to introduce himself:
“I would just like to start by introducing myself. My name is Mark Clattenburg and I’m from a city called Newcastle.
“For anybody that knows England well, we have the best team in England, but it is in the North of England.”
“This is an important move forward. We have professional referees in the country that I am leaving which has been a big positive.
“One thing I’d like to do is work with the refereeing team and the president to make this happen so that it will be successful for many, many years to come.”
Last year Mark Clattenburg was the referee for Champ[ions league, FA Cup and was also part of the Euro 2016 finals.
Comments welcome.
86 comments so far
Munster Mag
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:09 PM
Comment #41Ed, I just read about your PSA count. I’m really sorry to hear this but you know you have all your NUFC brothers cheering you on. You will nail this again.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:12 PM
Comment #42Moanster,
Who’s saying you hate him, you obviously don’t rate him though. He’s a defence minded manager with a glittering array of trophies that backs up his philosophy, once we’ve got a League cup under our belt and a new owner we can maybe start moaning about the manner in which we became top scorers with the best defence.
Ian Toon
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:15 PM
Comment #43Average- What a shallow fellow you are. Have I missed the fact that there is a retirement and your applying for the job ?
Anyway self – worth is more behavioural than emotional, more about how we see ourselves than how we feel about ourselves in comparison to others. It recognises the need to appreciate the many and varied qualities and skills others possess. A football blog as a medium is ideal in this respect. It also can highlight the need to avoid succumbing to being jealous of others and instead to invest time, energy and effort into nurturing ones own maintenance and development. In a wider context than a football blog when self-value is high, we automatically value others.
SPRINGY
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:15 PM
Comment #44sorry to hear the news ed,but fight on mate…. u kicked its arse once… u’ll do it again….just know we are all wishing u and your family well….and you especially healthy.
welshgeordie9
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:18 PM
Comment #45Mitrovic out
Austin in
welshgeordie9
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:24 PM
Comment #46Ed
I’m sure you will fight it, my dad who 3 weeks ago was very close to dying after his organs was shutting down, had sepsis in hospital on top of that he’s got stomach cancer and prostrate cancer his is up to about 8 i think, he’s in his seventies, mentally strong bugger, you will get through it.
check the toastie
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:25 PM
Comment #47moanster makes a fair point, Rafa does generally dish out some overly defensive tactics at times. The result of which are us sitting top of the league.
Not sure its time for compliant mind, get a grip and enjoy the structured winning football dude.
we are the leagues top scorers and play some good stuff at times.
Ian Toon
Feb 16, 2017 at 8:31 PM
Comment #48Belfast – The Fulham v. Spurs game on Sunday should provide a good test of Tom Cairney’s talent ; though only if Spurs are better than they were against Gent.
Jib
Feb 16, 2017 at 9:09 PM
Comment #49I relate this only to show that the media really do not have a clue what happens in the windows.
Hoffenheim’s 27 year old Bosnian CB Ermin Bicakcic has revealed in todays Bild that Rafa Benitez tried to buy him last summer.
Of course we subsequently bought Clark and Hanley – but has anyone heard of this guy linked with NUFC before ?
WWSBRD
Feb 16, 2017 at 9:17 PM
Comment #50Jeffery
Yep
Average_Contents
Feb 16, 2017 at 9:24 PM
Comment #51Pushy/sack/carl/Carl/Ian/whoever the fcuk else.
Take your sanctimonious spew elsewhere.
Knobend.
jimmysmith
Feb 16, 2017 at 9:26 PM
Comment #52Our and Villa’s contrasting fortunes goes to show that despite at times being a woeful owner, Ashley can in fact be very good for Newcastle. His concept of running the club lean is probably the only way we can realistically give the senior sides in England the blood nose on the way to the odd trophy that most fans would see as genuine success.
It has missed the vital component of real and rational expertise. But now we have Rafa, and if he can show Ashley that he can run the club well, then there is little to suggest that the profits won’t be ploughed back in as just Benitez would want, and that we can finally become the successful self sufficient club that Ashley has so often given lip service to in the past but never realised.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:19 PM
Comment #53Jimmy,
Have you been smoking again!
firebug666
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:23 PM
Comment #54Ed our thoughts are with you, you beat this once and you will do it again. I have no doubt that the Geordie nation are fully supporting you through this traumatic time.
Get well soon marra, hope to hear the good news soon.
Tsunki
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:30 PM
Comment #55Jimmy, timing is not your thing. Far too soon to reinvent Fat Michael. Let’s get promoted first, then think about floating that one down the Tyne
Tsunki
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:31 PM
Comment #56Ian, not fancying taking carl out for a spin this fine evening? Polish the hub caps and strap the old hamper on the back? 😀
jimmysmith
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:31 PM
Comment #57Hahaha! Yeah, that’s me working hard to find my bright side. But I do believe it’s on the cards. Rafa’s good, and the only thing Ashley has ever taken out of the club is his free advertising, as far as I know.
jimmysmith
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:32 PM
Comment #58too, apologies.
jimmysmith
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:36 PM
Comment #59“to”, apologies again. Deary me.
Australian Pie
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:40 PM
Comment #60Top of the league, best attack, best defense. Yet still on every article on the blog people constantly aren’t happy. Pull your heads in and try to enjoy something for the first time.
Mitrovic – our second best striker in 7 starts has 4 goals and 3 assists, yet because he doesn’t score a goal a game and gets a bit hot headed we should sell him at the next possible chance because he is 22 and isn’t as good as Wayne Rooney when he was 22.
Negative muppets.
WWSBRD
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:50 PM
Comment #61Australian Pie
U are aware people can enjoy NUFC and still not be happy with everything? Its quite common actually
Australian Pie
Feb 16, 2017 at 10:59 PM
Comment #62Several bloggers I have not seen say a single positive word about the season or as Rotonda put it they throw in a back handed compliment. Misery misery misery.
I’m proud of my team and manager, if they have a shit game not a problem, they are consistently rocking it.
welshgeordie9
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:07 PM
Comment #6362Australian Pie
Totally agree, you tell them.
WWSBRD
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:33 PM
Comment #64Australian Pie
Well that’s different to criticising players mate. Am critical of Mitro but that doesn’t mean am negative or not enjoying the season
Tsunki
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:42 PM
Comment #65Australian pie – no no no mate get with the program. Rafa is overrated and a tactical disaster. And our defence need reshaping with unused stalwarts. Don’t let the fact we are top of the league with a massive gd fool you, it’s not real!
Tsunki
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:44 PM
Comment #66Welshie – the little kid egging on the bully.
JamesToon
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:47 PM
Comment #67I absolutely love our football at times, when we’re in full flow, we press, we play fluid football, play from the back, work the ball and carve the opposition open. And I also love that we can adapt to different opponents and aren’t one dimensional, we can dig deep sit back and hold a lead and see a game out, we’re capable of being absolutely solid defensively, something we haven’t had in years, we are organised and play as a unit. Remember under McCardew there was no organisation whatsoever, no identity, no gameplan
I’m absolutely loving life under rafa and long may it continue. Yes he’s not indefendible, but what the best thing is is that I feel I can trust him to fix problems, to alter our game plan if something isn’t working etc. I haven’t felt that trust in a manager in years since hughton
JamesToon
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:49 PM
Comment #68Rafa is a winner and has won so much because he isn’t one dimensional, he’s willing to adapt, and that’s arguably why he’s a better manager than the likes of guardiola. He will find a way to win no matter what, yes he’d rather play good football but he wants to keep a balance and is willing to adapt and change in order to win a game
Mister Tuff
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:51 PM
Comment #69Ian Toon (master multiple) usually I cannot accuse you of talking a load of shyte as you normally plagiarise other folks material and present it as your own.
However, your earlier effort is clearly a load of pompous hooey – it’s a bloody football blog not a psychological outlet for you to try and be clever.
You are not an intellectual – now getting back to reality – what about the price of those bananas using your inside ASDA info.
JamesToon
Feb 16, 2017 at 11:55 PM
Comment #70A weakness of Rafa is that he can be overly pragmatic at times or his teams can be too “drilled to the system” not allowing for any expressiveness or creativity. However I’d rather have that than a manager like Martinez who don’t know how to organise defences and just want to score the perfect goal instead of winning whatever way suits the game.
Oldgit1
Feb 17, 2017 at 12:04 AM
Comment #71I’m really sorry Ed to read your latest health update. I’m sure you will beat this. My bestest wishes to you and your family.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Feb 17, 2017 at 12:12 AM
Comment #72sorry about your health update. as someone who is suffering from prostrate cancer as well and as you have had the 6 months all clear also know it must have come as a shock . hope your further treatment goes well i really appreciate the work you do for the blog.
toonincheek
Feb 17, 2017 at 12:36 AM
Comment #73Ed – Really sorry to hear the latest on your health after
a good clear run.
So – the fight continues and I know we all wish the
very best for you.
expatmag
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:56 AM
Comment #74Ed…..good luck with your latest round of treatment. We are sure you will best it again.
Mister Tuff
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:59 AM
Comment #75Ed, Keep fighting good luck in your future treatments.
Mister Tuff
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:07 AM
Comment #76Off topic.
Saw the FIFA bloke Infantino on the news saying he had no concerns about football violence in Russia when they host the World Cup.
By coincidence, the was a programme on BBC2 about Russian football violence. Basically reporter going to Russia and meeting some of their hooligans.
These guys practice fighting do MMA/boxing and some of them are massive.
Left in no doubt that if any English fans go to Russia they will get beaten up -no doubt about it.
If England go to Russia so will some fans – they will get duffed up. Think England should withdraw as they are putting or will put their fans in jeopardy.
jimmysmith
Feb 17, 2017 at 3:04 AM
Comment #77Keep on truckin’ Ed, and thank you for this excellent place.
jimmysmith
Feb 17, 2017 at 4:03 AM
Comment #78Mitro is far from irrelevant. Gayle got the shirt when Mitro was suspended, and so we learned to play to Gayle’s particular strengths. Mitro and Murphy have been playing in Gayle’s recent absence and we have been winning. Rafa now has a decision to make.
nut meg
Feb 17, 2017 at 5:09 AM
Comment #79Sorry to hear your bad news Ed.I hope your next round of treatment brings a much better result.Good luck and best wishes.
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 17, 2017 at 5:33 AM
Comment #80All the best with your next round of treatment Ed.
In regards to the Toon lets hope MA backs Rafa in the summer and all of the recent press stories are false.
What a mess it would be if Rafa walked away because of false promises.