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GEORDIE BACKLASH 30-8-07
Jeff Winter
It is always my policy to reply to every email personally, but such was the volume of emails following my column 'Geordie Timelords' that I decided to post another column.
Firstly may I say that it certainly provoked a response that does not surprise me knowing the passion of football fans, Newcastle fans in particular.
Please let me dispel a myth that could become as widespread as the one that suggested I was behind the infamous postponement a few years ago of a Boro v Toon derby. On that occasion I passed the pitch fit, but the safety officers put the game off because of the approaches to the ground being dangerous.
This time my reference to 'Geordie dickheads' and 'Newcastle Brown Ale addled fans' was obviously a reference to only those who participated in the chanting and was not, as some of you unbelievably thought, meant to refer to the entire Geordie population.
As you would expect Boro fans were generally in favour of the article and Newcastle most certainly not. But putting aside any team bias that all fans have I will try and explain my point of view and give a generalisation of your replies.
Firstly many chose to reply by using foul and abusive language, with obvious reference to me being fat, orange etc. Waste of an email really as personal insults are not really what all this is about. Some chose to make reference to the fact that I was a crap referee. Well you are entitled to that opinion.
There was the one fan, and I am quite happy to post his email address, who hopes that I get cancer. Now we are getting to the real root of the problem. It was probably he and others like him who brought the slur on the good name of the vast majority of loyal Newcastle fans.
To those of you who feel that this has been blown out of all proportion, you are probably right, but it did happen. My comments were made not against Newcastle United per se but would have been made against any team's supporters.
Some describe it as banter also quoting many instances when Boro fans have not been whiter than white and I cannot argue this point. As to whether it was banter or not then I think that the overriding consensus of opinion amongst true supporters was that it was wrong and they do not and will not condone it.
Let's be honest - true fan banter is a big part of the game. It is part of every day life that we rib each other in the north-east about our teams. I have scores of friends and colleagues who support both Newcastle and Sunderland and the crack is sometimes more important than the games themselves.
If you have ever read any of my articles or my interviews you will know that as well as being an avid Boro fan I am also fiercely patriotic about the region and genuinely want our sides to do well. The truth is that local bragging rights are usually all we have to go on about.
Maybe and hopefully this incident will draw a line for the more unsavoury comments, although regrettably I think not. The next time a group of fans start a chant that is unacceptable to you then perhaps a few of you around you could start the stadium shuddering roar of 'Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle' or any of your many other songs. That would shut the idiots up.
The fact that this article has produced the quantity of replies as I said earlier has given me hope that out there, the majority will make their voices heard.
Specifically, my comments may be conceived as that of a former Premiership referee, but they are the comments of someone who now works in the media industry. I loved refereeing at SJP and despite the 'Fat Smoggie Bastard' which was usually aimed at me, I was always fair. In fact my honesty got me into as many problems then as it seems to be doing now. I gave what I saw and now I say what I think.
You may not agree but I am as entitled to an opinion as you are. In reflecting on your many opinions, unlike some of you I can see past the insults. Having an opinion does not entitle me to receive so many suggestions that I go back to kiddie fiddling like everyone else on Teesside. Now that is tarring everybody with the same brush.
The tardis gags were my attempt at humour or banter, not meant in bad taste, but a sideways swipe at our local rivals in a manner that happens everyday in the workplace.
My article was probably as emotive as some of your replies so for that we are all guilty. My problem is that like you I am a fan and sometimes our sense and reason goes out of the window. We see life through rose coloured spectacles or in the case of Newcastle fans, black and white ones.
To the true decent thousands of Geordie faithful I do not detract from the sentiments of my original article but hope that you now see it in perhaps a slightly different light.
So there you are, I am still orange and overweight but who isn't? I may or may not have been a crap referee, but do I really deserve to die of cancer?
If you have a point to make and I know most of you do then I will always respond. Maybe I will learn something from your comments which will enable me to take a more balanced view in future articles.
Enjoy your football, keep the faith and one day we might all really have something to get excited about.
Jeff Winter
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