Voting With My Feet

About a year ago, I twice published articles in both "Toon Talk" and the Percy Main programme about the seeming death agonies of NUST; you can find them at http://payaso-del-mierda.blogspot.com/2010/09/feathering-nust.html and http://payaso-del-mierda.blogspot.com/2010/10/flying-nust.html I must admit not to having given that organisation a serious moment's thought in the intervening year, until I received an email asking me to renew my membership, claiming they've been working underground to make strides for supporters. If they have, the pace of change makes The Fabians look like the Angry Brigade.

I brushed aside the irony of it arriving the day we played Blackburn at home and swept them away with contemptuous ease, which was the third anniversary of NU$C's leaflet demanding Ashley Out and a mythical Geordie billionaire in place to do exactly what an elite band of super supporters told him, on a day we lost weakly and woefully to, you've guessed it, Blackburn. Instead, I ignored the £10 for a keyring era and thought back barely 2 years to the launch of the "Yes we Can Campaign" and NUST's belief in Fan Ownership; heady days that seem a lifetime away, but persuaded me to join and throw my hate in to the ring for election to the committee. Let's read what I had to say to the other 1,470 members of NUST eligible to vote.

“I am 45 and have been a Newcastle United supporter for the past 37 years, attending my first game on New Year’s Day 1973 when we drew 2-2 with Leicester City. I have written continuously for Newcastle United fanzines since 1990, when I first started writing for The Mag until the present time, as I contribute to players inc. I was a season ticket holder from 1989, when we were last relegated, until 2009, when I simply unwilling to expend any more emotions on Newcastle United. It wasn’t the relegation, as I could handle that minor inconvenience; it was the air of gloom and despondency that permeated our whole club. At the end of last season, I felt as if I’d watched my last game at St. James’ Park. How wrong I was!

Eight and a half months on from relegation, I am as enthusiastic about the potential of our club as I have ever been. While we may or may not get promoted this year, the absolutely key thing about 2009/2010 has been the announcement of the Yes We Can campaign of NUST, which has re-ignited my passion for Newcastle United, simply by stating that this club should belong to we supporters.

Yes We Can offers a clear, logical vision for the future of Newcastle United, not just for this season or next, but for the following 120 years of history. This club already morally belongs to its fans that are the people who are the rightful trustees of the future of Newcastle United; we aren’t the ones who let down the shirt or sought to make money out of the club. Yet we are the ones who have suffered; Yes We Can offers the only sure fire way to ensure such mismanagement does not happen again. If elected to the board of NUST, I guarantee I will support the right of all fans to have a say in the ownership and running of our club.

I am a lifelong Trade Unionist and a Socialist. I believe passionately in workers’ rights; when it comes to Newcastle United, this means I believe in fan ownership. However I am also a realist about how this dream can be achieved; pragmatically, there is nothing to be gained from unnecessary confrontation or aggressive posturing. The problem with a philosophy based on non-cooperation is that all it seeks to do is get the current regime out, without thinking about what happens after that. NUST sees the need for a long-term strategy, which is the whole ethos of Yes We Can. We need to work with the current owners to find a resolution to the problems of the club and we also need to get onside with potential investors. This is cooperation, not collaboration and it does not compromise the philosophy of fan ownership enshrined in Yes We Can.

If elected, I would seek to unite all fans, whether ultra or casual supporter, in supporting Newcastle United and NUST. Never forget, NUFC belongs to us!”

So, did these words sway the electorate? Not really. I came second last, so at least there was one person less attractive to the general punter than myself. Sadly 18 months on, those still on the committee have done nothing of note to advance the causes of Newcastle United, fan ownership or NUST one iota. Hence my decision not to throw good money after bad by renewing. Anyway here are the results -:

NUST Election Results 2010

Candidate	Total votes received	Result
Paul Brown-King	208	elected
Lisa Bullivant	272	elected
Derek Cooper	139	not elected
Bill Corcoran	200	elected
Ian Cusack	105	not elected
Steve Hastie	196	elected
Mark Jensen	285	elected
Tom Lynch	60	not elected
Michael Mannion	137	not elected
Neil Mitchell	213	elected
Malcolm Shiels	145	not elected
Tony Stephenson	256	elected
Chris Tuck	155	elected
Norman Watson	169	elected
Peter Whitfield	126	not elected
Colin Whittle	281	elected

Candidate	Total Votes	Result
Mark Jensen	285	elected
Colin Whittle	281	elected
Lisa Bullivant	272	elected
Tony Stephenson	256	elected
Neil Mitchell	213	elected
Paul Brown-King	208	elected
Bill Corcoran	200	elected
Steve Hastie	196	elected
Norman Watson	169	elected
Chris Tuck	155	elected
Malcolm Shiels	145	not elected
Derek Cooper	139	not elected
Michael Mannion	137	not elected
Peter Whitfield	126	not elected
Ian Cusack	105	not elected
Tom Lynch	60	not elected

It's instructive to note that 3 of the successful & 3 of the unsuccessful candidates have abandoned NUST and are now part of NUFC Fans United. Incidentally, just in case you were wondering,  I won't be renewing my NUST membership...