Do Pitch Invasions Help? Newcastle Fans Could Provide the Answer

When was the last great pitch invasion? Go on, jog your memory. Hurts doesn't it.

At one time, it was part of our national heritage, every other week muddy pitches being inundated with delirious fans. Who can forget the balmy scenes of drunk Scots rampaging at Wembley, collapsing the sacred crossbar as they sat there in glory.

Where are such heroes now? The rise of the prawn sandwich brigade sees everyone stay in their shell. Not only is fun at a lowpoint - no standing, no cigarettes, no rattles - but so is direct protest.

And if any team was in need of direct protest, it is Newcastle United.

How come these renowned madmen of the North are doing nothing? What has happened to the anti-authoritarianism, the border grit that marked Geordies out as born rebels?

Once famed for their fist-fighting, the locals now lie inert as Mike Ashley's Rotters Club grinds the club into dust and the teams survival hopes with it.

Yes, a well-organized boycott of Ashley's Sports Direct chain did force him to quit...But oh, wait there—he didn't. In fact, his position is stronger than ever, with an executive cabal of cronies, and a manager who needs the money too much to protest.

Instead, the fighting has started between the fans, spreading to clashes with other supporters (recently at Blackburn). Now the players are at it, Carroll and N'zogbia called in by Smokin' Joe for a pow-wow just last week

'What is to be done?' asked Lenin. But surely the problems of Tsarist Russia pale in comparison to the epic battle of Ashley versus the Toon Army, War and Peas. (The sequel is already in the works, War and Pies.)

One reason for inaction is another regional trait: everybody having an opinion. Ten Geordies, 10 arguments. Nobody can agree on what to do

Popular commentator Ed Harrison had a gentle swipe at equally popular fanzine The Mag’s editor Mark Jensen for being pessimistic in his dire assessment of the situation in the local press. Newcastle United Supporters Club spokesman, Michael Orr, was recently criticized for his alleged U-turn on Ashley by another supporters’ site, Newcastle Mad.

Forgive the comparison but this is the closest they've resembled Barcelona in years...Sadly the self-destructive Barcelona of the Spanish Civil War, as Castro Ashley runs them into the ground.

Some advocate appeasement, patience and support; others simply ask for answers. All are justifiably displeased, but nobody is seemingly doing a thing.

While widely respect for their efforts, one thing is for sure—the leaders of the fans need to unite and focus their energy on the common enemy, which isn’t so much Ashley himself, more the chaotic mess he has created.

A plan of action is required as Ashley has proved he's either not capable or is too disillusioned, hurt, busy, indifferent to act.

So, would a pitch invasion help?

Luckily we got to to speak to Derek Trotter of Pitchinvasion.com and he had this to say:

‘It's complicated. Each club has different factors to consider. Usually, it brings massive media attention to key issues, and unwanted publicity to the owners.’

‘But in Newcastle's case, the fact that they’re already the laughing stock of the Premiership, and  both Ashley and Llambias seeming so indifferent, it renders those aims meaningless.’

Trotter, a veteran of scores of invasions from Rio to Redhill goes on: ‘Given the adverse international publicity that it is a chaotic club, we would advise against it. It may players encourage players to leave; or conversely, not want to join the club’.

‘There are legal issues too. The team may also be fined, or even docked points. Fans may be prosecuted unless there are too many to do so’, adds Trotter.

‘Saying that, one musn’t discount the damage it could do to Ashley’s reputation as a businessman. His image would be hurt globally, that he’s not as astute as once thought. Investors and clients may start to have second doubts on his acumen. I mean the Keegan affair, then the appointment of Llambias shows serious lapses in judgement.’

So there may be potential benefits to a mass demo on the turf? Trotter says: ‘You never know. Perhaps it would be the final straw to get him to sell up cheap, write it off as experience and knowing your limits.'

'That would allow new owners with vision and determination to come in and reinvigorate the club. I think most people agree that this season is going down to the wire at both ends, so there is still time for new owners to make their mark.’

‘If that fails, the sheer relief of tension and frustration it provides alone could at least make fans satisfied: “OK we've made our point, we've let off some steam, let's get behind the team and stay up'."

On a more general level, he muses that: ‘Direct action in an era of passivity can be a powerful thing and could scare Ashley and some of the players into caring more. ’

‘So’, Trotter summarizes, ‘essentially the heart says, “Yes”; the head, “No”. It's a tough call.’

Some may argue it just a matter of time. The recession is biting, it is freezing, Given seems to be leaving, Owen maybe next. People may just snap en masse. Tattooed hooligans were publicly crying when Newcastle lost the league, just imagine what they’ll do if the team exits the league. Seriously.

A pitch invasion may indeed be the last act of desperation, but just in case, Mike: better order some new crossbars. Better still, order some new players.