Minimal

On the ball

There’s a good reason why nufc.com is widely considered the best Newcastle United website, independent or otherwise. The quality of its reporting is worthy of any national newspaper. Take, for instance, their report of the recent defeat to Inter Milan. In a few perfect sentences, they manage to put into words what 50000 people (and more) have been feeling for months:

There’s a trait that is probably common amongst football fans but seems to have a particular resonance at St.James’ Park, and it’s probably best called righteous indignation.

Yes, goals can be scored and handsome victories recorded, to a background of general happiness but it’s only when something goes wrong and there’s collective sense of grievance over a perceived injustice that the crowd really shift into gear and genuine backing from the stands emerges.

Dodgy goals, dismissals, whatever. If we see our heroes getting shabbily treated it’s a great motivating factor to get behind them. Folks who barely raise a mutter suddenly become filled with anger, while others get swept along with the heightened emotion.

Songs sweep round the ground, chants spring up out of nowhere and there’s a sense that the supporters are trying to push the team bodily upfield to get back at the “enemy”. We’re not talking pigs heads and empty whisky bottles here though, just pure intense support. Bloody marvellous.

To be able to connect with your readership in this way isn’t easy, even if you do share the same emotions. Nufc.com, however, seem to have mastered it. Essential reading for any Mag. :)