The Mag
·12 de março de 2025
Newcastle United owners continuing to do right thing by local non-league clubs

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Yahoo sportsThe Mag
·12 de março de 2025
Good to see the Newcastle United owners continuing to do the right thing by local non-league clubs.
Tuesday night seeing the NUFC Under 21s in action away at Heaton Stannington FC in the semi-final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
Not a great night on the pitch for a young Newcastle United Under 21 team missing a number of regular players.
Heaton Stannington deservedly taking a first half lead and then adding two more goals after the break.
A sending off for NUFC midfielder Scott Bailey didn’t help at 1-0 down but the home side were worthy winners regardless.
Newcastle United have also made headlines for their off the pitch actions though, a more positive update on what happened last night…
Heaton Stannington FC official statement via Twitter – 12 March 2025:
‘A huge thank you to Newcastle United for supporting last night’s fixture by providing stewarding and medical cover.
Newcastle United have also donated their share of the gate receipts back to us.
This gesture is hugely appreciated and will be of huge help to us.’
Last night’s match saw 1,652 paying customers.
So a nice bonus for Heaton Stan not having to share the profits from the game, thanks to the Newcastle United owners doing the right thing.
Now some of you no doubt are thinking, well what is that kind of money to a professional club with rich owners surely they all do that?
Not quite.
As we have reported previously (see below), a certain other local club with very rich owners, has still taken their share of the cash from struggling local non-league sides…
The Mag report – 24 November 2022:
Back in December 2021, we brought you news of the very different way that the Newcastle United owners and Sunderland owners were looking after local non-league clubs.
Eleven months ago (see below), Ashington AFC thanking Newcastle United owners for their generosity.
Whilst Crook Town (also see below) were not quite so thankful to the Sunderland owners…
Ashington AFC losing to the NUFC Under 23s but expressing their gratitude that the visitors donated their share of the gate receipts to the hosts.
Meanwhile, Crook Town beat Sunderland Under 23s BUT received a bill for £710.50 from the (alleged) billionaire (part!) owner of Sunderland.
Fast forward to last night, the NUFC Under 21s once again in Northumberland Senior Cup action against non-league opposition.
A very decent crowd of 629 to see Whitley Bay take on the best young NUFC players.
The hosts playing really well and fully deserving the 3-1 win that takes them into the semi-finals.
Following the game, Whitley Bay quick to thank the Newcastle United owners for also giving an additional helping hand to their non-league neighbours.
The Mag – 18 December 2021:
The very different way Newcastle United owners and Sunderland owners look after local non-league clubs.
Newcastle United took on Ashington AFC on Tuesday night.
The annual Northumberland Senior Cup sees the young NUFC Under 23s take on the local non-league sides.
Good experience for both AND the chance for the local non-league sides to bank an extra few quid if they draw Newcastle United.
Tuesday’s game was a cracker, the United youngsters quickly going two up, only for two goals from the home side to level it.
The NUFC Under 23s holding their nerve to win the penalty shootout 5-3 and go through to the semi-final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
A good night all round, with the crowd of 1,357 a new stadium record, so a few quid into the Ashington coffers via paying to get in and pie sales etc. The money boosted by this gesture from Newcastle United…
The following night, it was the turn of Sunderland.
In the Durham Challenge Cup, the Sunderland Under 23s travelled to play Crook Town.
On this occasion, a crowd of 534 paid to watch the Sunderland youngsters take on the non-league club.
After the usual deductions / costs, the balance leftover was £1,421. Not a fortune but a nice little shot in the arm for Crook Town.
Local non-league football stalwart Mike Amos though, has revealed that Crook Town got not such a nice little surprise following the game (which they won 1-0 against Sunderland…).
Sunderland getting in touch to ask for £710.50, their share of the gate money.
Sunderland fans repeatedly claim that they are going to be going places under their billionaire owner.
Well if they are looking on the goodwill of local people helping them to get wherever that is they think they might end up, maybe Sunderland should have a rethink on who at this moment in time could be using that £710 (and fifty pence!) better, themselves or Crook Town.
The final word to the Crook Town Chairman, who says he is ‘disgusted’ with how Sunderland have acted.
Mike Amos Grass Roots Football blog – 17 December 2021:
Since they like to be known as the Black Cats, it might be supposed lucky when Sunderland FC cross your path. Crook Town take a different view.
Town hosted Sunderland’s under-23 side on Wednesday in the Durham Challenge Cup, 534 spectators attracted to the Millfield. After the usual deductions, the balance was £1,421.
Frequently these days, the big boys waive their right to half of the gate on such occasions – as did Newcastle United when 1,300+ turned out at Ashington the evening previously.
No such luck with Sunderland. Crook this morning received a request for £710 (and fifty pence.) Club chairman Vince Kirkup, the most urbane of men, is angry.
“We have to work hard for every penny we get and they’re a multi-million pound club. I know they’re entitled to their cut but it’s become an accustomed and much appreciated gesture that the big clubs don’t take it. To be honest, I’m disgusted.”
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