As a former member of the Magpie group , here are a couple of observations about Stadium plans ;
1.In 1988 , John Hall wanted a 40,000 seater stadium - he showed us the plans at the first meeting in May
of that year. Several members of the group , including myself , objected on the grounds that it would not be big enough if the takeover was successful , and the club prospered. He said that football crowds were falling , and so-called experts had advised him that 40,000 was enough.
We stuck out for our views , and he said he would look at it again IF things went as we said.
As you all know , the club DID prosper under SJH & KK , and I'll never forget SJH's face when we played
Grimsby in the promotion season and he came in & said 'there are 7000 people queueing to get in....!!'
This was AFTER kick-off.....
Needless to say , the 'I told you so' phrase was quickly churned out..!
After the club's successful first few seasons in the Premiership , SJH realised that the club had to capitalise on its huge fan-base by developing the stadium, but restrictions in the development affecting Leazes Terrace meant that there was a limit as to what could be done.
Sir John then arranged the feasibility study for Castle Leazes(a fantastic project with sliding roof that would have given us the biggest stadium in the Premiership).The project also allowed for landscaping pf the existing park , used then mainly as a dog walking area(!).
As soon as the project went up to planning by Council , it hit difficulties - a Protest Group , led by one Dolly Potter(perhaps Dotty Poller is a better name..!)who organised a petition against the plan. This was even , reputedly , taken to Wearside to allow Mackems to sign in objection ; I don't know if this was correct , but there were certainly S/land fans on Tyneside who signed.
Eventually , the 'Brains dept' better known as John Prescott , overruled the plan, though I suspect the Council had some bearing on it. SJH was prepared to move the Stadium to Gateshead , get all the Planning Grants available there(thus reducing the cost to the club), and - this is crucial - Bus wives etc to the MetroCentre whilst men at the game.....
As Newcastle City Council had an interest in Eldon Square at that time , this was not good news for them
but fans in general opposed the idea(at least , a vocal number did). I wasn't 100% on the idea of moving , but then , Manure are based in Trafford Park......
Unfortunately , SJH had to step back from day to day club affairs , & Freddie Fletcher was put in charge of this.He regularly had Council members as guests on Match days , but what effect this had one must judge for oneself...
Either way , the project was dropped , and at the present time , I suggest that the Club has more important priorities - like how to sort-out the team....
Nevertheless , a great opportunity lost , and you can only speculate where NUFC would have been if the club had won the Premiership in 1996 , and then built that fantasic stadium.
History would have been a great deal different , but as Brian Clough used to say 'If your Aunt had B---s, she'd be your Uncle...!'
