Newcastle United Supporters Club (NUSC) today launched their ‘support campaign’ for Newcastle/Gateshead bid for World Cup 2018 by handing over 100 different football shirts from different eras and countries to symbolise ' one world theme'.
NUSC encompass the citys football fanzines, football related websites, the clubs own Supporters Panel and the clubs international supporters. NUSC membership is now approaching 1900 with a growing 'international branch' representing countries from the four corners of the globe.
The supporters group plan to hand over the shirts as an ongoing donation for an orphanage in Ghana and plan to hold further events to back the bid and boost the club.
Lisa Bullivant of NUSC said 'The original launch of the 2018 bid lacked the genuine supporters touch. We know that politicians and cultural groups will back the bid but we want to put the supporters in the city in the vanguard and use our international branches to spread the message worldwide. Our message is simple supporters ARE football and NUSC is seeking to represent their views both inside the club and in the wider community'.
Mark Jensen of the Mag said 'Football is a universal language and we think the bid will be strengthened immensely by putting real people at its centre. This coalition represents genuine football fans who want to see supporters views at the centre of clubs decision-making because it makes good commercial sense. A strong Newcastle United means a vibrant city'.
Neil Mitchell of True Faith fanzine said 'As supporters of the club and the city we want the bid to succeed but it will only reach out to communities if it encompasses ordinary people. The launch was a fantastic example of the great and the good of Newcastle/Gateshead coming together but now we feel the supporters add a different dimension'.
NUSC are launching a supporters 'sign up to support the bid' on their website www.nusc.org.uk and are seeking to integrate their campaign with the official bid campaign.
Back NewcastleGateshead's bid here
