VeneziaUNITED, the newly formed supporters' trust of FC Unione Venezia was officially launched on 30 June; with the evening being declared an overwhelming success. Over 200 fans from a variety of backgrounds made effective use of their democratic rights by approving the trusts manifesto, its constitution, and voting in the members of the first board of directors.

The trust aims to set up Italy's first community club, FC Unione Venezia, with its community playing the key role in long-term planning and development of the club.

Franco Vianello Moro, President of the trust, said: "Experience shows that modern football is heading towards a dangerous direction away from the local community. We believe that the active participation of supporters in the capital of their club is a guarantee for a sustainable future for our club. This is what Venice needs. Its social fabric is at risk of disintegration and needs a flag that knows how to represent the history, charm, cultural heritage, social complexity and the uniqueness of its territory. There is no alternative."

A big well done to the fans of Stirling Albion from all at the Newcastle United Supporters Trust. A perfect example of an outgoing owner working with both supporters and the wider community for the future benefit and security of their football club, has led to the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust buying the club. A fans led campaign has worked alongside the local business community to make reality the first major Scottish club to be bought by its fans. Over two thousand have financially backed the purchase and have possibly shown the way forward with a blueprint that could be taken on board by clubs around the UK, both large and small.’

Stirling Albion's website here

UPdate : This competition was won by Alistair Ford of Newcastle.

NUST have been donated one of those pesky vuvuzelas in South Africa's colours and also a South African scarf to use as a competition prize. To win these just email your name and address or membership number to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Friday 2nd July and the first name out of the hat will win. The prize was donated by FIFA via Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah. NUST will not be held responsible for any major annoyance of neighbours caused by this prize!

NUST attended the recent Supporters Direct annual 2 day conference in London which was well attended and had some impressive speakers including film director Ken Loach, Lee Stafford (ex Sheff Wed Chairman) and Christian Mueller (ex Chief Financial Officer - German Football League). NUST gave a ten minute presentation to the conference on the Sunday which was well received.

Read www.twohundredpercent.com's take on the conference here

In Italy last week Serie A’s first Football Supporters Trust, Azionariato Popolare AS Roma, ‘My Roma’ was formed. My Roma has symbolically started with 83 members; each member representing a year in AS Roma’s history, but this number is expected to grow considerably.

As with the NUST, the catalyst to the formation has been due to problems off the pitch. Roma have just completed their season by finishing runners-up in Serie A, just two points behind Champions League winners Inter Milan, but off the pitch, financial worries dominate the minds of the fans. Roma are servicing a debt run up by the Sensi family who own the Club that runs into hundreds of millions of euros, it is believed that Roma are servicing a reported €400million debt that is not football related: a debt of oil storage company Italpetroli also owned by the Sensi family. Italpetrol indirectly control Roma, but are also 49% owned by the Italian bank Unicredit, who just happen to be owed €300million of the Italpetroli debt. It is meetings between the Sensi family and Unicredit, and suggestions that the future of the club was in doubt that brought about the first meetings to initiate the setting up of a Supporters Trust.

NUST are very pleased to announce that newly-elected city MP, Chi Onwurah has agreed to become a co-opted member of the NUST board.

Ms Onwurah, who was elected MP for Newcastle Central in the General Election and whose constituency covers St James’ Park, said: "Newcastle is a great city, passionate about football and now with a great Premier League football team. Unlike Manchester, Glasgow or Sheffield, in Newcastle our loyalties are not divided. We all support the same team and that team has done an immense amount of good in the community as well as raising our spirits every time they win.

“As MP for Newcastle Central, as well as a United fan, I want to help make sure that the special bond between city and club is a force for good, one which reflects the fans’ commitment to the team. By joining the Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust I hope to do just that."

Mark Jensen, chair of the newly-elected board of the Supporters’ Trust, said: "We are determined to work towards helping Newcastle United and its supporters to move forward to a successful future and the decision of Chi to join the board and help us towards that goal is of massive benefit to all involved.

“Newcastle United is often described as a sleeping giant because of the phenomenal support it enjoys and yet these supporters have no say in the running of the club. The current owners have recently indicated that they will be communicating less frequently with them through the media.

“This is so disappointing when we all have the love of Newcastle United at heart and it is something we wish to change. Our voice is getting stronger, and the support of our local MP offers us a fantastic boost.”

At the first meeting of the newly elected Trust board the following positions were appointed : Chair - Mark Jensen; Vice-Chair - Lisa Bullivant; Treasurer, Paul Brown-King.  In addition, Andrew Harrison was appointed Secretary.

Dear NUST

Thank you for your email. I thought it may be helpful to explain that the comments you refer to are an out-of-context part of an interview in which I spoke generally about racism within the game, the lack of Asian players and how role models can help inspire and overcome prejudice.

I’m personally disappointed that my quote has come across in a negative way. What is missing from the piece is the fact that the groups I was referring to were explicitly not Newcastle supporters. The quote does not, nor would I ever, imply that Newcastle fans racially abused Andrew Cole. In fact the point I was making was in praise of Newcastle fans who shunned the minority who were attempting to stir up trouble at the time.

I would never say these people were Newcastle or indeed football fans, in fact I would suspect the opposite to be true. Having lived in the city for seven years and having been back to St James Park subsequently I have nothing but the utmost respect for Newcastle fans.

The wider point lost in the piece was how fans have been instrumental in overcoming racism within the game and how players and role models such as Andrew Cole, and in the case of Chelsea - Paul Canoville and Paul Elliott, deserve a great deal of credit in the fight against racism.

I do hope this email helps to explain the context of the quotes and I can only apologise if anyone has taken offence.

I have subsequently spoken to the Guardian newspaper and it has agreed to issue a clarification.

As Newcastle fans we aren’t surprised when parts of the media have a go at our club and fanbase, ill-informed opinion is something we are used to but inventing ‘facts’ to support the abuse is beyond the pale.

Simon Taylor, the ‘head of corporate social responsibility’ at Chelsea made the following claims as part of an article in the Guardian

Andy Cole made his debut at St James' Park, Taylor, then a student in the city, recalls:

"There were protests outside the ground. But Andy scored a hat-trick that day and we heard no more from the protesters."

Student Taylor has to be admired in getting so much wrong in so few words. Andy Cole made his debut away at Swindon as a substitute and was met by cheers rather than jeers. There then followed his home debut against Notts. County where both player and supporters celebrated an excellent goal by Cole but alas no hat-trick. Finally, the only protests outside of St.James Park that day would have been from fans not able to watch the team continue their march to the title.

If there’s any justice and ‘corporate social responsibility’ then apologies will follow from Taylor, The Guardian and of course Chelsea FC who are of course responsible for their employee’s actions. We won’t hold our breath.

The NUST's official Player of the Month award for April was won by Kevin Nolan. Kevin beat Andy Carroll into second place - the third month in a row that Andy has finished runner up.

Thanks to everyone who voted and watch out for our competition next season.

The 3 winners of our competition were :

Chris Kennedy of Oxfordshire

Sam Waller of London

Derek Compton of Newton Aycliffe

Each wins a copy of  "Newcastle United - A Nostalgic Look at a Century of the Club" by Paul Joannou which is out now in hardback.   RRP: £18.99, ISBN: 978 1 84425 952 6

Congratulations!