Fans in fancy dress managed to stun Newcastle United player Jonjo Shelvey when he was attending a certain non league fixture recently.
As we saw, Magpies supporters produced jubilantly scenes outside St James’ Park at the delight of the takeover which spells the end of the Mike Ashley era.
A £300million deal was finally approved by the Premier League, and now 29 year old midfielder Shelvey has spoken all about it.
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Numerous Newcastle’s players welcomed the “transformative” takeover, with the hope that it can help propel the club, who are winless so far this season under Steve Bruce.
The new era begins on Sunday when Newcastle take on Tottenham Hotspur in front of a sell out crowd.
Shelvey became the first senior player to speak about the takeover, and wants to be part of the future of the club he has served for the past five and a half years.
When questioned where he was when he heard the news, the 29-year-old said: “I was at home, and had heard the whispers. Then the news broke – I didn’t realise how quickly things like that could happen.
“There’ll be an excitement around the training ground. But, as a player, you’ll feel a bit of excitement and nerves. I’ve got 18 months left on my contract, so it comes down to me to show the people in charge what I’m about. I have to look after No.1, it’s my career.
“So it is nerve-wracking, but I’m a positive person, and I’ll try to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
“It’s just great for the club. This club can achieve anything it wants, the sky’s the limit.
“In terms of the set-up, we all know the training-ground facilities are below par when it comes to Premier League standard. As players we’ve got on with it, and we’ve had to deal with that to the best of our ability. The money just hasn’t been there. That was hard to accept.
“But the money will be there now. I understand you can’t go spending so much straight away, and it’ll be a long process, but it’s one that this club and the fans deserve.
“It’s unbelievable for the club. The fans have been asking for this for a very long time. It’s great news for them.”
Speaking last week, Staveley said: “We have the same ambitions as Manchester City and PSG in terms of trophies, absolutely, but that will take time.
“Do we want to win the Premier League within five to 10 years? Yes. This takeover is hugely transformative.”
Asked about the desire to compete in the Champions League and win trophies, Shelvey said: “I probably won’t be around when that does happen!
“I know how long that could take, but to hear someone come in and say that, as a footballer, it makes you want to stay and fight for a place to be a part of it, those aspirations and goals.”
Shelvey, who saw thousands fans celebrating at the stadium on TV following the deal’s confirmation – went to see a friend play for Newcastle Blue Star the following night.
“I went to watch Newcastle Blue Star, my mate plays in goal,” said Shelvey. “There were about 1,000 fans there, (and) fully-grown men wearing Arab clothes. I couldn’t believe it.
Nice to get a mention by Jonjo Shelvey! 👍 https://t.co/L8y611Ekeo
— Newcastle Blue Star FC (@nbsfc2018) October 12, 2021
“I got off at half-time, because I couldn’t really watch the game in the end, but it was mad.
“I was watching TV when the news broke, and those scenes outside the stadium were incredible. I was going to have a drive down. I wanted to get out there with a beer myself!
“That reaction at the stadium is unique. The fans have suffered a lot in the past, so I think what we saw was a release of frustration and relief that the deal had finally happened.
“Credit to the fans, too, because they have helped push this deal through. It gives us all so much to look forward to.”
For a long while now, it’s claimed that top players don’t want to come to Newcastle, however Shelvey thinks otherwise.
“And that’s another thing, people say it will be hard to attract top-level players to Newcastle, because it’s not London or Manchester,” said Shelvey.
“But I’ve lived here for nearly six years, it’s a great place. There’s so much to do, and it’s a brilliant place to bring up your children. I can’t speak highly enough of this city and the area.”
“First and foremost, we have to stay in the Premier League,” said Shelvey. “January will be a big month for the club.
“We have a short-term goal – and that’s just to get that first win. With the squad we’ve got, we can do that as soon as Sunday. After that it’s about stringing results together.
“When you look at some of the players we have, it’s frightening where we actually are. Hopefully, we can get everyone back fit now, and this (international) break has helped, and if we can keep everyone fit, then I believe we will climb the table.”
Twitters users reacted as fans in fancy dress stun Jonjo Shelvey when attending the bumper non league fixture…
@jarisal9: People should stop dressing like this and not use Saudi flags.
@JackDryden17: Just a bit of fun i think it’s hilarious, expect plenty of it on Sunday
@donmaarko: Give over will you
@TheGingerPirlo_: This won’t be good if still happening in a few months.
@3393BC: Not great optics! Takeovers done and I’m as happy as the next fan that we may be competitive again but I’d rather not see a stadium of fans in Arab dress on Sunday waving Saudi flags giving an impression of supporting the KSA.
@OlIyCFC: Totally sane and normal
@JoshJamesBarron: This is a massive problem that we as fans need to address, the use of Saudi flags etc really isn’t funny and perpetuates the idea that the club is linked to the state. (Boring I know)
— Mandys Rich Saudi Mags ⚫🇸🇦⚪ (@intheshadows38) October 12, 2021
‘I went to watch Newcastle Blue Star on Friday night, my mate plays in goal. There were about 1,000 fans there, fully-grown men wearing Arab clothes, I couldn’t believe it. – Shelvey #NUFC
You are all mental! Funniest thing I’ve read in weeks! 🤣🤣🤣
— CANS 360 (@NUFC360) October 12, 2021
@ne28GG: It’s proper cringe, to be honest
@nufcjord_: Hahahahaha unreal
@anthslife: I drove past, couldn’t believe how busy it was.
@ShelvatronMk2: My midfielder 🖤🤍
@L1990Rl: It’s absolutely pathetic and needs to stop ASAP.
@HRees_: Proper embarrassing that like, hope there’s none of that Sunday
@JHow989: Pretty shameful tbh
@Man_about_Toon: Fully grown men wearing Arab robes indeed. Proper dafties. Support the club not the Saudi government
Even allowing for the fact that it’s a Friday night and there was an NUFC promotion, to get a crowd of 959 in the Northern Alliance (level 11 in the pyramid) is just bonkers. What a club @nbsfc2018 @NonLeagueCrowd pic.twitter.com/QaVginmcux
— Martyn Amos (@martyn_amos) October 8, 2021
SEE MORE: Premier League clubs told ‘mind your bleeding business’ over Newcastle takeover
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