Toon Army

I'm currently watching Our Friends in the North, a drama set in Newcastle and London which was filmed in 1996 and covers the time from the early 60s to the mid 90s. In one episode, set in 1979, the words Toon Army are painted on a wall. This must be an anachronism, Toon Army wouldn't have been used then. I'm guessing early 90s? Your thoughts lads and lasses?

 

Agreed - probably mid 90s I'd reckon

From memory around the time Sky dubbed the team "The Entertainers", definitely don't remember it before that barring "toon, toon black and white army"

 

I'm too young to know., I'd have to defer to either Jimmy, Trev or Heed on this one.

 

Now we are struggling then.

I have problems remembering where the Ground is never mind what the fans were chanting. And if I’m struggling I’d hate to think what Jim and Heed are like.

 

Pretty sure Toon Army predates the 90's mind? Toon toon black and white army has been sung as long as I went there. To be honest I remember "Jim Smiths Black and White Army" being sung. Indeed just about every manager since has had that. Obviously 'toon' is a commonly used local term for town. "Are ye gannin to the toon tonight or not ye ****ing pussy?" would be an example So I think toon army was probably about long before the 90's, just because toon is just our way of saying town. Sky and the media probably brought it to more prominence in the 90's is all.

 

I'm going for between 1992 and 1995, Keegan, Sky and the Entertainers, like what Judge says.

 

I'm just thinking, back in 1979 we would have been in the old Second Division...and playing in front of crowds of 14,000. Hardly an army! More of a brigade ffs

 

The only ones on here who can remember look like the cast of Dad's Army.

Well, I say 'remember', they actually can't, but that's due to senility.

 

Old bastards!

 

Heed took me to watch us play Preston North End, it must have been Christmas 79. He also made me go into a record store to buy Some Girls by Racey. The old man wanted it and asked Heed to buy it but Heed was too embarrassed to ask for it himself so sent me in

 

Incidentally, Our Friends in the North is a great watch (a single series of 9 episodes, binged it in 3 nights). One of the highlights is Daniel Craig (Geordie Peacock) doing a Tyneside accent. Cracking.

 

92.

and that show is ****ing mint. I know she’s a Whiney Mackem but I’d bone Gina McKee all day long.

 

is it on a streaming service or dvd mate?

 

We watched it on Britbox, Chippy. If you have BT Sport you can get Britbox free for 6 months.

 

" What "

 

Bugger off you young Whippersnapper

 

T

 

Hoy,I resemble that remark

 

I remember it being "Gordon Lee's Black and White Army" in the mid 70s but can't remember Toon Army being chanted back then. It wouldn't have been that weird to have someone paint Toon Army on a wall in 1979 though cos of that.