Restoring the Gallowgate

Great to see our iconic end restored to it's former glory.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/st-james-park-gallowgate-end-3902396


St James' Park Gallowgate End restored to its former glory

Huge signs with the Sports Direct logo have been painted over on the roof of St James' Park Gallowgate End

And you thought painting your ceiling was a pain....

Huge signs with the Sports Direct logo have been painted over on the roof of St James' Park Gallowgate End.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley faced a backlash from fans when he put the naming rights for the stadium on the open market and rebranded it the Sports Direct Arena in 2011.

New sponsors Wonga.com opted to give the stadium back its historic name as the payday loan firm’s four-year sponsorship deal with the club officially came into force.

And the first job was to enlist the help of Toon hero Peter Beardsley to begin the redecoration of the stand.

Strip-by-strip the lettering on the Gallowgate roof was masked over with fresh paint.

Ex-Magpie playmaker Beardsley, 52, who currently works as the club’s football development manager, said: “It was always a privilege to play in front of the Gallowgate. It’s one of the most famous stands in the country, if not in world football, so it’s great to see it being put back to its original state.

“It’s a fantastic gesture from our new sponsors. I’m sure it’s something which will be really appreciated by our supporters.”

Managing director Derek Llambias always maintained the decision to change the name of the ground was temporary to showcase money-raising sponsorship opportunities.

He said the stadium rebranding could generate as much as £10m-a-year.

But fans vented their anger at Ashley, owner of the club and retail giant, claiming the move was disrespectful.

In October the steel St James’ Park lettering was re-instated after Wonga agreed their deal. Errol Damelin, founder and CEO of Wonga, said the move illustrated the company’s “commitment to the fans” and said they had made investments in the academy and local community.

Malcolm Dix, the club’s honorary life vice president, said it was an important move and came as officials were close to bringing the entrance gates, which stood at the Gallowgate End for decades, back to the ground.

The gates were removed in the 1990s and have been stored at Woolsington Hall, a mansion restored by Sir John Hall.

Mr Dix said: “This is an important part of the club’s history. We’re getting the gates refurbished and they will be put back in the very near future.

“Whether you agree with Wonga or not they are keeping a very low profile and only having the sponsorships on the shirts and on some hoardings around the pitch.

“Along with the gates returning, this is great news for everyone and for the fans. It means we will always have a little bit of history at St James’ Park for ever more.”

Wonga’s deal with Newcastle sparked controversy on Tyneside with city leaders claiming it was “immoral” for a payday lender who offers short-term loans with inflated interest rates to target the North East, which has a high level of unemployment.

Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council who wrote to Ashley to say the sponsorship was wrong, said: “No-body ever called it anything other than St James’ Park so I’m pleased that common sense has prevailed.”

Yesterday’s sizeable re-decoration job, carried out by Dunston firm It’s Just Signs and Lighting, follows a pledge by the digital finance company Wonga, who also sponsor Championship club Blackpool and top Scottish outfit Hearts, to return the stadium to the fans.

Wonga chief executive Mr Damelin said: “This moment is all about our commitment to the fans. When we restored St James’ Park to its original name, we said we’d return some traditions to them. This is another symbolic part of that promise and we’ve got more in store.

“Beyond the stadium naming, we’re building our sponsorship up with real investment in the club, the Academy and the local community.”

 

Not so bad after all.

 

Nice to see. Beardo has a tight grip on that rail mind! Smart bit of PR by Wonga.

 

I wouldn't begrudge Wonga a small advert up there if
they painted on say 'THE GALLOWGATE' in very large letters or 'NEWCASTLE UNITED'

 

Best thing they could paint on there is "FOR SALE".

 

It will always be known as the sportsdirect to me though..

 

Just as your place will always be known to us as the SOS.

 

Good PR from Wonga this.

 

You watch...."The Wongadome" is born

 

The Gallowgate back to its former glory - thought the roof was coming off and all the toilets were being replaced with open sewers ... silly me.

 

How they didn't think of that I'd never know. Simply that would be the best name for an arena the world has ever seen.