Newcastle United's new kit: Wot no stripes?
Newcastle United supporters claim Mike Ashley is trying to cash in on the Magpies’ new home kit by selling extra stripes for £15 each.
The club was criticised yesterday after revealing the new black and white Puma-designed home kit clearly missing several of the Magpies’ traditional white stripes.
But last night fans reacted with anger when it was revealed Toon chairman Mike Ashley is to sell the missing stripes through the official Newcastle United Club Shop, at £15 a stripe.
“This is about as blatant a rip off as you could have,” said United fan Kevin Keegan Shearer Potts, 32, of Gateshead. “The strip costs £50 as it is, and you need to buy at least four of the stripes to make up the rest of the kit. That’s an extra £60.”
Mike Ashley last night defended the sale of the 2ins wide stripes, which are backed with Velcro for easy attachment to side’s Premier League home shirt.
“That’s the trouble with our fans, they’re too bloody fickle,” the Sports Direct boss said. “They complain they want more stripes on their shirts, and when we make them available, they complain about that!
“Honestly, next they’ll be moaning about the new away kit, I’ve got planned. And that’s even cheaper.”
The new Newcastle United away kit is set to retail at £45, a welcome £5 less than the new home shirt.
Mr Ashley added: “It’ll come as a large ball of blue and white wool with an easy-to-follow pattern and two knitting needles. They can knit it themselves. It’ll be better than watching the crap we’ll be serving up on the pitch, ‘cos I’ll not be spending a penny on new players in the close season.”
Toon69
May 5, 2011
Yeah rite, I’m sure Mike Ashley said that, if he did, it would be the first thing he’s said to the fans in over a year, so cut the bull out & stop making crap up….
Sally Carr
May 8, 2011
I understand the kit has been designed to highlight the fact that the A1 north of Newcastle is largely still single carriageway……….
Murph
June 28, 2011
I’m amazed some people still don’t get this. Keep up the good work.
Eversteve
July 10, 2011
Hold on, OK, fickle geordies; dont fall into the trap of buying the new stripes, say hey…fuck it.
You must remember, you only had so many stripes added a few years or so ago (relatively) to make Gazza look thinner.