Do Newcastle United’s players deserve open-top bus ride celebration?

MALCOLM MACDONALD

I can tell you now, from experience, that if Newcastle United go on to win the title their public will demand it. They will be screaming for it from every corner of Tyneside.

It’s not a club affair, promotion is a city affair, it’s a public affair. When you think that Newcastle have set records, achieved things this season, all the way through, it’s something to be celebrated.

The whole city should be given an opportunity to celebrate with the club, I just think it is an opportunity for the whole city to come together.

Last week I was having an argument with someone about the Tottenham team that was put out at Sunderland. It was being said that Spurs fielded a weakened team because they had an eye on Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal, rather than concentrate on finishing fourth in the Premier League. I could understand that. Harry should be going all out to win the FA Cup and put a trophy in the cabinet, rather than collect the money for the Champions League. You don’t get too many chances to win something. If Newcastle win the league, they have a trophy to cherish. It might only be the Championship, but it can stay with them forever.

The people of Newcastle have the right to celebrate that.

MARK PROCTOR

BACK in 1992 I was part of the Middlesbrough squad that won at Wolves on the last day of the season to clinch promotion, meaning we formed part of the first Premier League season. We finished second that year, but the manager (Lennie Lawrence) still made sure we had an open-top bus ride around Middlesbrough and I think we deserved it and the fans deserved it. It might have been nice to be involved in, but it’s more a celebration for the town, it’s not just about the players. I know there have been a few clubs since then who have chosen not to, but why? I can’t see the point.

Middlesbrough have shown this season that getting promoted from the Championship is not easy.

Newcastle deserve to be applauded for what they have done and they deserve to celebrate.

Newcastle sold a lot of players last summer, dropping out of the Premier League, they then lost the likes of Oba Martins, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and some other big names. Yet Newcastle, in a difficult financial climate, have managed to win the league (or it looks that way) by being methodical and winning matches in an unassuming manner.

MICKY HORSWILL

I honestly think that, even though I hate them, Newcastle should celebrate.

They have achieved what they wanted and I think it shows an arrogance that they are not celebrating.

A few years ago Roy Keane decided to do it and I don’t think it’s fair on the club or the city. I didn’t think it was fair then and I don’t think it’s fair now.

Middlesbrough fans will be feeling sick this season if they don’t go up and that just shows you what an achievement for Newcastle it is. I used the word arrogance and that is what it is. It suggests the club feels it is too good to play in the league, which is wrong.

In my opinion, whether you are Grimsby winning League Two, or Newcastle winning the Championship, or Manchester United winning the Premier League, a trophy is a trophy.

There are not many trophies to play for, every success a club has should be cherished, at whatever level.

More than 40,000 fans have been going to St James’ Park all season, it’s only fair that they have a chance to go out and celebrate.

Unite the city. Sunderland missed out when they went up under Keane, Hughton should not allow the same to happen now.

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