A giant crane involved in the St James' revamp has collapsed onto the pitch which now needs completely returfing prior to the start of the season. Source Ronnie Gill Wednesday.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Answers

Fastest way of getting the damn things down. Six weeks for the turf to take is more than enough I imagine.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

This cant be for real surely ?? Was anyone hurt ?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

6 weeks for the turf to take?

Wouldn't jib at that.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Tower is this thread leading?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Time to sling my hook, methinks

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Methinks you be jesting with us Mr Wood.......

There is nothing in any of the on-line papers and nothing has come through on any of the wire services.........

.....and why would they need to returf the complete pitch........even I could return an affected area without having to go the whole way, so I'm sure the SJP Groundsmen can as well.....if they can't sack 'em and get someone in from somewhere like Slaley Hall.....with Golf green experience!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Bloomin 'eck! >>

A spokesman for Ballast Wiltshier, the construction firm working at the ground, said: "A crane engaged in refurbishment works at St James's Park, has toppled over and has come to rest on its side on the pitch. "There have been no injuries as a result of the incident, no structural damage to the stadium and no significant damage to the pitch.

Let's hope "no significant damage" is true!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Article here: http://www.evening-chronicle.co.uk/cfm/body_story_1.cfm?StoryId=240877 &Row=1&Prev=1&Next=3

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Could a represantative from SJP have pushed the crane over so that the costs for the already planned returfing of the pitch could be offset against the Contractor??!

Mere speculation of course.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

What a libellous statement, DB.

Are you implying that this is a heist?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Sorry ITK, but I was not jesting United crane plunge terror SAFETY chiefs are today probing why a giant crane fell onto the pitch at St James's Park. The crane ripped through the pitch just weeks before Newcastle United players run out for the start of the new season. Health and Safety Inspectorate staff are investigating the collapse at the #46 million redevelopment of the stadium. A workman, who saw the accident, said: "It was a big crane and it fell right across the pitch. The pitch will have to be returfed." Nina Taeger, of the HSE, said: "We have been notified and have started an investigation." A spokesman for Ballast Wiltshier, the construction firm working at the ground, said: "A crane engaged in refurbishment works at St James's Park, has toppled over and has come to rest on its side on the pitch. "There have been no injuries as a result of the incident, no structural damage to the stadium and no significant damage to the pitch. "It is too early to speculate on the cause of the incident, but information will be made public as soon as it is confirmed."

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Bloody marvellous - so, I supose we're being linked with signing every crane-driver in Europe now.
I firmly believe we should only consider signing English crane drivers, or put at risk the continuing development of future drivers.
This, just received on the news-wire from Milan from Luigi Costaini, President of Macalpino Constructiani, "we are very disturbed at reports that NUFC have a made an illegal approach to our star crane-driver, Alessandro Windemuppi. We are sympathetic to their recent problems on the pitch, but will do everything within our power to hold on to Allesandro".
George Graham is also reported to have more than a passing interest in signing Windemuppi and may wind up the stakes.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Hopefully it's just a test to see exactly where it lands before fielding our 'stars' ina pre-season warm-up game...

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Journos strike again shock horror! The truth is out there...

Your intrepid reporter was once again on the spot for a Toon-related (non) story yesterday. Fresh from a triumphant tour of celebrity watering holes in Ayia Napa, I was at SJP for an hour yesterday morning, and saw the aftermath of the 'great crane disaster' at first hand.

The true part of the story is that a crane had toppled over, and the end of the jib had landed on the pitch. However, it was emphatically not one of the 'giant cranes', but a small road model being used along the East Stand, maybe to look at the floodlights along the roof there. The driver had - allegedly - omitted to put the feet down on the pitch side, so that when the jib was turned that way the whole thing fell over. The end of the jib had left a shallow gouge maybe four feet in length in the pitch near the halfway line on the east side, and a slab of concrete had also landed nearby ( it seemed to be tikka masala side down, so presumably the cat was unharmed).

If the "whole pitch needs relaying", then either (a) it's an insurance scam or (b) the Ronnie is exaggerating the teeniest smidgeon. I'll leave you to make your own minds up. Do these guys really get paid for writing the stuff?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

>>>>>The end of the jib had left a shallow gouge maybe four feet in length in the pitch near the halfway line on the east side, and a slab of concrete had also landed nearby<<<<< NO THAT WAS LIONEL PEREZ SUNBATHING!

>>>>>(it seemed to be tikka masala side down, so presumably the cat was unharmed)<<<< DON'T YOU LOVE IT WHEN SOMEONE CAN BRING IN A LINE FROM AN UNRELATED THREAD AND SEEMINGLY MAKE IT FIT INTO THE STORY IN HAND.........

It's always good to get real first hand reports like this. Sorry to have disputed the story initially yesterday, but I trawled through masses of wire stuff and on-line newspaper guff and couldn't find the story anywhere.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Did you notice anything untoward on your evening jog through Drumcree Bill? :-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

They seemd to have arranged some sort of firework display, and two lorries were delivering a cooling shower... which was nice...

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

The full terrible horrific image of the incident

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000