05/10/2000 AUSTRALIA: SPORT - UNITED FRONT.

By KEVIN CRANSON. Newcastle weighs up traditional club name

THE name Newcastle United has emerged as favourite for the city's new soccer club. It is understood that the fledgling franchise regards United as a traditional soccer name that implies strength, longevity and working towards a common purpose. It is also thought to be an ideal choice given the turmoil surrounding Newcastle's National Soccer League representative over the past year. United would also hark back to the glory days of Newcastle KB United, who drew record crowds to the International Sports Centre in the 1980s. Phoenix is another option which suggests rising from the ashes and could tie in with the Newcastle Knights' association with Club Phoenix at Mayfield. Constantine may also consider a nickname that includes the wider Hunter region, such as the Hunters, or name the club Hunter instead of Newcastle. Some of the names suggested in a radio competition last week include Gladiators, Crusaders and Thunder. Constantine plans to take a short list of names to the players and coach before making a decision. It has also been suggested that the new Newcastle team will play in a strip modelled on the famous Paris St Germain kit, including bold vertical stripes of red and blue. The club has only eight days to come up with the name and playing strip before the team travels to Victoria to play the Eastern Pride, formerly the Gippsland Falcons. The identity of the club's general manager and possibly the team name are expected to be announced today or tomorrow, along with information on ticket sales. More soccer, Page 54.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2000

Answers

can't help feeling I've seen this kind of story somewhere before. ;0)

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2000

I'm not up to speed on copyright/patent laws but surely NUFC has a copyright on the name.

If the ex-convicts want the name then let them stump-up.

Cheques payable to "NUFC Squad Convalescence Fund"

(or preferably cash contributions in a brown envelope delivered to specified Spanish brothel).

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2000