Amid the anger and frustration surrounding the Premier League’s controversial pay-per-view scheme, a positive story emerged at Newcastle United.
The club’s fans, in protest at having to pay £14.95 for a single game of football, chose to donate their money to the city's West End food bank , raising over £20,000 for the charity last weekend.
Newcastle’s 4-1 defeat against Manchester United was one of the games chosen for PPV, and the response of supporters was indicative of the general mood.
The story was reported across the national media, while fans of other clubs expressed their admiration for the generosity shown.
“The most we have ever collected outside a game was £5,800 but the response has been from all over the world,” Bill Corcoran of the NUFC Fans Food Bank group told BBC Sport .
“Someone just suggested the idea on Twitter and we thought, 'that's great, let's do it'. Whoever recommended pay-per-view, pitched it wrong. If you're a season-ticket holder and already pay for games on TV, this was the metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back.
“Rather than paying into a multi-national media company, we are paying into a charity which helps starving people in the city. The solution was obvious and the fans have shown a great deal of kindness and generosity.”
The i Paper highlighted Newcastle fans’ decision to “defy football’s greed”, and the Sun noted that “more than 1,000 supporters donated £11,000 on Saturday alone”.
Newcastle appear to have set the standard, with supporters of other Premier League clubs following suit.
Aston Villa, Burnley, Leeds United and Manchester United have all started their own initiatives.
The Guardian reported: “Newcastle’s West End food bank had received more than £16,000 in match-day donations from fans of Steve Bruce’s team by Sunday morning, making an important stand.
"Those supporters had turned their protest against the imposition of a £14.95 pay-per-view fee for the match [against United] into an opportunity to do good.”
There has been a similar response of fans from other clubs - even close rivals - acknowledging the effort of those who donated.
“I have to say well done,” wrote one Middlesbrough supporter on Twitter. “Stuffing it to Sky while donating to a local cause. Great effort by all who contributed.”
“Brilliant - from Sunderland fans respect here,” said another. “We’ve chipped in by contributing what we would have paid to see Sunderland. I'll drop the biscuits in tomorrow. Seriously - great gesture nufc fans.”
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A third - a Hull City fan - commented: “Well done to Newcastle United fans for raising so much for a local food bank instead of spending the money on the Premier League's greedy pay per view scheme.”
It’s clear Newcastle’s fanbase have set a precedent, even if the PPV scheme continues. There are far more important things than watching football given the current circumstances throughout the country, and channelling the money towards such a good cause is worthy of huge praise.
For the Premier League, it will lead to more soul searching. The money at the top of English football has been loathsome for some time, but this feels like a step too far.
