@yourservice 67 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Reclusive billionaire businessman Mike Ashley could have scored an own goal by trying to take over Newcastle United. The secretive entrepreneur's plan to take control of the Premiership outfit and plough millions into creating a world class squad has been warmly welcomed on Tyneside. But just a few miles down the road on Wearside fans of rivals Sunderland are planning to do all they can to scupper his plans. Some Sunderland supporters are calling on fellow fans to boycott any shop or product which forms part of Mr Ashley's sports empire, including bargain basement store Sports World in the city's The Bridges shopping complex. Bodyguard Ronnie Burgess reckons true Sunderland fans should hit Mr Ashley where it will hurt . . . in his pocket. The 28-year-old lifelong supporter said: "I won't shop in any of his stores again. I don't see how you can call yourself a Sunderland supporter if you give money to the man who is going to own Newcastle United." It won't be the first time that Sunderland fans have made their loyalty to their club known by boycotting a product. During the Kevin Keegan era at St James' Park sales of Sugar Puffs slumped by 20 per cent in the North East after the then Newcastle boss appeared in a TV advert with the Honey Monster. One man who remembers that is 40-year-old father-of-two Les Stanger. The car insurance salesman said: "I haven't had Sugar Puffs for 10 years. "I used to regularly shop in Sports World with my two kids who are both mad about football. "We used to buy all their boots, trainers and gear from there but now I just couldn't bring myself to hand over my money knowing that it will pay the wages of our fiercest rivals." Linda Steel, a 50-year-old housewife from Sunderland, said: "No true Sunderland fan will ever step foot inside one of those stores again. "The moment Mike Ashley became associated with Newcastle United was the moment I could no longer shop in Sports World." But Mr Ashley, who is reported to be worth £1.9bn and owns Sports Direct International, the Sports World retail empire, Lillywhites, outdoor specialist Blacks, and leisurewear brands including Lonsdale, Dunlop, Kangol, Slazenger, Donnay and Karrimor, can take comfort from some Sunderland fans. Security guard Richard Timm, 20, said: "I don't think it will bother too many people. His shops sell cheap sportswear which is ideal for stocking up on before you go on holiday." David Hines, 60, a retired carer, from Sunderland, said: "I don't think the fans have that much rivalry anymore. All big businesses have some sort of connection with other businesses and it's not that uncommon these days. It wouldn't stop me shopping there." Steve Greener, manager of the Sports World store in Sunderland, said he hadn't seen any decline in sales. He explained: "We have had three customers who have made comments but other than that no one has said anything. Mike Ashley is the major shareholder in both companies but they are separate companies. We haven't seen an impact on sales." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 5062 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaser 1073 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 If it wasnt Sunderland we were talking about, i'd be convinced this was a wind up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6321 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Isn't that absolutely pathetic?? Are we all to boycott Reg Vardy when looking to change cars because they sponsor the Mackems?? And as for the bloke who stopped eating Sugar Puffs 10 years ago - what a fucking tit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Less stuff will get nicked if the mackems boycott the shops so it isn't all bad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 And they wonder why we call them obsessed? That Sugar Puffs bit is classic though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teed 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 and you silly sods believe this??... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 1 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Tbf Sugar Puffs are fucking rank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13915 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Doesn't Ashley own shares in Umbro? Does that mean they'll boycott their own shirt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2bias 3 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Doesn't Ashley own shares in Umbro? Does that mean they'll boycott their own shirt? there not that smart to work that out.i cant see how a few dropped sales in the NE will affect ashleys pocket somehow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6321 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Doesn't Ashley own shares in Umbro? Does that mean they'll boycott their own shirt? I'm sure their kit is made by Lonsdale but the same applies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg 6 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Doesn't Ashley own shares in Umbro? Does that mean they'll boycott their own shirt? I'm sure their kit is made by Lonsdale but the same applies. It was, new kit is Umbro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Isn't that absolutely pathetic?? Are we all to boycott Reg Vardy when looking to change cars because they sponsor the Mackems?? And as for the bloke who stopped eating Sugar Puffs 10 years ago - what a fucking tit! tbf I stopped eating Lucky Charms when Roy Keane took over them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6321 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Doesn't Ashley own shares in Umbro? Does that mean they'll boycott their own shirt? I'm sure their kit is made by Lonsdale but the same applies. It was, new kit is Umbro. Not sure if he's got shares in them, he certainly has in Adidas. That said, Sports World have been selling Umbro shirts at ridiculously cheap prices for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimbo 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 tbf I stopped eating Lucky Charms when Roy Keane took over them. Quality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogmatix 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 and you silly sods believe this??... What do you think your own web sites were calling for soft lad ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skhwoody 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 is there any chance ashley has shares in 'Air'..... now that would be interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimbo 0 Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Some Sunderland supporters are calling on fellow fans to boycott any shop or product which forms part of Mr Ashley's sports empire, including bargain basement store Sports World in the city's The Bridges shopping complex. I'm sure he's quaking in his boots that half a dozen mackem chavs will stop buying their tat from his store and start buying it from tat-r-us instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 (edited) It happens...companies try and sponsor both old firm sides for the same reason.... Edited June 4, 2007 by Asprilla's foreskin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 35504 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Anyone stopped booking holidays through Hays Travel since John Hays is a member of the consortium that bought the plebs? Sad as owt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Some Sunderland supporters are calling on fellow fans to boycott any shop or product which forms part of Mr Ashley's sports empire, including bargain basement store Sports World in the city's The Bridges shopping complex. I'm sure he's quaking in his boots that half a dozen mackem chavs will stop buying their tat from his store and start buying it from tat-r-us instead. Heh that's what I was wondering, it's one thing giving up sugar puffs, but the sirens allure of cheap polyester and chavballcaps is another thing entirely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 My mates work for Northern Rock and I can comfirm that there was a large influx of mackems cancelling their savings and moving their mortgages etc. If they want to be the supporters of this big club they keep telling us they are, then they need to stop acting like a small one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 My mates work for Northern Rock and I can comfirm that there was a large influx of mackems cancelling their savings and moving their mortgages etc. If they want to be the supporters of this big club they keep telling us they are, then they need to stop acting like a small one. I thought ye were on your honeymoon????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 9233 Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Security guard Richard Timm, 20, said: "I don't think it will bother too many people. His shops sell cheap sportswear which is ideal for stocking up on before you go on holiday." this bit made me laugh fucking pikeys, the lot of em. (unless they're going on a sports holiday of course ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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