By Matthew Jones
October 21 2002

A very interesting piece. Please read and then visit www.toonarmybook.com. Read this article and see what you think. Interesting... Press release

An opportunity for Newcastle United fans to get involved in an exiting new project.

Toon fans in black and white

What does it really mean to be a Newcastle United fan?

A local author is aiming to find out, with the help of the Toon Army.

Paul Brown’s forthcoming book, Toon Army, will follow Newcastle United throughout season 2002/03, and look at the recent history of the club, though the eyes of the fans.

Uniquely, it will contain hundreds of opinions supplied by fans via the book’s website.

“Supporting Newcastle United is totally different to supporting any other football club,” says the author. “Over the last few years, no other set of fans has been taken on such an emotional roller coaster ride as the Toon Army.”

In the last ten years, Newcastle fans have seen their side hang one game away from relegation to the third division, and escape it, then stand twelve points clear at the top of the Premier League, and blow it.

They have watched the club beat Manchester United 5-0 in the Premier League, and lose to Southend 4-0 in the Second Division.

Their heroes have beaten Barcelona in the European Champions League, and lost to Tranmere in the Zenith Data Systems Cup.

And they have remained fiercely loyal, as their team has beaten all challengers to reach the FA Cup Final, and lost it. Twice. In successive seasons.

“I suppose this is what makes us the kind of fans we are,“ says Paul, “hopelessly optimistic, defiantly witty, and endlessly devoted to the Toon. Hopefully, this book will shed some sort of light on our obsession, and explain why we are as we are.”

Fans can share their thoughts and experiences at the website www.toonarmybook.com which will be collecting contributions until the end of the season.

Note for editors:

For further information, please visit the website www.toonarmybook.com.

Paul Brown is a writer and Newcastle United season ticket holder, and can be contacted at info@toonarmybook.com