Sunday, July 12, 2009

Geordies Clowning Around

The ongoing soap opera that is Newcastle United Football Club rolls on, as the latest reports suggest that Irishman Charlie Chawke is interested in buying the much-troubled club.

This must be galling for Toon fans. Firstly, Mr Chawke is a former shareholder at big rivals Sunderland. That might be seen as being bad enough for some people, given the embarassing taunts and jokes the Magpies have had to endure from their neighbours in recent months.

But Newcastle don't make headlines by half. Those football fans in their 20s might remember an animated children's TV programme about a friendly clown called Charlie Chalk, whose best friend was an elephant called Arnold. The show was popular in the 1990s and included a spin-off franchise of kids' play areas in pubs across the country.

Some fans have already sniggered at the fact, as Charlie Chalk's Wikipedia entry has already been defaced by one sharp-witted user. After all their recent troubles, the last thing the Toon need is another clown in charge of proceedings. It only provides yet another chance for fans around the UK to have a cruel poke at the struggling Tynesiders, but you have to admit, one that cannot be ignored easily.

For legal reasons, we must point out that Irishman Charlie Chawke is NOT an animated clown who lives on an island called Merrytwit (we kid you not) with his best friends Arnold the Elephant and Captain Mildred!

Still, if the takeover doesn't work out, perhaps the Biker Mice from Mars might fancy a dabble in club ownership.

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