‘Little strokes, fell great oaks,’ are the words of Benjamin Franklin, who believed that small but persistent efforts can lead to big results. It may seem a stretch to connect such a theory to that of the last 12 months of Newcastle United but if you look closely at what the current owners have done in that time, you can argue that the small moves are laying the foundations for what’s to come.
Upon reflection of the last year under Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben and The Public Investment Fund, a lot of the attention will be on the appointment of Eddie Howe, the arrival of Dan Ashworth and the millions spent in the transfer windows. It’s understandable, and to those outside of Tyneside those factors provide intrigue to some as much as they do criticism for others. Yet for many who follow United, it is the little things that the owners have done that matter the most.
It’s the communication from the owners, whether it be through the media, social media or in the street. It’s the relocation of Alan Shearer’s statue or the renaming of his bar. It’s the decoration of the stadium concourses. It’s the cleaning of the windows. It’s the removal of the Sports Direct signs. It's the backing of the women's side. It's the support of the foodbank.
