Chris Wood may have scored his first Newcastle United goal at St James’ Park in the one-nil win over Wolves. Yet pictures of his celebrations, as well shared across social media as they were, were outshone by the image of the club’s co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi flying a black and white flag before kick-off.
The snap of Ghodoussi waving the flag - as thousands around the ground were doing at the same time - was a special moment for the group behind the flag displays currently winning plaudits from every level of the football club. “If there is a symbol of how far we have come in the last six months - that was it,” Thomas Concannon, a member of Wor Flags says with a sense of pride.
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“Mehrdad Ghodoussi stood there, waving the flag and being part of the support on a matchday - that shows what we've gone through as fans in the last six months. It shows the difference that we've got now in owners,” Concannon added.
The group, who have put on a display every home game since the new owners' first against Spurs back in October, painstakingly spent many hours putting thousands of black and white flags across all four stands of St James’ Park. As kick-off against Wolves drew nearer, their hard efforts were recognised by Ghodoussi himself as he met the group in person.
“We spoke to him about how they can make our job of setting displays up easier. If there is anything we need, we just need to reach out and they will do their best to accommodate and help us as best they can.
“One thing though we've always stressed is that we are fan-funded and that is the best thing about the flags - we don't want to take any money from the football club. We love the fact it's fan-funded. It makes it pure. Authentic.
“It's just way better than doing it that way than having it funded by the football club and risk it not feeling the same. That was one point we stressed to Mehrdad.
“We all recognise the part the flags now play on a matchday. We all see the praise we get from fans, and that does mean a lot - it makes you want to continue to do it more and more.
“We did jovially talk about putting flags on Mehrdad’s seat. We've talked about it for months - just going up there and doing it.
“With the Wolves display, being in the Milburn Stand, we thought it was the right time to do it. When he met us, he asked if the flags were still on his seat, and they were. It was great to see him flying it - the co-owner of Newcastle United.
“It was just a nice feeling to see him do that and he stuck to his word - he told us he was going to do it, and he did it. It was nice to look over from the Gallowgate to see him waving that flag.
“It was brilliant. We can't thank him enough for the kind words and the very public backing he has given us.”
The display again Wolves was what something the group call ‘a flag mess’ with fans urged to pick up and wave the flags left on their seats. Come kick-off against Wolves, St James’ Park was a sea of black and white.
In the hours after the game, videos of the display were posted to social media, and yet again Wor Flags was praised for their efforts in helping boost the atmosphere. “Wolves was brilliant,” adds Concannon.
“The display - there was a lot of scepticism to whether it would work but as with the East Stand, the Milburn Stand proved they can get involved! It looked truly incredible, just seeing all four sides going for it, and long may that continue.
“Just an incredible sight. We just hope it gave the players a lift.”
It seemed to do just that with Newcastle getting their first win in three Premier League games. The victory all but secures their place in the top flight for another season.
The group are planning a special display for this Sunday's game against Leicester - and have long-term ambitions to get up to Level 7 and into the family enclosure too. Upon meeting the group, Ghodoussi praised the efforts of the volunteers, as he had done earlier in the day alongside his wife and co-owner Amanda Stavely, as the pair met up with the Newcastle United Supporters Trust.
Concannon added: "The main reason for the flags is to get the atmosphere up and give the players the backing and to have those right at the top of the club praising us, it means a lot to the group. It's just a nice thing for hardworking people, who are volunteers with Wor Flags, often laying out the displays until the ungodly hours, it was just nice to have that recognition from those higher up.
"It makes it all worthwhile. You want to keep going when you get that praise.
"As a group, we've had it from Howe, Shearer, Lascelles, - it's just really nice. You know you're doing a good thing when you're getting that praise and long may it continue."
