Newcastle fan, 42, who made drunken comments in crude social media video about the Munich air disaster which killed eight Manchester United players is handed three-year ban

• James Blake, 42, of North Shields, made cruel remark outside St James's Park
• Twenty-three people died in 1958 when a plane crashed during take off attempt
• Sir Bobby Charlton, who died in October last year, was among the survivors

By Matt Strudwick[1]

Published: 16:22, 4 January 2024 | Updated: 16:22, 4 January 2024

A Newcastle fan who made drunken comments about the Munich air disaster has been banned from attending football matches for three years.

James Blake, 42, of Wantage Avenue, North Shields, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court to challenge a banning order application but it was imposed by the bench.

Magistrates fined him GBP400 and ordered him to pay GBP620 costs and a GBP160 surcharge after he admitted a public order offence on the night Newcastle United played Manchester City in the Carabao Cup[2] in September.

He said he would pay the GBP1,180 immediately.

Blake was filmed by a YouTuber outside St James's Park saying: 'How? What about Man United? Air disasters, air disasters.'

Newcastle fan James Blake, 42, of North Shields, made cruel remarks about the Munich air disaster outside St James's Park (Pictured sticking his tongue out as he arrives at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court)

Blake admitted a charge of using threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress.

He was giving a three-year football ban and had his Newcastle United season ticket revoked

A child, not related to Blake, then joined in.

The court heard the comments were a reference to the plane crash in 1958.

Eight Manchester United players were among the 23 people who died.

Among the survivors was Ashington-born World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton[3], who died in October aged 86, and manager Sir Matt Busby.

Blake, a self-employed painter and decorator earning GBP400 a week who wore Stone Island jeans and a Lacoste sweater for the hearing, admitted a charge of using threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress.

Steven Davis, prosecuting, said the comment was made on the night Newcastle United beat Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, on September 27.

He told the hearing: 'You will see a person address the camera when he is approached from behind by a man and a young child and he makes the comment "Man United eh, air disaster, air disaster".

'It may be coincidental because Newcastle were drawn to play Man United in the cup.

'It was reference to what happened 65 years ago this year I am sure you are aware of what happened in Munich with the Man United team.'

Following the cup win, Newcastle were drawn against Manchester United.

But Dave Parish, defending Blake, said that the comments about the air disaster were made before Newcastle had even played the cup tie with City, and therefore before fans knew that they were to face Manchester United in the next round.

Mr Parish said: 'He is ashamed, remorseful and frankly disgusted with his behaviour.'

The solicitor said Blake had been drinking with Manchester City fans before the game and was 'highly intoxicated'.

Blake was videoed outside Newcastle's ground on the night the Eddie Howe's men beat Manchester City 1-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup

The Munich air disaster in 1958 claimed the lives of twenty-three people, including eight Manchester United players, when the plane crashed during a third failed take-off attempt

England and Red Devils legendary midfielder Sir Bobby Charlton was one of the survivors pulled from the wreckage by goalkeeper Harry Gregg

Sir Bobby (pictured in January 2015) died last October aged 86 five days after a fall at his care home

Mr Parish said Blake had 'picked up' some of what the City fans had been singing about.

The comments were uploaded to YouTube[4] then a clip was taken and shared on Twitter[5], now X, after the cup tie, the court was told.

As a result of being arrested, Blake had his Newcastle season ticket suspended, the court heard, and he has received death threats.

Mr Parish said: 'This is not responding to the (cup) draw, this is not trying to goad or upset other fans, this is pure and simple drunken stupidity.'

Chair of the bench, Jane Barnes, said the offence was aggravated because children were present and he had been drinking.

She said the football ban was justified, adding: 'You knew that it was being recorded and as a result of that, the recording was shown on social media.'

It means Blake can't attend any club fixture in England or Wales which also extends to the national team.

When Blake was told the conditions of the banning order, which include reporting to a Newcastle police station within five days of this hearing, he commented that he was in the process of moving to Spain[6].

Superintendent Paul Walters, of Northumbria Police, reminded fans of the consequences of their actions.

He said: 'This kind of hateful speech has absolutely no place in our communities or online, and we know this kind of behaviour isn't representative of the overwhelming majority of football fans.

'Many of you will have seen the original video circulating, and we would like to thank those of you who reported it to us in the first instance and allowed us to act.'

He added: 'I am therefore pleased that the seriousness of James Blake's offence has been recognised by the courts and I am grateful for the restrictions which are now stringently placed on him.'

Blake has also had his Newcastle United season ticket revoked.

A club spokesperson said: 'Tragedy-related chanting and gesturing is completely unacceptable and Newcastle United is committed to working with authorities and the wider football community to eradicate it.'

Munich: Fatalities and survivors

THE DEAD

Manchester United players

Geoff Bent, aged 25

Roger Byrne, aged 28

Eddie Colman, aged 21

Duncan Edwards, aged 21, survived the crash but died in hospital 15 days later

Mark Jones, aged 24

David Pegg, aged 22

Tommy Taylor, aged 26

Liam 'Billy' Whelan, aged 22

Manchester United staff

Walter Crickmer, club secretary

Tom Curry, trainer

Bert Whalley, chief coach

Crew members

Captain Ken Rayment, co-pilot, survived the crash but died in hospital three weeks later

Tom Cable, cabin steward

Journalists

Alf Clarke, Manchester Evening Chronicle

Donny Davies, Manchester Guardian

George Follows, Daily Herald

Tom Jackson, Manchester Evening News

Archie Ledbrooke, Daily Mirror

Henry Rose, Daily Express

Frank SWift, News of the World, died on his way to hospital

Eric Thompson, Daily Mail

Other passengers

Bela Miklos, travel agent

Willie Satinoff, United supporter and close friend of Matt Busby

SURVIVORS

Manchester United players

Johnny Berry, never played again

Jackie Blanchflower, never played again

Bobby Charlton

Bill Foulkes

Harry Gregg

Kenny Morgans

Albert Scanlon

Dennis Viollet

Ray Wood

Manchester United staff

Matt Busby, manager

Crew members

Margaret Bellis, stewardess

Rosemary Cheverton, stewardess

George William 'Bill' Rodgers, radio officer

Captain James Thain, pilot

Journalists and photographers

Ted Ellyard, Daily Mail telegraphist

Peter Howard, Daily Mail photographer

Frank Taylor, News chronicle reporter

Other passengers

Vera Lukic, wife of a Yugoslavian diplomat

Vesna Lukic, her baby daughter

Elanor Miklos, wife of Bela Miklos

Nebojsa Bato Tomasevic, Yugoslavian diplomat

References

1. ^ Matt Strudwick (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Carabao Cup (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Sir Bobby Charlton (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ YouTube (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Twitter (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ Spain (www.dailymail.co.uk)