30/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 30, 2025 theSunday Special IX

One of Toon Army Malaysia’s 3am MVs when they beat Arsenal.

Pride of the Geordies Ask any Newcastle fan who their greatest hero is and you’ll likely hear the same name: Alan Shearer. For Dom, the legend ary striker embodies the spirit of the club ± SDVVLRQDWH OR\DO DQG XQDSRORJHWLFDOO\ Geordie (a person from the Tyneside area of North East England, where Newcastle is located). “Plenty of emotion goes into supporting Newcastle. Our history, playing style and passionate supporters make it impossible to support the Toon casually. You either feel it or you don’t,” Dom shared. And when that long-awaited trophy ¿QDOO\ DUULYHG LW ZDVQ¶W MXVW D ZLQ IRU WKH FOXE ± LW ZDV KLVWRU\ EHLQJ PDGH “ &DUDEDR &XS ZLQQHUV DIWHU \HDUV That’s something you’ll never forget,” Dom said with a smile. A GL̆ HUHQW NLQG RI IRRWEDOO FXOWXUH Football culture in the UK is deeply communal, something Malaysia doesn’t always replicate. In Britain, few people ZDWFK JDPHV DORQH ± WKH SXE EDU RU stadium is part of the experience. In Malaysia, watching football can often be D VROLWDU\ RU VPDOO JURXS D̆ DLU Dom believes fans of smaller clubs bring a unique dimension to Malaysian football culture.

Match nights at mamaks Ask any member what it’s like to follow the Magpies from across the world and they’ll paint you a picture of late nights, loud voices and loyal camaraderie. F RU WKH PRUH ³VDQH´ NLFNR̆ WLPHV WKH\ gather at a regular venue. For the ungodly 3am games, 24-hour mamaks become their St. James’ Park. “We show up early, eat well and sing loud for the whole game. We don’t do quiet,” Dom said. W KHQ 1HZFDVWOH SXOOHG R̆ D VKRFN ZLQ against the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool, the euphoria could last for weeks. “We’re noisy, unapologetically so and that joy carries us long after the final whistle,” Dom admitted. More than wins and losses Supporting Newcastle has always been about more than silverware. For decades, the club went without a major trophy. The ORQJ ZDLW ¿QDOO\ HQGHG ZLWK WKH &DUDEDR &XS YLFWRU\ LQ WKH VHDVRQ ± WKHLU

¿UVW LQ \HDUV )RU 'RP DQG KLV IHOORZ fans, it was more than just a cup. It was vindication. “Supporting a club not because of their wins but in spite of them means you don’t just walk away when things get tough,” Dom explained. “Newcastle has always been an emo tional team and many of us are in it for life.” That loyalty is tested not just by the team’s struggles but also by constant teasing from fans of the big clubs. “We’ve always had jibes about being a club that doesn’t win everything. But recently those jokes have turned nastier. Maybe some feel threatened now that Newcastle is on the rise?” he said. Still, Dom insisted there’s no real “hard VKLS´ LQ EHLQJ D 1HZFDVWOH VXSSRUWHU ± RQO\ the heartbreaks on the pitch. Malaysian fans have even experienced the sting of relegation, not once but twice, a reality that most supporters of the glamorous clubs will never know. Yet those experiences only deepen the bond.

“Supporting mid-table clubs adds variety,” he said. “But the real issue is that football watching culture isn’t as strong here as it is in the UK. There, it’s always a shared experience.” Toon Army Malaysia is trying to change that. Through their weekly gath erings, friendly matches and loud chants at 4am, they are carving out a little slice of Geordie spirit right here in Malaysia. Why it matters At the heart of it, supporting a “non-glam orous” EPL club is about authenticity. It’s about choosing passion over popularity, loyalty over convenience. For Dom, the advice to the next gen eration of Newcastle fans is simple. “Buckle up and enjoy the ride. This is literally the most exciting time in decades. We may or may not achieve greatness, but we’ll always be here, loud and proud.” That’s the thing about Toon Army Malaysia. They may not have the big JHVW QXPEHUV WKH ÀDVKLHVW WURSKLHV RU the loudest presence in the media. But what they do have is heart. A stubborn, passionate, sometimes noisy heart that EHDWV EODFN DQG ZKLWH ± DOO WKH ZD\ IURP Tyneside to Kuala Lumpur.

• Official status: Recently recognised as an official supporters’ club of Newcastle United. • Membership: Around 200 active members across Malaysia, with a core group in the Klang Valley. • What they do: • Weekly football matches (friendlies & private leagues) • Regular match viewings (MVs) for almost every Newcastle game, even the 3am ones • Special events like meet-and-greets with ex-players ( Shay Given being a recent guest) • Biggest highlight: The massive MV for the 2025 Carabao Cup final, where fans packed an event space to celebrate Newcastle’s first trophy in 70 years. • Vibe: Loud, passionate and proud – just like the Geordies they represent. Who are Toon Army Malaysia?

Dom appeared on EPL Fanzone after their Carabao Cup Final win.