Japanese Newcastle United fan reveals bizarre moment that Alan Pardew turned him into a supporter

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Alan Pardew’s moment of madness at Newcastle United has bizarrely added to the club’s fanbase.

It has been over 10 years since Alan Pardew departed as Newcastle United manager in 2014 to join Crystal Palace.

Pardew’s time at St James’ Park is best remembered for the fifth-placed finish in the 2011/12 Premier League season.

Pappiss Cisse and Demba Ba led the line for the Magpies with Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye starring in midfield. It was an iconic side that is still adored by the Newcastle fanbase.

Pardew’s tenure on Tyneside was also full of dramatic flashpoints, such as Pardew’s headbutt against Hull City’s David Meyler in 2014.

Japanese fan supports Newcastle because of Alan Pardew

Newcastle has been growing a global fanbase for some years now – that has only accelerated since the PIF takeover in 2021.

However, one fan from Japan has bizarrely claimed that he became a Newcastle fan in 2014 after watching Pardew headbutt Meyler on the touchline.

Via twelfthmansocial on Instagram, one fan hilariously explained how he became a Newcastle supporter: “About 10 years ago, I watched a game against Hull City,” he said.

“The game was crazy and Alan Pardew had a headbutt. That was the game I watched first and that made me fall in love with this team.”

Alan Pardew’s headbutt on David Meyler

Back in March 2014, Newcastle travelled to Hull to face Steve Bruce’s side in the Premier League.

The Magpies were in the top half of the table and chasing back-to-back wins having beaten Aston Villa in their previous game.

Newcastle put on an impressive performance and won 4-1 thanks to two goals from Moussa Sissoko and strikes from Loic Remy and Vurnon Anita. However, the real drama happened on the touchline.

Hull midfielder Meyler went to retrieve the ball for a Hull throw-in before he clashed with Pardew on the touchline. The Newcastle manager proceeded to headbutt the Irish midfielder.

Newcastle fined Pardew £100,000 for his actions and he also faced a seven-match ban. Pardew recently spoke about the incident on talkSPORT.

“Meyler sucked me in, he was very clever,” Pardew said.

“He kicked me as the ball was running out of play. On the way back I was giving him a few verbals and he came towards me. I put my head into his head – it wasn’t actually a headbutt but when you look at the footage, the media went mental.”