{
  "id": 14408074,
  "title": "Wor Flags and Sky Sports are among my personal heroes and villains",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/wor-flags-and-sky-sports-are-among-my-personal-heroes-and-villains",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-14T08:45:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wor-flags-sky-sports-among-084522530.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Newcastle United fans have shared their personal heroes and villains from the 2020s. Eddie Howe, who led the club to their first major trophy in over 50 years, is widely hailed as a hero for achieving this remarkable feat. Howe guided Newcastle through a cup run that saw them defeat Forest, Chelsea, and Arsenal before reaching Wembley for a historic final. He also prevented the club from relegation and secured two Champions League campaigns, culminating in a memorable 4-1 victory against PSG.\n\nThe article also highlights several unsung heroes of the Newcastle United community during this decade. These individuals quietly dedicate their time and resources to support various charities, including foodbanks, the Sir Bobby Robson foundation, and the Alan Shearer foundation. These charities provide crucial assistance to those in need, such as fighting cancer and offering specialized care for individuals with complex disabilities.\n\nOn the other hand, Alexander Isak, who scored the winning goal in a Cup Final but subsequently went on strike to secure a move away from the club, is branded a villain. Isak's actions were seen as a betrayal, as he had the opportunity to remain loyal to the team that had supported him throughout his career.\n\nAnother controversial figure on this list is Sky Sports, which the author considers a villain of the decade. Despite the network's regular coverage of Newcastle United matches, their handling of away fan concerns and their decision to introduce a £14.95 per-match charge during the pandemic were highly criticized. As fans refused to pay this fee and instead donated it to foodbanks, Sky Sports faced significant backlash. This move, coupled with the pundits and commentators being labeled as subpar, led to a national boycott of Sky Sports, resulting in a £300,000 donation raised for charitable causes. The author praises the fans for their boycott, effectively tarnishing Sky Sports' reputation.",
  "summary": "Who are your Newcastle United heroes and villains? We asked some contributors to The Mag if they’d like to talk about theirs, our thanks to The Armchair Fan for taking up this challenge. He has focused on the Newcastle United heroes and villains of the 2020s in this piece.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}