From St James’ Park to late-night screenings in KL, Newcastle United supporters in Malaysia prove that loyalty knows no distance – and no time zone.
This post contributed by Archie Rutter
Supporting Newcastle United F.C. in the UK has never been just about football. On match days in the city itself, black-and-white shirts fill the streets and thousands of fans make their way to St James’ Park together. Remarkably, that same energy carries more than 10,000 kilometres away, here in Kuala Lumpur. Here, the Newcastle United F.C. supporters club – better known as Toon Army Malaysia – proves that distance means little when devotion runs deep.
For Ryan Moody, the connection began early. Growing up in Newcastle, he spent Saturdays heading to the stadium with his dad or friends. “Pubs were packed before kick-off, everyone singing on the walk to the stadium. It wasn’t just football; it tied everyone together.” Today, Moody lives in Kuala Lumpur, but the ritual remains.
Newcastle supporters, known as the Magpies thanks to the club’s black-and-white striped shirts resembling the bird’s colouring, were often rare sightings. Many Malaysian fans grew up as the only Newcastle supporter in their group of friends. Over time, though, scattered fans began to find one another. That loose network slowly grew into Toon Army Malaysia, now officially recognized by the club itself. Dominique Kee, who runs the club, is very proud of this fact and does an amazing job in promoting the supporters club.
MATCH DAYS AT 3 AM
Watching football in Malaysia requires commitment. Premier League matches regularly kick off at 3am local time. Fans gather in pubs or 24-hour eateries, beer in hand. When the whistle blows, the atmosphere is anything but sleepy. “We sing loud and proud for the whole game,” one member says. “Quiet isn’t really our style.”
The supporters’ club is active well beyond match nights. Members organise weekly football games, from casual friendlies to private leagues, giving fans the chance to step onto the pitch themselves. They also host special events when former Newcastle players visit Malaysia. Over the years, fans have met familiar names including Kevin Nolan, Danny Simpson, Jonjo Shelvey and Shay Given. For many supporters, these moments feel like a little piece of Tyneside arriving in Southeast Asia.
LOYALTY THAT LASTS
Newcastle fans understand loyalty better than most. Decades of relegations, near misses and long trophy droughts have tested supporters around the world. That patience finally paid off in the 2024/25 season, when Newcastle lifted the EFL Cup – ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
Moody watched the final at The Corkman pub in Kuala Lumpur alongside fellow fans. When Newcastle defeated Liverpool 2–1 at Wembley, the room exploded. “We went mad,” he laughs. “After all those years waiting, it felt massive.”
Ask the fans why they support Newcastle, and the answer rarely stops at football. As Moody puts it: “Newcastle has a way of holding onto you – even when you’re halfway around the world.”
COME AND JOIN US
You can get in touch with Toon Army Malaysia via their Facebook page, or you can contact Dominique Kee via WhatsApp 013 361 9999. They usually watch the live games at Gringos, 104A Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Kuala Lumpur.
