Newcastle fans target barber over red and white décor

Jul 26 2009 Sunday Sun

“The worst occasion was when a drunk young man came in, smashing the front door and pushing furniture around and shouting: ‘You think I’m going to get a haircut in here? What do you think you’re doing putting them colours all over?’

“I tried to explain but he didn’t care . . . I was a bit shaken up.

“I can’t believe how many people think the traditional barber shop colours are the Sunderland strip.

Gwen says she gets a comment every day about her trade’s colour scheme and says it’s unfortunate she lives in a town between two rival football cities.

Regular customer and Newcastle season ticket-holder David McBride, 34, said: “South Shields holds a mixture of Newcastle and Sunderland supporters because of its geographical location.

“As far as I’m concerned the people who give her abuse when she’s innocently done up her shop in traditional barber shop colours have got to be either drunk or uneducated.

”Gwen’s great at cutting hair but wouldn’t have a clue about the off-side rule. She knows as much about football as I know about cutting hair so to see her accused of football fanaticism is farcical.”

But some Toon followers say she should know better. Barry Hoole, 50, from North Shields, said: “I understand that it’s traditional for barbers to have those colours but when you’re in a small town in the North East, you’ve got to be careful.

“I wouldn’t advocate anyone who gives her hassle but what does she expect when she’s painted her shop with the Sunderland strip?”

What do you think? Should Gwen be getting hassle over her red and white décor?

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