In a long EXCLUSIVE in in the Sun on Thursday there was a big interview with NUFJW before the big game.
Several references to a happy and settled private life but no mention of the K-word.

Woody: I'm back on track
By CARL LIDDLE
JONATHAN WOODGATE is a changed man at Newcastle — going from bad-boy to model pro in just a couple of years.
The £9million Toon defender has been in magnificent form on the pitch this season. And off it he continues to show true maturity.
He played hardly any games during the 2001-02 campaign while at Leeds due to the now-infamous, long-running court case.
The England star was found guilty of affray for his part in an attack on an Asian student while on a night out.
He was ordered to complete 100 hours’ community service — but was soon making the wrong sort of headlines again when he damaged his jaw during horseplay with a bunch of pals outside a boozer in his home town of Middlesbrough.
During that time he lost his place in Sven Goran Eriksson’s national squad and started to look like a man on the rocks.
Now, though, he is very much back in business. His switch to Newcastle in January last year has seen him blossom again and regain his place in the England set-up.
He is even said to be one of Arsenal’s main summer targets.
But for now he is determined to play a leading role in the Geordies’ UEFA Cup semi-final, first-leg clash against Marseille at St James’ Park tonight.
And, speaking before the Magpies’ most important Euro tie in 35 years, Woody was delighted to put the record straight about the person he really is.
He insisted: “I think people expected me to be loud and always out having a drink — but that is not the real me.
“I have settled down well up here and have a very settled private life, too.
“I have learnt how to keep my life on track. I have learnt how to settle down. I know not everyone expected me to behave as I have — but this is the real me.”
His model behaviour has even put him in the frame to succeed Alan Shearer as the Toon captain when the hitman eventually hangs up his boots.
And because of his growing popularity on Tyneside, Woodgate is in a great position to become a true hero to the Geordie folk.
He added: “I’d love to captain this club after Alan but I’m sure we’d all say that. I’d like to think I could handle it, I feel I could.
“I’m quiet off the pitch but not when I am on it — you’ve got to be loud on the pitch and make yourself heard.
“But it takes a special person to take over from Al, he’s a god up here.”
As for his form, which has so delighted manager Bobby Robson and the Newcastle supporters, Woody, 24, added: “I’m quite pleased with it at present as I get more games in and stay clear of injuries. But I can do a lot of things better. I have to keep improving as this season goes on — in a lot of areas.
“But if I can keep playing as I am then, hopefully, it could take me into Mr Eriksson’s squad for Euro 2004.
“It is going to be very tough. There’s not only John Terry and Sol Campbell. There’s also Gareth Southgate, if he can get back fit from injury, Wes Brown and then myself.
“It is going to be really hard, I know that. But I’m up for that challenge!
“But Newcastle still comes first — if you don’t play well for Newcastle, then you don’t play for England.
“If I keep on doing my stuff for Newcastle and Mr Eriksson comes to a few games, then who knows? As for Marseille, we’ve got to do everything we can to beat them — then go on and win this trophy because you have actually won something then.
“At the end of your career you can say I won the UEFA Cup in 2004.
“Champions League qualification comes by finishing fourth . . . what’s fourth?
“If we can win a trophy, win some silverware for this club after so long then you have achieved something very, very special.
“I don’t want to think all that matters going into every Premiership season is wanting to finish fourth!
“Mind you, I’d take them BOTH — UEFA Cup success and fourth spot.
“The UEFA Cup and a top-four finish — that has got to be the aim. I believe we have got a squad good enough to finish fourth, definitely.
“The bottom line is Newcastle have got to.
“This is one of the biggest clubs in Europe, with 52,000 fans at every home game.
“But one game at a time. We can’t talk about that or the UEFA Cup final until after we’ve done the business against Marseille.
“I hope we can. Newcastle is a special place. It had to be special for me to leave Leeds because I was very happy there. We have special fans.
“When I speak to other players when I am away with the England squad who have played here, they say ‘By God, the noise at your ground, the fans are unbelievable’.
“They are so loud they are untrue — and I know they always get the best marks away from home. They are so noisy and passionate.
“They are really friendly, too. But what I also enjoy about the North-East people is they are down to earth and allow me to get on with my private life.
“I just want to win something here for them — as quick as possible. I want to win the UEFA Cup this season.
“And we CAN win it, definitely. Why not? It will be tough — but it will be great if we do. A public holiday will be called for the Geordies!”


so all it took was the love of a great woman.

Thought this forum was about BB not Football...should this even be here?

In response to Kate's playfull comments in the Loaded article-that she was seeking to lure Jonathan to Arsenal in the summer we had.

NOWT April 18th Back Page-Arsene Wenger lining up NUFJW for a summer swoop.

To which Sir Bobby Robson-praised Woodgate for his performance against Arsenal and Henry-the previous week and tipped him to lead England's defence in the summer in Portugal and maybe be the next United Captain. (Daily star)

But Brian Wooly thing in the Star on saturday 24th compared the performance of NUFJW on Thursday to to the late great Bobby Moore-a national Icon (like Lord Nelson)and known to have played all his career at a major LONDON football club.

But the whole Geordie Nation are starting to love NUFJW-they even have a very original and affectionate terrace song about him to the tune of "Eleanor Rigby".
(unlike the one they made up for Lee Bowyer when he was playing for West Ham)

Well both clubs play today so we will see which is the best!

Well I think we can expect a charm offensive all round then

That Howard bloke in the Sun still shows an unusual interest in the root cause of NUFJW's mysterious groin injuries. Perhaps he should leave investigative journalism to the Front pagers.
Anyway I am sure there is nothing wrong with Kate's technique.
(Although Lee Chapman may need to read a few books-never thought rough sex could be so dangerous)

Seems NUFJW sustained an unfortunate strained thigh muscle on Sunday and may miss the rest of the season.
The only good thing was that Kate was not near him when it happenned and so could not be blamed.
It could be seen by all -he went down to block a cross and pulled out immedietely.

"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Sven Goran Eriksson is worried about Jonathon's fitness for Euro 2004.............
http://sport.independent.co.uk/footb...p?story=515690

WOODY! WOODY! WOODY! WOODY!

Fantastic defender, Unforunately injured for the rest of the season
> Good taste in women aswell

dont see why ericson is worried about woodgate he hasnt featured much in england games - team can well do without him - his taste in women about as good as her taste in men

oh my .....i just thought if he is fit enough to play .....wives and girlfriends will be flown out to them .....

I can just see Kate tagging alone behind posh

loving it

Woodgate is the best Central Defender in the country - bar none.

How long have they been together?

He is the best Central Defender in the Country.

They have been together since last summer.

Is he the one that was convicted for some sort of thuggery ? I don't remember.

No he was not.

Do your research.

Well, I did say that I did not remember & I was asking a question (look out for the question mark next time) but he was convicted of something that night, wasn't he?

In any case fancy hanging out with friends like that ?

I'm sure you are half right Zipper. Just to be sure, I will do a search and try and find an article on it, if I find one, I will post it

Hi Zipper

I found the following on the incident, wouldn't normally put it on here though (as this is BB site ), but some Kate fans have chosen to include footie in a BB thread, being the only thing they can cling to in connection with Kate at the moment.

I do remember though that Woodgate got off with it ( the case , not kate )

Leeds: it was racist

THE Lawrence family solicitor, Imran Khan, has called for a "serious and urgent" police investigation into the racist beating of Asian student Sarfraz Najeib in Leeds. Najeib was set upon by a group of thugs and beaten to within an inch of his life on 12 January. Two of the men questioned over the attack are Leeds football players Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate. Last week, after pressure from campaigners, Leeds police were finally forced to admit that it had been an unprovoked racist attack. Woodgate and Bowyer are continuing to play for Leeds. They are not due to be interviewed by the police until March.



Taken from here just scroll down for article.

There are plenty more articles and this is an old article on it. But it tells what happened.

Thankyou Susan. But was he actually charged with someyhing & what was the result?

I think, but can't be sure without doing another search, he actually got away with it and got off scot free.

Then we have to assume that he was innocent even if he has friends that are cinvicted criminals.