The meaning behind Dan Burn’s touching gesture during Newcastle goal celebration against Tottenham
Dan Burn sent a touching message to the club’s deaf supporters during Newcastle United’s Premier League clash with Tottenham.
Newcastle claimed a crucial 4-0 win over Champions League chasing Tottenham in the Saturday lunchtime kick off, which provided a massive boost to the Magpies’ hopes of playing European football next term.
But perhaps the game’s most notable moment wasn’t a goal or assist but instead, Burn’s message to Newcastle’s deaf supporters while celebrating his side’s third goal.
Read Also: Robbery suspect attacks Abuja pregnant woman with wheel spanner
After leaving his side’s huddle, Burn barrelled the TNT Sports cameras and aimed a celebration towards the club’s deaf supporters using British Sign Language.
In sign language, Burn said: “Love the fans.”
The Premier League encounter saw a contingent of Newcastle’s deaf fans wear new “haptic” kits to enjoy a better experience of the atmosphere at St James’ Park.
Read Also: Navy arrests 2, seizes truck over alleged illegal oil deal in Bayelsa
The shirts use sensors which vibrate when action takes place on the pitch.
The kits were created through the partnership between Newcastle’s kit sponsor Sela and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), while it is part of an initiative called Unsilence the Crowd.
RNID’s director for inclusion Teri Devine said the new technology could have “a real and lasting impact” on how people who are deaf or have hearing loss experience live games.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s chief commercial officer Peter Silverstone said the club believed the campaign would be truly “game-changing for football”.
He said: “When Sela shared the idea and technology behind the haptic shirts, we supported the concept immediately, knowing it would make such an impact to our supporters who are deaf or have hearing loss.”
Meanwhile, Sela said it was “committed” to providing the technology at all future Newcastle United home games.
Senior vice president of Sela, Ibrahim Mohtaseb, said: “St James’ Park is renowned for its noise and passion.
“Through this initiative we hope to enable deaf fans and fans with hearing loss to feel a part of this.”