THE TOON 3. BENFICAA 0 *** CHAMPIONS LEEGUE GROUP STAGE GAME 3

 Posted ‘1.01pm 🔔 bells’Wedinzday 22nd Octobaa 2025

NEE EXPLANATION NEEDED!⬆️

“THE STADIUM OF DELIGHT!”

“IF YI NAA—YI NAA!?”🤔

After wor poor showing at Brightin on Saturday it woz vital that we retorned to winnin ways in this crucial Champuons Leegue fixture!—And oh boy we did!

A midfield change of Lewis Miley, Jacob Murphy and Jacob Ramsey, replaced Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Elanga, who dropped to the subs bench, made aall the difference!

The forst half woz nowt to write home aboot, apart from Anthony Gordon’s goal, which he hit from inside the box from a pinpoint Jacob Murphy cross at The Leazes End in the 32nd minute!

Bruno and Dan Burn 🔥 aalso had efforts which went close to scorin, az did Benficaa, who shaved the Gallowgate post to give us a wake up caall!

The main action happened in the 2nd half az we pounded the Gallowgate goal and after a tactical substitution in the 63rd minute when Harvey Barnes entered the fray, replacing Jacob Murphy, we doubled wor lead, when an outrageous lang throw from The Pope in The Toon goal, foond Barnes who hit a sweet shot across goal, which went in off the far post to the relief of the vast majority of the crowd, just 7 minutes after he had come on!

The 2,500 Benficaa fans in level 7 of The Leazes End had been in brilliant voice up til this point, but fell silent after this goal!

It woz soon 3-0 when Barnes again ran through from a Gordon pass in the 83rd minute and hiz shot went through legs of Trubin in the visitors goal, to give The Toon an unassailable lead!

In total 3 penalty appeals were waved away by the same Polish ref who gave PSG a very dodgy penalty against us 2 years ago in Paris!

Gordon and Barnes were fouled in the box, but the most blatant woz on Bruno, who got rugby 🏉 tackled by a Benficaa defender!

More chances went a beggin through Willock, Botman, Joelinton and Burn, but we had to settle for 3-0 which moved us up to 7th place in the 36 team Champions Leegue table, for the time being at least, above the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and LIVAAPOOL! (Who aall play tooneet, so expect NUFC to drop to at least 10th)

Updated 10.00pm bells 🔔’

*After Wedinzday’s fixtures, NUFC drop to 8th, with anly Real Madrid gannin above us! 

The top 8 automatically qualify for the knockoot stage!

9 to 24 gan into the play offs!

24 to 36 are eliminated! (ie: They don’t drop into the Europa Leegue, az happened in previous seasons)

Benficaa holds a special place in my heart, az this woz mee 300th groond watchin a Toon team at the PROPER and ANLY Stadium of Light, in Lisbon!— (See top photo!) 

It woz aalso grandson Jamie’s 16th birthday yesterday— A game he will now never forget!🎂 

Happy days are here again in wor see-saw season!

Attendance: 52,073 (2,500 from the Portuguese capital)🇵🇹 

*It torned oot to be a very lang day, az wor lass had to be at The Freeman hospital in the east end of The Toon for ‘7.30am bells 🔔’

She didn’t get oot til ‘5.20pm bells 🔔’ and by this time the rush hour traffic woz horrendous!

It took 1 hour to drive yem (normally 20 minutes!) and by the time aa dumped mee canny tranny, jumped on a bus and got to the tornstiles with just half an hour to kick off —-and massive queues to get in az well!

Thankfully aa made the kick off, just in time to hear The Champions Leegue music blasting from the loudspeakers—and the rest, az they say, iz history! ⬇️

THE TOON V THE TEAM FROM THE PROPER STADIUM OF LIGHT!*** CHAMPIONS LEEGUE GAME 3

 Posted ‘high noon 🕛 bells 🔔’ Tuezday 21st Octobaa 2025

THE FLOODLIGHTS AT SJP LAST NEET, LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY IN THE CENTRE OF THE PICTURE, AZ BENFICA TRAINED ON THE PITCH BELOW (WE ASSUMED?)

(PICTURE TAKEN FROM 

THE GEORDIE TIMES HQ)

Followin the disappointment of wor defeat at Brightin on Saturday, we must pick worselz up for this Champions Leegue game v Benficaa at SJP, who were the runners up in the Portuguese 🇵🇹 Leegue last season! (‘8.00pm 🔔 bells’ kick off)

Tino Livramento, Lewis Haall and (of course!) Yoane Wissa are aall crocked and will take nee part in the proceedings!—-While there are doubts aboot Sandro Tonali and Joelinton az well!

Benficaa will have the backing of some 2,500 fans in the gods of the Leazes End, which iz considerably more than the 800 that Barcelona brought to SJP in the forst group stage game!

Benfica’s Stadium of Light groond in Lisbon holds a special place in mee groundhoppin’ exploits, az this woz mee 300th different groond watching NUFCs 1st team, reserves, juniors and NUFC XIs 

It woz a Europa Leegue qwaataa final 1st leg tie in 2013, which NUFC lost 3-1 (We drew 1-1 at SJP in the 2nd leg to exit the competition 4-2 on aggregate!)

*Unfortunately, aa cannot make the ‘2 bells 🔔’ kick off in wor U19s UEFA Youth Leegue game v Benficaa U19s at Blue Flames (aka Whitley Park) due to a hospital appointment at The Freeman hospital in High Heaton! (in the east end of The Toon!)

However! A full match report on The Champions Leegue game will of course be published sometime on Wedinzday!

Az per usual: “Watch ‘‘this space!”

NEE WHERE NEAR BRIGHTON 2. THE TOON 1 *** PREMYAA LEEGUE 2025-2026

 Posted just after ‘high noon 🕛 bells 🔔 onwards, Sunday 19th Octobaa 2025

MY VIEW FROM AN END SEAT WHERE I COULDNT SEE THE FAR RIGHT HAND CORNER FLAG!— I HAD TO WALK DOON THE AISLE TO SEE ACTION FROM THERE!

“AMEX JINX STRIKES AGAIN”

This woz wor 12th trip to ‘The Stadium in the Middle of Neewhere’ and yet another disappointing 700 miles roond trip for the 3,000 ‘Intrepid Toon Travellers’!

We actually scored an away goal through a very clever and brilliant back flip from Waltemade in the 76th minute, but that woz the anly plus point of the game for us, az we laboured against a bang average Brighton side!

Ex SMB Danny Welbeck stuck the knife in with 2 goals, one when he woz put clean through in the forst half to take the lead—-and hiz second 9 minutes after we equalised with a sickening shot!

We had a genuine penalty appeal which went to VAR torned doon, half way through the second half, a few minutes before we scored, but that woz aboot it!

ONE solitary Premyaa Leegue away goal in 4 games tells its own sorry story aboot wor striker predicament, with many unhappy fans now questioning Eddie Howe’s position az heed coach!

Wor take iz that it’s not hiz fault that a certain striker with a 4 letter surname downed tools and went on strike! (C**T perhaps?)

Or that a Wissa, a striker we signed for £55 million on deadline day got injured playin for DR Congo, haz yet to kick a baall for us 3 months into the season!—or even kick a baall in training!?

The result meeenz we slip back into the bottom half of the table and any thought of qualifying for The Champions Leegue again next season, are vanishing very quickly indeed!

*Attendance: 31,620  (Like as say 3,000 Toon faithful!— or should that read FATEful!?)⬇️

The lang day started when aa dragged meesel oot of mee ‘scratcher’➡️ 🛌 at the ungodly hour of ‘5.00am bells’ 🔔 to catch the’6.55am 🔔s train 🚂 to King’s Cross and then onward to Lewes from St Pancras station (Lewes for a few gargels from ‘high noon 🕛 bells 🔔’) and then onwards to Falmer where the groond iz situated in the middle of neewhere!

The return jorney woz in reverse and we eventually arrived back at ‘The Central’ (Toon train station) at ‘midneet bells 🔔’   A very lang day with nowt to show for it!

Pub crawl pix Just 3! NONE of them near The Amex coz there are NONE, apart from a new crappy Brightin fanzine! 2 new drinkin dens (Been to Betjemans arms previously this season) Runnin total 33 different drinkin dens so far!

JOHN HARVEY TAVERN, LEWES

PORTER AND SORTER, EAST CROYDON, LONDON

THE BETJEMAN ARNS, ST PANCRAS, LONDON 

(PREVIOUSLY VISITED THIS SEASON)

NEE WHERE NEAR BRIGHTON V THE TOON *** SATURDAY AFTERNOOON!

 Posted ‘high noon 🕛 bells 🔔 Friday 17th Octobaa 2025

THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE! A 1-1 DRAW WITH ‘THE RAT 🐀’ SCORIN WOR GOAL FROM THE PENALTY SPOT LAST SEASON!

Orly tomorrow mornin’ we heed for the south coast for the 2nd consecutive Premyaa Leegue away game at Brighton, after wor sorte to Bournemoooth, before the latest International break!

We will be glad to get this one oot the way az yih need to catch six trains to get there and back!

The forst one from ‘The Central’ to King’s Cross and then a tube ride to Victoria across London, another train to Lewes and then finally a train from Lewes to Falmer, where Brighton play—And of course the same in reverse!

Gettin’ oot of mee pit 🛌 at 5 am 🕔 bells 🔔 to catch a 🚌 bus to The Toon and then the train 🚂 to London at 6.55am 🔔s’—We arrive back at aboot 1am 🕐 bells’ on the Sunday mornin’ and finally a 10 minute 🚕 taxi ride yem! 🏠 

A bit exhausting, but hopefully it will be worth it!?

Jacob Ramsey iz expected to return to the fray, while Lewis Miley iz doubtful?

However Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento and the £55 million man Yoane Wissa, who haz yet to kick a baall for us since signin on deadline day, are aall crocked! ( There iz STILL nee news just when Wissa will be fit to play?)

Wor record since Brighton moved to the Amex iz truly shocking!

In 11 attempts in Leegue and Cup NUFC have ONE solitary win, 9 years ago in The Championship!

We have NEVER won here in a Premyaa Leegue or FACup games in 10 visits! (Drew 5, lost 5!)

*We say ‘Nee Where Near Brighton’ az their AMEX groond iz situated in a place caalled Falmer, some 6 miles from Brighton! ⬇️

ST. JAMES' PARK ***1880--2025** 145YEARS OLD! *** HAPPY BORTHDAY TOO YOOO!"

Posted 'high noon bells' Thorzday 16th Octobaa 2025

This iz the orliest known photo of a stand at St James' Park in 1888 when Newcastle West End occupied the groond 

(Oliver Hardy iz on the far left and Stan Laurel iz on the far right!)---HONEST!

Newcastle East End took over the ground when West End folded and a small wooden stand can be seen in the background filled with bowler hatted gentlemen!

This photo woz taken in 1890

The forst ever game of futbaall at St. James' Park took place 145 years ago on 16th October 1880 when a Newcastle Rangers 'Captains X1' took on 'Others' who had 15 players on the field!
Rangers anly had 11 players but won 6-1!
The Daily Journal recorded that: "The new ground is very nicely situated. It is 120 yards by 60 yards broad and is comparatively level!"
Rangers headquarters were recorded as: 'Strawberry House, 78 St James' Park' and Rangers christened the ground St. James' Park az it woz next to St. James' Street which iz still there in the shadow of The East Stand!

*By amazing coincidence aa got married to Val on 16th October 2005 at St James' Park!---on the 125th anniversary of the forst game!

Aa didn't realise this til  aa woz researchin' this article in October 2018!   Aa thought "16th October rings a bell?"--- but aa couldn't remember why??? 

PS: I tell people I got married to Val in a cathedral!  
"The cathedral on the hill!"---az Sir Bobby Robson caalled it!

SJP buildin' work 1890's

SJP 1904 (St James' Street iz on the right)

SJP 1905 WITH THE 2ND WEST STAND IN THE BACKGROOND

SJP IN 1905

SJP 1930 WITH THE NEW LEAZES END ROOF AT THE TOP OF THE PICTURE

SJP car park 1930

SJP 1960s

SJP entrance 1960s

SJP 21st century

SJP 21st century "The cathedral on the hill!"

Here are some fascinating newsreel photos from a game v Liverpool 124 years ago in 1901

NUFC won 1-0 with centre forward Bob McColl scorin' the anly goal, watched by a crowd of 20,000

THE OLD WEST STAND (NOW MILBURN STAND) IZ IN THE BACKGROOND

THE POPULAR SIDE (NOW EAST STAND) WITH LEAZES TERRACE (LEFT) AND ST. JAMES' STREET (RIGHT) WHICH THE GROOND WOZ NAMED AFTER

  

LOOKING TOWARDS THE LEAZES END-- NOTE THAT THE NUFC GOALIE MATT KINGSLEY IZ WEARING BLACK 'N' WHITE STRIPES

NOTE THAT THE REFEREE IN THE MIDDLE OF PHOTO IZ WEARIN' A CAP 

TV FIXTURES IMMINENT FOR DECEMBAA AND JANUARY!

 Posted ‘6.00pm 🛎️ bells’ Tuezday 14th Octobaa 2025

Updated Wedinzday ‘7.00pm 🔔s

The Premyaa Leegue telly times for the fixtures below are due to be released sometime on Wedinzday— but divvint haad yih breath! 

Altogether there are a possible 11 games which could be moved!

The Geordie Times predicts that at least 6 will be on live telly and 5 will stay the same!- Let’s see how many we get reet! 3 oot of 4 so far- The rest not decided yet, despite their promises! 

Decembaa 2025

Wed 3 Sporz home will stay the same ❌ Now Tue 2 at 8.15 🛎️s on Sky

Sat 6 Bornlee home will stay the same ✅

Sat 13 SMB away will definitely be moved ✅ Now Sun 14 at ‘2.00🔔s on Sky

Sat 20 Chelseee home will be moved ✅ Now Sat 20 at 12.30 🛎️ s on TNT

Sat 27 Moan U away will be moved (Nothing decided)

Tue 30 Bornlee away will stay the same (Nothing decided)

January 2026

Sat 3 Palace home will stay the same (Nothing decided)

Wed 7 Leeedz home will stay the same (Nothing decided)

Sat 17 Wolves away will be moved (Nothing decided)

Sat 24 Villa home will definitely be moved  (Nothing decided)

Sat 31 The Liverbirds away will be moved (Nothing decided)

U21s are in action tooneet at Mansfield ⬇️ in the EFL Trophy!

We will bring you news of any goals az soon az we find oot— Or! if you want to watch—-It’s on Sky Sports + tooneet! (7.45 bells 🔔)

GOAL! Cathal Heffernan 4th minute!⬇️

1-0 to NUFC U21s —-in the aall green strip

22nd minute

Goal for Mansfield by Dickov 1-1

HT 1-1

66th minute

Goal for Mansfield by Flanagan 

It’s been coming!

2-1 doon!

91st minute

GOAL! for NUFC by Mc Arthur!

2-2 FULL TIME!

Penalty shootout for extra point⬇️

✅1-0 NUFC score

✅1-1 MTFC score

✅2-1 NUFC score

❌MTFC miss

✅3-1 NUFC score

✅3-2 MTFC score

✅4-2 NUFC score

❌MTFC miss

✅4-2NUFC score

✅4-3 MTFC score 

✅5-3 NUFC score! McArthur wins it for extra point!

🤪👍🏁

PS Looks like I put 4-2 twice and got mixed up!?😵‍💫

DUNSTON 3 BLYTH SPARTANS 0 *** NORTHERN PREMYAA LEEGUE EAST DIVISION

 Posted ‘12.37am bells 🔔’ Wedinzday 15th Octobaa 2025

“ONE GIANT LEAP FROM PEARSON!”

With the International break still in full swing and indeed with England in Latvia, on the same neet in a World Cup qualifier, we decided to watch the match between Dunston and Blyth Spartans at UTS Stadium instead and a bumper 530 crowd were in attendance to witness a great 3-0 win for Dunston and the sad demise of the once feared Spartans of Blyth!

Blyth started off the better side, but gradually ‘The Fed’ (Dunston’s nickname) came more and more into the game az the first half progressed!

The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when Dunston took the lead with a great heeded goal by their captain!

The Dunston Twitter feed enthusiastically announced the goal as follows:  

Micky Pearson leaps like a salmon in the penalty area, allowing him the power a header into the back of the net from a corner!

It should be noted that Dunston sits on ‘the banks o the Tyne’, which iz aalso one of the finest salmon fishin rivers in England!—-So the description of that goal isn’t fishy at aall! (sic!)

HT 1-0 to ‘The Fed’ (Their former name woz Dunston FEDeration Brewery FC)

News had filtered through that England had taken the lead through NUFCs Anthony Gordon, which made the half time ‘booze break’ in the clubhoose even better! (England eventually won 5-0!)

The 2nd half got even better for Dunston and they doubled their lead in the 74th minute when JJ O’Donnell sent in a powerful heeded goal at ‘The Clubhoose End’!

It got even worse for The Spartans az the 3rd and final goal of the game came in the 83rd minute through a Wil Shaw shot from inside the box, az the travelling ‘green army’ fell silent!

The Dunston Ultras then ‘stuck the knife in’ by singin repeatedly to their heed coach: “Your gettin sacked in the mornin!” az they danced behind the away dugoot! ⬇️

This woz followed by a more poignant: “Your not famous anymore!”  

This, the famous non leegue team, who in 1978 I saw play Wrexham in the FA Cup 6th roond at SJP in front of 42,000, woz now in freefall and rock bottom of the NPL East table and facing a 3rd relegation in a row!

The very sad demise of a great non leegue club!

“ITS AALL GO AGAIN FROM SATURDAY ONWARDS!

 Posted ‘1:31pm 🔔 bells’ Munday13th Octobaa 2025

MURIAL ON THE CORNER OF PERCY STREET AND LEAZES PARK ROAD!

Followin the 2nd International break of the season, which haz lasted 13 days, NUFC face 7 games in 3 competitions in 3 weeks and then another International break of 13 days!—and then at least 10 games from 22nd Novembaa til the end of Decembaa!

Thats a crazy 17 games aall told to be crammed into the fixture list before New Year’s day! (At least!)

Meenin in total that we will have played 27 games from the start of the season!

The telly fixtures for Decembaa and January are due to be released on Wedinzday, where nee doubt we will be playin at ‘anytime 🔔 bells’ on any day of the week!?

We start off the marathon at Brighton on Saturday at the very unusual time of 3 bells 🔔 at their ‘Nee where near Brighton Stadium’ which iz in the middle of nee where! (the last 2 times its been played at 2 🛎️s on a Sunday!)

This meenz that we can actually get there and back withoot an owerneet stay!

It’s certainly hectic and very expensive followin The Toon home and away these days! 💴 

THE BEGINNING OF THE END!

Posted ‘2.00pm bells’.🔔 

Friday 10th Octobaa 2025

“AT LAST!— I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO SEE NUFC ON PLANET MARS!”  

“TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!—

WHEY AYE MAAN!”

News that the AC Milan v Como Serie A game will be played in Perth, Australia in February 2026 and that Villarreal v Barcelona La Liga game will be played in Miami, USA in Decembaa, iz ‘the beginning of the end’az this will set an unstoppable never endin’ rollercoaster 🎢 ride!

What next? NUFC v Sporz in The Premyaa Leegue on the planet MARS! It’s crazy! (DON’T bet against it!)

Are they gannih pay for season ticket holders flights and hotels when we play games in far off places?

I Fink we aall naa the answer to that one! 🙈