Monday, 31 October 2022

THE HALLOWEEN BAG JINX STRIKES AGAIN!

 Posted 'high noon bells' on Halloween Munday 31st Octobaa 2022

HAZ A GHOST NICKED MY BAG?"

8 years ago on Halloween 2014, Colonel Gadaffi (NOT the one from Libya---the one from Bracknell in Berkshire!) stopped owerneet for wor game v Livaapoool and when he went back to hiz hotel he foond hiz owerneet bag woz missin from hiz room! Had a Halloween ghost nicked it, or wot? (He'd went to the wrang floor!)

This time before wor game v Villa he left hiz bag on the number 11 bus on hiz way to hiz west end hotel in Newcasil----He had to gan to Argos and buy anothaa one plus some toiletries and a change of clothes!

The Livaapool one iz a classic and we have reproduced it again on the Halloween annivorsary

THE TOON 1 THE LIVERBIRDS 0 *** PREMYAA LEEGUE 2014-2015

Posted '11:15am bells' Sunday 2nd November 2014
Reposted 'high noon bells' Halloween 2022

"WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?"

John 'The Undertaker's' funeral had been the day before and 'The Colonel' (he's 'the spit' of deposed 'crackpot' Colonel Gadaffi!) waz stoppin' owerneet in The Rowers Hotel in Dunston to go the funeral and then the match against The Liverbirds the next day. (He lives in Bracknell in Berkshire)

We'd had quite a few drinks in celebration of 'The Undertaker's' life and after hiz funeral in The Toon and after a canny few drinks in various hostelries, I showed 'The Colonel where the hotel waz on the Friday evenin' and he dropped hiz owerneet bag off in 'Room 1' on the 1st floor of the hotel.

Az he waz droppin' hiz bag off  aa asked the hotel manager if he waz full that neet!  "We're fully booked", he said,  "But some of our business guests have been unavoidably delayed and won't get here til the mornin'!" <(an important point---reeed on!)

We then went on 'the hoy' in Dunston takin' in The Royal Hotel bar and The Tudor Rose bar where a Halloween party waz takin' place with the locals dressed up az ghouls, witches and devils with horns stickin' oot of their heeds and there waz even one idiot in a gorilla suit!
"THERE'S A GHOST IN THE HOUSE!" *** TUDOR ROSE

"Have yoo seen them?" 'The Colonel' said, and I told him that this waz the NORMAL dress attire in Dunston!

Anyway!---aa finally left him in a dishevelled and inebriated state 'late on' and arranged to meet him the next mornin' @ '10 bells' to gan to the match which kicked off @ '12:45 bells'

"Yi'll nevaa guess wot happened to me last night!?" he said when he torned up---and aa had visions of him tellin' me that he couldn't find hiz way back to the hotel!

But a more bizarre set off events had taken place!

He DID find the hotel and went to hiz room (which he'd forgot to lock!?) and 'crashed oot' "ZZZZZzzzzz!!!!!"

Next mornin' he awoke and opened the curtains and he could see that he had a view of the River Tyne from hiz window!
He couldn't understand why, az when he had went to hiz room the previous night to drop hiz bag off, he had a view of the road that leads to Dunston's futbaall groond?

He decided he needed a shave and went to get hiz owerneet bag which he'd left on a chair beside the bed---but it wasn't there!---he searched the room and even looked under the bed to see if it waz there---but it wasn't!???----(it waz Halloween wasn't it---spooky!) Someone must have sneaked in and 'nicked it' while he waz asleep, he thought and he went doon to reception to complain to the manageress of the hotel!

She went back upstairs with him and like a scene from 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', she discovered that in fact he'd went back to the WRANG ROOM when he'd came back and had slept in the WRANG BED!--hence the 'Tyne view' he had and 'ne bag' in the room! <(yi couldn't make it up!)

Obviously the room he'd slept in WAZ for the (still un-arrived!) business people the hotel manager had told me aboot the neet before!

Imagine the scenario if the delayed business people HAD arrived orly in the mornin'???---A Beautiful blonde bimbo businesswoman arrives exhausted and gans to hor room!
She hoys hor 'kit off' and dives into bed--anly to discover a 'Colonel Gadaffi' lookalike snorin' hiz heed off on the next pillow!
A 'Halloween Horror Story' if ever there waz one!!!!  



Anyway!---off we set for The Toon and he got 'a load of merciless stick', aboot it, aa can tell yiz!

It waz then 'match time' and we heeded for wor seats.
The Toon started off the better of the 2 sides and went close on a couple of occasions. The Liverbirds were not very good and couldn't muster a shot durin' the 1st half and they were lucky not to be behind at the interval when at least one penalty decision went against us!
THE TOON ATTACK THE LEAZES END (1st HALF)

The visitors were a bit better in the 2nd period but The Toon stuck in and went for 'the jugular'.
The breakthrough came in the 73rd minute when a Sissoko pass was blocked by Mereno, but it fell nicely for Perez and he whacked the baall into the net from just inside the box to put us one-nil up, to huge roars from the crowd!

It shud have been two just eight minutes later when Cabella waz put through by Sissoko and with anly Mignonet to beat in The Liverbirds goal he shot by the keeper managed to push the baall around the post to deny him!

It 'mattered not' though!---and we held on to record wor FOURTH win in a row and move up to the dizzy heights of 11th in the table!
ACTION @ THE GALLOWGATE END DURIN' THE 2nd HALF

After the match me and 'The Colonel' heeded for 'The Bodega on Westgate Road where he left hiz owerneet bag under a table!

Sometime later he looked for it, but (again!) it wasn't there? and had mysteriously moved by itself to an alcove above a door!----very spooky! 
"HOW DID THAT GET UP THERE!???"

Toon team: Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, Steve Taylor, Dummett, Sissoko, Abeid, Colback, Obertan (Aarons 27), Cisse (Perez 46), Sammy Ameobi (Cabella 66)

Attendance: 52,166 (3,200 Liverbirds)

Sunday, 30 October 2022

THE TOON 4 THE HAZBEENZ AND VILLIANS 0 *** PREMYAA LEEGUE 2022-2023

 Posted 'high noon bells' Sunday 30th Octobaa 2022


HALLOWEEN PARTY TIME!

This woz a game of 2 halfs az NUFC huffed and puffed durin the forst 45 minute + 10 mins stoppage time due to a bad injury to Villa's goalie Martinez, who woz kneed by one of hiz own players in the 35th minute and had to be replaced by Olsen! haloween 

We'd had a couple of good chances through Wilson and Longstaff who both shot wide orly on, but we just couldnt get oot of 2nd gear!



The breakthrough came 6 minutes into stoppage time when Villa defender Ashley Young controlled the baall with hiz upper arm in the box and the ref pointed straight to the spot!

Callum Wilson took it and slammed the baall doon the middle with Olsen divin' to hiz right at The Leazes End!  He then scored again, but the goal woz ruled oot for offside by VAR   HT 1-0 up!

The 2nd half woz SO different with NUFC dominatin from start to finish. 11minutes after the restart Wilson double wor lead when a 'one-two' between Almiron and Trippier from a corner woz crossed by Trippier who crossed the baall for Wilson to nod in from close in!



3 minutes later and it woz 3-0 when a Wilson shot woz parried by their sub keeper to Joelinton and he said, "thank you very much!" az he fired the baall into the back of the net!

Then the goal of the game in the 67th minutre when Almiron send a brilliant 20 yard bender into the corner of the Gallowgate End net, with their goalie well beaten, to send the crowd wild!

It woz aall 'one way traffic' az we peppered their goal with numerous shots---too many to mention and hit the woodwork twice through Wilson (bar) and Murphy (post)!

It could easily been 7 or 8, but we had to settle for the 4-0 win to consolidate wor 4th place in the table!

Like we said in wor previous match report THE TOON ARE BACK AND YOU'D BETTER BELEEEEVE IT!



Attendance: 52,233

*Before the match the Villa fans sang the: "Cheer up Alan Shearer, sad Geordie b*stard---and a shit football team!" song

The reality iz that THEY are the sad b*stards with a shit futbaall team for certain! (They havint won in their last 15 visits!)

THIS PHOTO OF THE EMPTY SEATS IN THE VILLA END WOZ TAKEN 20 MINUTES BEFORE FULL TIME

*

HAPPY TOON FANS OOTSIDE 'THE STRAWBERRY' AFTER THE MATCH


*

Saturday, 29 October 2022

THE TOON V THE HAZBEENZ AND VILLIANS **** THIS AFTERNOOON!

 Posted 'high noon bells' Saturday 29th Octobaa 2022

THE MILBURN STAND FROM BARRACK ROAD

Unbeaten at SJP for months NUFC take on a Villa side who have a new manager in Unal Emery ---who of course torned us doon a year ago!

He cannit take charge til November because of work permit issues so caretaker manager Aaron Danks will be in the away dugoot!

Elliot Anderson haz been declared fit to play, while Saint Max iz likely to feature after bein' oot through injury!

NUFC are unbeaten in wor last 7 Premyaa Leegue home games stretchin' back 6 months, while Villa havint won away in 6 attempts this season---with anly 3 away goals scored!

Indeed under 'Steady Eddie' we have anly lost twice at SJP in the Premyaa Leegue, since he took ower nearly a year ago!

And if results gan wor way this weekend we could actually move up to 3rd place in the table!----UNREAL!---considerin' where we were a year ago----ROCK BOTTOM!

Its a '3 bells' untelevised start and a full Geordie Times match report will appear here sometime tomorrow!  Az per usual "Watch this space!"

Friday, 28 October 2022

SPORZ PUB CRAWL!----RUNNIN' TOTAL FOR AALL GAMES THIS SEASON SO FAR!----78

 Posted 'high noon bells' Friday 28th Octobaa 2022

  THE GIANT BISCUIT TIN STADIUM, TOTTENHAM!

*Aa naa its a bit late to put wor pub crawl list online from last weekend--but this IZ The Geordie Times after aall! 

 Because wor game v Sporz woz moved twice we kept the same '9am bells' train doon last Saturday (when the match woz supposed to be played!) 

Because the game wasnt played til Sunday we had plenty of time to dee an extended pub crawl aroond King's Cross, Euston and Holborn in Central London on arrival at 'high noon 🔔 bells'


SATURDAY, 10 'liquid lubrication locations' visited! ("Hic!")










SUNDAY, (just!) 2 'liquid lubrication locations' visited

    Before the match


   After the match


*RUNNIN' TOTAL FOR AWAY GAMES WE HAVE BEEN TEE SO FAR! 
78 'LIQUID LUBRICATION LOCATIONS' 

TOUR OF AUSTRIA: 41
BRIGHTIN: 8   
TRANNY ROVERS: 2  
WOLVERHAMPTON WANABEEZ: 4
LIVAAPOOOL: 4
FULIM: 6
VILLA U21s: 0
MOAN U MUPPETEERS: 1
SPORZ: 12













Wednesday, 26 October 2022

NUFC REARANGED FIXTURES AND TELLY TIMES FOR DECEMBER AND JANUARY!

 Posted '12:32pm bells' Wedinzday 26th Octobaa 2022



The telly times for the festive period have been released TWO WEEKS later than advertised!

Boxin' Day Munday 26th December 

The Basil Brush Brigade of Lestaa at The King Power at '3:00 bells' (PRIME)

New Years Eve Saturday 31st December

Leeedz at SJP at '3:00 bells' (Nee telly)

Tuesday 3rd January 2023

The Arse at The Emirates at '8:00 pm bells' (SKY)

Saturday 7th January (FA Cup 3rd roond---venue and opponents to be decided)

Saturday 14th January

Fulim at SJP (Could change)

Saturday 21st January 

Cristil Palliss at Selhurst (Could change)

*The anly one that "f**ks us up" so far iz The Arse away midweek at '8:00pm bells', which meeenz we have nee choice but to stop owerneet somewhere near King's Cross in London (Again!)

We still divvint naa when we will play Fulim and Palliss, despite theeze roond of fixtures due oot with the rest of the above two weeks ago???


  

Sunday, 23 October 2022

SPORZ 1 THE TOON 2 *** PREMYAA LEEGUE 2022-2023

 Posted on the '10:00pm bells' train back from London, Sunday 23rd Octobaa 2022 on mee mobile 'telling bone' and updated on Munday and Tuesday on mee laptop




"DANCIN' AND SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!"

This iz a great day for everybody connected with NUFC az this iz the day that we have cemented wor place back in the upper reaches of The Premyaa Leegue after many years in the wilderness at the wrang end of the table in relegation scraps!

Callum Wilson opened the scorin in the 31st minute when he clashed with Sporz goalie Lloris ootside the box and he lobbed the baall into the net with the keeper lyin poleaxed on the groond!  VAR conformed the goal woz OK after protests from Sporz players!

Miggy Almiron doubled wor lead 9 minutes later when he took a pass from Longstaff and roond a home defender to double wor lead and we went in 2-0 UP at the break!

Durin the half time interval the sky torned grey and black and thunder and lightning lit up the heavens!



Aall of a sudden it started to pelt doon with torrential rain of biblical propotions, az the wind blew it into the stands!

Within seconds we were drenched to the bone and aall of a sudden 100s made for the shelter of the concourses! (Put it this way! If a'd jumped into the river Tyne fully clothed aa couldn't have been any wetter and aa half expected Noah's Ark appear on the pitch at any time!) 🠜Slight exaggeration!  



Mee so caalled waterproof jacket woz soaked through az woz mee jeans and boxer shorts!  I woz in row 15 and made mee way to the very back row of the away section to try a keep dry!  A billion pound stadium where at least 30,000 of the 60,000 plus crowd got a good drenching! (The worst and heaviest downpour at a match av ever known!)


The fear woz that if the rain kept falling so heavily that the pitch wud become waterlogged and the match abandoned!

Thankfully the rain eased off and the 2nd half started!

Harry Kane pulled one back in the 54th minute, but instead of defendin' we stayed on the attack to try and score another, rather than 'parkin the bus'!

The 'new' Newcasil have come a lang way in the last 12 months!


The win lifts us up to a Champions Leegue position in 4th place az soaken fans and players danced and celebrated wildly at the end of the match!


"Dancin' and singin' in the rain!"


Just one undeserved defeat at Livaapoool oot of 13 played (12 Premyaa Leegue, 1 Leegue Cup) make very impressive reading for the new regime! 

We won't single any particular player oot for praise---they were aall outstandin'!


*Attendance:61,726 (30,000 rather wet fans!)

THE TOON ARE BACK! YOU'D BETTER BELEEEVE IT!



   WOT THE PAPERS SAY

Saturday, 22 October 2022

SPORZ v THE TOON *** SUNDAY AFTERNOOON!

 Posted '9:30 am 🔔 bells' on train to King's Cross, Saturday 22nd Octobaa 2022

LAST TIME WE WERE HERE LAST SEASON--A SHATTERIN' 5-1 DEFEAT!

"SKY TELLY AND RAIL WORKERS COULD'NT GIVE A SHIT ABOOT FUTBAALL FANS!"

We are off on wor travels a day orly for the game at Sporz az we booked the 9am bells train to King's Cross for the 5:30 bells kick off today, which had been changed for live telly from the '3bells kick off!

After we booked trains and an hotel for the Saturday neet---guess wot?  The b*stards changed it again to a 4:30 bells kick off on the SUNDAY!

SO!---instead of watchin the match on Saturday and stayin owerneet to travel back at 2pm bells' on Sunday, we are now gannin doon today and stoppin owerneet for the game TOMORROW! (wot a carry on!)

We've had to change the train back coz it left BEFORE the new kick off time, and are now catchin the '10bells' train back on Sundat neet!

On top of THAT we foond oot orlier this week that there iz anothaa train strike on the weekend we play Sooothampton away, makin the train 'no go', so we have to travel by road there and back!!! (700miles roond trip!)

The THORD time a train strike haz effected us this season in lang distance games! (Brightin away (700 miles roond trip), Fulim away (600 miles roond trip) and now Sooothampton away!) (No one likes us---they don't care!)

PS: We are due to arrive at King's Cross at 'high noon bells' today ---TWENTY EIGHT AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE KICK OFF!  (Looks like a very lang 'pub crawl' today and tomorrow!!!)

Will dee match report on Munday sometime!  Az per usual!-------

 "Watch this space!"

*

Thursday, 20 October 2022

THE TOON 1 THE TOFFEE NOSES 0 *** PREMYAA LEEGUE 2022-2023

 Posted 'just after high noon bells' Thorzday 20th Octobaa 2022



Not the best game yill evaa see, but the goal that won it WOZ one of the best yoo WILL evaa see! 

MIGGY'S GOAL, 'LITTLE ARMS' CANNIT REACH THE BAALL!

Miggy Almiron scored it in the 30th minute, when 2 passes across the park from Brazilians Joelinton and Bruno foond the Paraguayan and he hit a sweet left footer from 25 yards oot, ower the heed of 'little arms' Pickford the mackem we love to hate, to score the anly goal of the game at The Leazes End!



It shud have been many more az we pounded the Evaatin goal in the forst half, but had to settle for the one goal lead at the break!



Evaatin to be honest were p*ss poor and in total had just ONE shot in the entire game, compared to 16 from The Toon!

The 2nd half woznt az good, but the 3 points are aall that matters az we gan from strength to strength!



The win keeps us in 6th place in the table with just one (undesorved) defeat in the 12 games we have played so far this season! (11 Leegue, 1 Leegue Cup)

It shud be noted that on this day one year ago a certain failed manager woz sacked by NUFC, when we were rock bottom of the table with nee wins and just 5 points, to be replaced by Steady Eddie who haz done a MAGnificent job since last November when he took the reigns! (NUFC have 18 points under Eddie so far!)



Attendance: 52,204  (3,000 Toffee Noses at the start of the game and 1,500 at the end of the game!)


🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖
CAN YOO SPOT THE DINOSAUR IN 
THE GALLOWGATE END?


   WOT THE PAPERS SAY!



Wednesday, 19 October 2022

THE TOON V THE TOFFEE NOSES*** TOONEET

 Posted just after 'high noon 🔔 bells' Wedinzday 19th Octobaa 2022


TOON FANS SHOW THEIR LOYALTY TO THE CROWN OOTSIDE THE STRAWBERRY CORNER


Tooneet at '7:30 bells' we face Evaatin at SJP in wor forst midweek Premyaa Leegue game of the season!

Saint Max and Alexander are both oot, but the rest shud be fit and rearing to gan!

A full Geordie Times match report will be forthcomin tomorrow! Az per usual

"Watch this space!"

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

ST. JAMES' PARK 1880-2022 *** 142 YEARS OLD! *** HAPPY BELATED BORTHDAY TOO YOOO!"

Posted 'high noon bells' Tuesday 18th Octobaa 2022
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 142 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 121 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 

ARCHIVE GROUNDS MATCH REPORT LIST