Posted '2:15pm bells' Thorsday 23rd October 2014
Police statement:
The family of flight MH17 victim John 'The Undertaker', (who waz a very good friend of ours) have let it be known that hiz body haz now returned to Tyneside and they would like to express their gratitude to everyone for aall the support and good wishes and support received durin' this lang and difficult period
Preperations are now bein' made for a private funeral later this month.
A message on behalf of John's sister Joyce:
"As those of you who knew him will be aware, John was a very private person and we'd like to say our farewells to him along with family members and close friends.
For this reason the date of the funeral has not been published".
"Your understanding is appreciated and once again we'd like to place on record our thanks for the countless kind gestures from John's fellow football fans---they have been a great sorce of comfort to his family"
This website iz dedecated to the Newcastle United groundhoppers who follow the fortunes of the team aroond the world (and beyond!) The ground totals include competitive and friendly forst team, resorve team, junior team and Newcastle United X1 games that 'the mad-sad groundhopper' has attended, aall for Newcastle United games only, in the last SEVEN decades*** cheers!***'Fink' (the mad-sad groundhopper!)***last count 379 (380 inc Motspur Park outside)
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
THE TOON U21s 3 BRIGHTON U21s 1 *** DARSLEY PARK *** BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!
Posted '12:31pm bells' Tuesday 21st October 2014
Match report by Percy the Pigeon who flew ower the action!
"Cooo!" @ a deserted Darsley Park apart from a few playin staff, players families and scouts, The Toon U21 resorves ran oot 3-1 winners ower Brighton's equivalent to regain top spot in the table!
The goal sequences were az follows:
20th minute: The visitors took the lead when Fenalon tapped in.
40th minute: Lang term 1st team absentee Ryan Taylor then levelled things from the penalty spot for us.
60th minute: Vuckic climbs above the Brighton defence to heed us into the lead.
66th minute: Dan Barlaser makes it 3-1 with a shot just inside the box.
Brighton had two players sent off!
I then winged my way back to the Benton Ale Hoose where I had started off before the game and 'flew' the match report to 'The Geordie Times' HQ late last neet! "Coooo!"--- "Hic!"
![]() |
| DARSLEY PARK ARIEL VIEW PICTURE EXCLUUUSIVE BY PERCY THE PIGEON! |
Match report by Percy the Pigeon who flew ower the action!
"Cooo!" @ a deserted Darsley Park apart from a few playin staff, players families and scouts, The Toon U21 resorves ran oot 3-1 winners ower Brighton's equivalent to regain top spot in the table!The goal sequences were az follows:
20th minute: The visitors took the lead when Fenalon tapped in.
40th minute: Lang term 1st team absentee Ryan Taylor then levelled things from the penalty spot for us.
60th minute: Vuckic climbs above the Brighton defence to heed us into the lead.
66th minute: Dan Barlaser makes it 3-1 with a shot just inside the box.
Brighton had two players sent off!
I then winged my way back to the Benton Ale Hoose where I had started off before the game and 'flew' the match report to 'The Geordie Times' HQ late last neet! "Coooo!"--- "Hic!"
Monday, 20 October 2014
THE TOON U21s v BRIGHTON U21s *** NOW BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!
Posted '10:17am bells' Monday 20th October 2014
Wor U21 resorve game against Brighton due to be played @ 'Blue Flames' this afternoon haz now been switched to wor trainin' groond next door @ Darsley Park and there iz now NO ADMITTANCE to fans az it's bein' played behind closed doors!
So if yoo were planning on gannin---DIVVINT!
If we've said this once---we've said it a hundred times!----wot possible experience of crowds can the resorves gain by playin' in front of a few club officials, family members and scouts if they don't let the true fans in to watch!???
We have no choice (yet again!) but to send wor faithful carrier pigeon 'Percy' to fly ower the action and send us 'a birds eye view' match report of the game!
We expect to get the match report when he flies back to 'The Geordie Times' HQ late this afternoon and we will put it online sometime tomorrow!----watch this space az per usual!
![]() |
| "COOOOO!"---"A'M OFF TO THE BENTON ALE HOOSE FOR A FEW 'LIQUID LUBRICATIONS' BEFORE FLYIN' TO DARSLEY PARK!"---- "SEE YOOO LATER CHICKEN!"--- COOOO!" |
Wor U21 resorve game against Brighton due to be played @ 'Blue Flames' this afternoon haz now been switched to wor trainin' groond next door @ Darsley Park and there iz now NO ADMITTANCE to fans az it's bein' played behind closed doors!
So if yoo were planning on gannin---DIVVINT!
If we've said this once---we've said it a hundred times!----wot possible experience of crowds can the resorves gain by playin' in front of a few club officials, family members and scouts if they don't let the true fans in to watch!???
We have no choice (yet again!) but to send wor faithful carrier pigeon 'Percy' to fly ower the action and send us 'a birds eye view' match report of the game!
We expect to get the match report when he flies back to 'The Geordie Times' HQ late this afternoon and we will put it online sometime tomorrow!----watch this space az per usual!
Sunday, 19 October 2014
THE TOON 1 THE BASIL BRUSH BRIGADE 0 *** PREMYAA LEEGUE 2014-2015
Posted '12:26pm bells' Sunday 19th October 2014
A bizzare afternoon started in 'The Newcastle Arms', when, just az we were aboot to leave for the '3 bells' kick off ,a Toon fan telt us that the match had been delayed az high winds had dislodged some bits from the new scoreboard that had just been erected in 'The Leazes End' corner next to the away fans!
"They arnt lettin' anybody in!", he said az he looked at his mobile!
We decided to heed up anyway, to see wot waz gannin on and utter chaos greeted us az we made wor way to The Milburn Stand concourse!
The whole place waz packed with fans unable to get in and more and more kept comin' up az kick off time approached!
Before lang yoo couldn't move az rumours circulated that the match might have to be caalled off az there waz a danger to spectators!
(It could anly happen to us!)
News then filtered through that the game WOULD be played with a '4 bells' kick off! A lad from the London Branch of wor supporters club telt us that he waz booked on the '5:25 bells' train back doon to 'the smoke' and he would now have to miss the 2nd half to catch hiz train! <(just hiz luck!) <(and for many othaa az well 'in the same boat' of course!)
Anyway! we eventually got in through the crush and on forst inspection of the new scoreboard wor disappointment intensified!
It waz anly aboot a thord of the size we had been led to believe and looked absolutleee cr*p!,---and sommik yoo would buy from 'The Poond Shop'!---typical of NUFC theeeze days!
Az the game kicked off an hour late, (with ne apologies for the delay!) a fan behind me commented that hiz new plasma telly waz bigger than the new scoreboard! (judge for yourself---see below!)
A pretty awful game unfolded below us with both teams below par az the 1st half petered oot!
Cisse missed a glorious chance at the start of the 2nd half and with the goal at hiz mercy he hit the side nettin'!
However!---an unlikely hero emerged in the shape of 'The Angel Gabriel' (Obertan) when he jinked past 3 Leicester player to fire a great shot from just outside the box into the left hand corner of the net @ The Leazes End to put us in front! ---to huge roars from the 50,000 faithful!
'The Basil Brush Brigade' then brought on 2 forwards and this changed the game az they went for the jugular.
It waz thankfully to no avail and we held oot to win for the 1st time at home since last May and the relief on the players and fans faces telt it's own story---news that the SMBs had lost 8-0! at Sooothampton rounded off a perfect day! <(apart from the farcical delay that iz!)
Toon team: Krul, Janmaat, Dummett (Heidara 72), Steve Taylor, Coloccini, Anita (Perez 59), Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran (Cabella 92), Cisse
Attendance: 51,866 (3,235 Basil Brushes!)
(Anly 'The Arse' had a bigger crowd in Britain!)
A bizzare afternoon started in 'The Newcastle Arms', when, just az we were aboot to leave for the '3 bells' kick off ,a Toon fan telt us that the match had been delayed az high winds had dislodged some bits from the new scoreboard that had just been erected in 'The Leazes End' corner next to the away fans!
"They arnt lettin' anybody in!", he said az he looked at his mobile!
![]() |
| "TOTAL CHAOS!" |
We decided to heed up anyway, to see wot waz gannin on and utter chaos greeted us az we made wor way to The Milburn Stand concourse!
The whole place waz packed with fans unable to get in and more and more kept comin' up az kick off time approached!
Before lang yoo couldn't move az rumours circulated that the match might have to be caalled off az there waz a danger to spectators!
(It could anly happen to us!)
![]() |
| "WOTS GANNIN ON---LIKE!" |
News then filtered through that the game WOULD be played with a '4 bells' kick off! A lad from the London Branch of wor supporters club telt us that he waz booked on the '5:25 bells' train back doon to 'the smoke' and he would now have to miss the 2nd half to catch hiz train! <(just hiz luck!) <(and for many othaa az well 'in the same boat' of course!)
Anyway! we eventually got in through the crush and on forst inspection of the new scoreboard wor disappointment intensified!
It waz anly aboot a thord of the size we had been led to believe and looked absolutleee cr*p!,---and sommik yoo would buy from 'The Poond Shop'!---typical of NUFC theeeze days!
Az the game kicked off an hour late, (with ne apologies for the delay!) a fan behind me commented that hiz new plasma telly waz bigger than the new scoreboard! (judge for yourself---see below!)
![]() |
| "I'VE GOT A BIGGER TELLY IN MEE LIVIN' ROOM!" |
A pretty awful game unfolded below us with both teams below par az the 1st half petered oot!
Cisse missed a glorious chance at the start of the 2nd half and with the goal at hiz mercy he hit the side nettin'!
However!---an unlikely hero emerged in the shape of 'The Angel Gabriel' (Obertan) when he jinked past 3 Leicester player to fire a great shot from just outside the box into the left hand corner of the net @ The Leazes End to put us in front! ---to huge roars from the 50,000 faithful!
'The Basil Brush Brigade' then brought on 2 forwards and this changed the game az they went for the jugular.
It waz thankfully to no avail and we held oot to win for the 1st time at home since last May and the relief on the players and fans faces telt it's own story---news that the SMBs had lost 8-0! at Sooothampton rounded off a perfect day! <(apart from the farcical delay that iz!)
Toon team: Krul, Janmaat, Dummett (Heidara 72), Steve Taylor, Coloccini, Anita (Perez 59), Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran (Cabella 92), Cisse
Attendance: 51,866 (3,235 Basil Brushes!)
(Anly 'The Arse' had a bigger crowd in Britain!)
Saturday, 18 October 2014
THE TOON v THE BASIL BRUSH BRIGADE *** THIS AFTERNOON!
Updated '11:22am bells' Saturday 18th October 2014
We face 'The Foxes of Leicester' this afternoon @ St James' in wot now iz a 'must' 'must' win game!
Oot of the 134 teams in the Inglish and Scottish Leegues anly us and Bornley havvent won so far this season in the leegue!
A shockin' stat that needs to be addressed @ '3 bells' today against the newly promoted midlands ootfit!
Even wor legendry top goal scorer Alan Shearer haz spoken oot and he predicts a lang hard winter near the bottom of the leegue!
Less than a thoosand tickets remain on sale and wor visitors have taken up their full allocation of 3,250 tickets for level 7 of 'The Leazes End', meanin' that a crowd of at least 51,000 will be present!
Unbeleevable!, considerin' we havvent won since last May some five and a half months ago!
The 'Angel Gabriel' Obertan will start the game, which just aboot sums up wor predicament az he waz surplus to requirements not so lang ago!
Riviere iz a doubt which shud give a chance to Adam Armstrong?
Tim Krul, Paul Dummett and Janmatt have suffered injuries but shud make the startin' line up <(we shall see!)
With games comin' up against Sporz away and The Liverbirds at home we desperatleee need the 3 points to claw wor way up the table!
A full 'Geordie Times' match report and pix will appear here sometime on Sunday----az per usual---"watch this space!"
![]() |
| LET'S HOPE HE'S NOT LAUGHIN' @ '5 BELLS'! |
We face 'The Foxes of Leicester' this afternoon @ St James' in wot now iz a 'must' 'must' win game!
Oot of the 134 teams in the Inglish and Scottish Leegues anly us and Bornley havvent won so far this season in the leegue!
A shockin' stat that needs to be addressed @ '3 bells' today against the newly promoted midlands ootfit!
Even wor legendry top goal scorer Alan Shearer haz spoken oot and he predicts a lang hard winter near the bottom of the leegue!
Less than a thoosand tickets remain on sale and wor visitors have taken up their full allocation of 3,250 tickets for level 7 of 'The Leazes End', meanin' that a crowd of at least 51,000 will be present!
Unbeleevable!, considerin' we havvent won since last May some five and a half months ago!
The 'Angel Gabriel' Obertan will start the game, which just aboot sums up wor predicament az he waz surplus to requirements not so lang ago!
Riviere iz a doubt which shud give a chance to Adam Armstrong?
Tim Krul, Paul Dummett and Janmatt have suffered injuries but shud make the startin' line up <(we shall see!)
With games comin' up against Sporz away and The Liverbirds at home we desperatleee need the 3 points to claw wor way up the table!
A full 'Geordie Times' match report and pix will appear here sometime on Sunday----az per usual---"watch this space!"
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
313 bigges main wallsend
(Ground number 313)
Date of First Visit: 14th October 2014
Bigges Main, Wallsend
Wallsend Boys Club Senior X1 1
Newcastle United U21s 7 (Barlaser <(not! Quinn!), Olley, Heardman (pen), Mystery Man? (3)!, og)
Friendly fixture
Attendance: 240 (estimated by 'The Mad Professor'!)
"HAT-TRICK HERO!---WHO ARE YOO!???"
This game waz arranged by resorve/U21 team coach Peetaa Beardsley, az he of course started hiz playin' career at the famous Waallsend Boys Club!
We! (bein' me and 'Michael the Mag') met up in 'The Hotspor' before heedin' for the Monument Metro to Waallsend where we planned to de a 'pub crawl' before the game!
Thiz waz 'two' 'forsts' for me!---A'v nevaa ever had a drink in Waallsend before and have nevaa seen them play here before!
Beleeeve it or not?--- a'd actually booked a days holiday from work to see this one!---that's reet!---'A days holiday in Waallsend'! <("It doesn't get any sadder than this folks!") <(Does it!???)
Forst 'port o caall' waz 'The Anson', a bar on the High Street with a reputation, but on entry it seemed quiet enough, but of course this waz a Tuesday afternoon when 'the radgies' were probably still in bed recoverin' from the previous neets 'bender'!
Next up waz 'The Ship' just alang the road and on entry we got some strange stares from the locals, az though we'd 'invited' worsels into their hoose and sat in their favourite chairs!
Channel Four racin' waz on the telly and they were soon distracted from us as a race started!
It waz then onward to 'The Queens Heed' ower the street and finally (and appropriately!) 'The Last Orders', last, before heedin' for the groond some 15 minutes waalk away!
The usual 7 or 8 'saddos' were in attendance and stood near the halfway line opposite the main entrance!
It waz a '4:30 bells' kick off az Waallsend didn't have any floodlights and the groond waz simply a fenced off field with ne cover!
The home side made the better start and had two good chances before The Toon took control!
The sequence of goals waz az follows:
28th minute: Callum Roberts crosses for Dan Barlaser to fire home.
I made the fatal missteak of sayin' that I though the goalscorer waz Jonathyn Quinn and waz ridiculed mercesleee for the rest of the half for my 'dillibritt mistayk'! <(personally I blame the drink!)
34th minute: Callum Roberts again iz involved in the build up and the baall faalls nicely to Gregg Olley and he shoots from the edge of the box, givin' the home keeper ne chance! <(I kept my mouth shut this time in case I got it wrang!)
Half time score 2-0 to The Toon!
60th minute: Tom Heardman iz fouled in the box and takes the penalty himself to put us 3-0 up (see above foto!)
70th minute: The amateurs of Waallsend are tirin' by this time and we bring on a super sub with the number 17 on hiz back! No one knows who he iz but he scores with a fine effort!
(There were ne team sheets!, just a programme with the full squad!)
75th minute: An own goal puts us 5-0 up az the skies darken and the rain begins to fall!
83rd minute: 'Mystery Man' gets hiz 2nd from close range
85th minute: 'MM'? completes hiz hat-trick with anothaa close range effort to put us 7-0 up!--By this time we were strugglin' to see in the dim light az the freezin' wind hit us straight in the face! <(winter iz here!)
89th minute: The Biggest 'cheer' of the afternoon comes when Waallsend finally score a consolation goal through a tap in!--final score 7-1 to The Toon!
'Holiday' ower!----We then heed back to The High Street and take in one more boozer (The Duke of York) before heedin' back to The Toon on the Metro and wor final 'port o caall' waz 'The Strawberry' before heedin' yem! ---- Anothaa groond chalked off the seemingleee nevaa endin' list!
PS: Aa eventually foond oot that wor number 17 hat-trick hero 'Mystery Man' waz caalled Stefan Broccoli!
Waallsend pub crawl
Date of First Visit: 14th October 2014
Bigges Main, Wallsend
Wallsend Boys Club Senior X1 1
Newcastle United U21s 7 (Barlaser <(not! Quinn!), Olley, Heardman (pen), Mystery Man? (3)!, og)
Friendly fixture
Attendance: 240 (estimated by 'The Mad Professor'!)
"HAT-TRICK HERO!---WHO ARE YOO!???"
![]() |
| TOM HEARDMAN PENALTY! (THE TOON ARE IN GREY) |
This game waz arranged by resorve/U21 team coach Peetaa Beardsley, az he of course started hiz playin' career at the famous Waallsend Boys Club!
We! (bein' me and 'Michael the Mag') met up in 'The Hotspor' before heedin' for the Monument Metro to Waallsend where we planned to de a 'pub crawl' before the game!
Thiz waz 'two' 'forsts' for me!---A'v nevaa ever had a drink in Waallsend before and have nevaa seen them play here before!
Beleeeve it or not?--- a'd actually booked a days holiday from work to see this one!---that's reet!---'A days holiday in Waallsend'! <("It doesn't get any sadder than this folks!") <(Does it!???)
Forst 'port o caall' waz 'The Anson', a bar on the High Street with a reputation, but on entry it seemed quiet enough, but of course this waz a Tuesday afternoon when 'the radgies' were probably still in bed recoverin' from the previous neets 'bender'!
Next up waz 'The Ship' just alang the road and on entry we got some strange stares from the locals, az though we'd 'invited' worsels into their hoose and sat in their favourite chairs!
Channel Four racin' waz on the telly and they were soon distracted from us as a race started!
It waz then onward to 'The Queens Heed' ower the street and finally (and appropriately!) 'The Last Orders', last, before heedin' for the groond some 15 minutes waalk away!
The usual 7 or 8 'saddos' were in attendance and stood near the halfway line opposite the main entrance!
It waz a '4:30 bells' kick off az Waallsend didn't have any floodlights and the groond waz simply a fenced off field with ne cover!
The home side made the better start and had two good chances before The Toon took control!
The sequence of goals waz az follows:
28th minute: Callum Roberts crosses for Dan Barlaser to fire home.
I made the fatal missteak of sayin' that I though the goalscorer waz Jonathyn Quinn and waz ridiculed mercesleee for the rest of the half for my 'dillibritt mistayk'! <(personally I blame the drink!)
34th minute: Callum Roberts again iz involved in the build up and the baall faalls nicely to Gregg Olley and he shoots from the edge of the box, givin' the home keeper ne chance! <(I kept my mouth shut this time in case I got it wrang!)
Half time score 2-0 to The Toon!
60th minute: Tom Heardman iz fouled in the box and takes the penalty himself to put us 3-0 up (see above foto!)
70th minute: The amateurs of Waallsend are tirin' by this time and we bring on a super sub with the number 17 on hiz back! No one knows who he iz but he scores with a fine effort!
(There were ne team sheets!, just a programme with the full squad!)
75th minute: An own goal puts us 5-0 up az the skies darken and the rain begins to fall!
83rd minute: 'Mystery Man' gets hiz 2nd from close range
85th minute: 'MM'? completes hiz hat-trick with anothaa close range effort to put us 7-0 up!--By this time we were strugglin' to see in the dim light az the freezin' wind hit us straight in the face! <(winter iz here!)
89th minute: The Biggest 'cheer' of the afternoon comes when Waallsend finally score a consolation goal through a tap in!--final score 7-1 to The Toon!
'Holiday' ower!----We then heed back to The High Street and take in one more boozer (The Duke of York) before heedin' back to The Toon on the Metro and wor final 'port o caall' waz 'The Strawberry' before heedin' yem! ---- Anothaa groond chalked off the seemingleee nevaa endin' list!
![]() |
| "WE WAZ THERE!" |
PS: Aa eventually foond oot that wor number 17 hat-trick hero 'Mystery Man' waz caalled Stefan Broccoli!
Waallsend pub crawl
![]() |
| WAALLSEND HIGH STREET *** "GET YOUR DOUBLE GLAZING HERE!" |
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
WAALLSEND BOYS CLUB GADGIES v THE TOON U21s *** THIS AFTERNOON! *** "NEW GROOND! *** NEW GROOND!"
Posted 'high noon bells' Tuesday 14th October 2014
This afternoon we face the mooth waaterin prospect of a visit to Waallsend, where wor U21s are takin' on the famous Boys Club senior side, who field a team in The Northern Alliance.
Wor U21s coach Peetaa Beardsley of course played for them in hiz younger days alang with many othaa famous players like Alan Shearer and 'Broken Nose Bruce'!
This new groond will be an unprecedented thord this month followin' wor visits to Heaton Stannington and Man City 's Academy! (can't ever remember visitin' THREE new groonds in the month of October!?)
We will be heedin' for the Waallsend High Street boozers, where again a'v nevaa ever had a drink in, but av hord that a couple of them are reet dives and they divvint take kindly to strangers invadin' their toon! <(must be sommik to de with 'Hadrian'???)
The game kicks off @ '4:30 bells' @ the Boys Club's Bigges Main groond which av been telt isn't tooo far from the Metro station!
Admission iz £3 and U16s are FREE!
A match report and pix will appear here later on sometime!
This afternoon we face the mooth waaterin prospect of a visit to Waallsend, where wor U21s are takin' on the famous Boys Club senior side, who field a team in The Northern Alliance.
Wor U21s coach Peetaa Beardsley of course played for them in hiz younger days alang with many othaa famous players like Alan Shearer and 'Broken Nose Bruce'!
This new groond will be an unprecedented thord this month followin' wor visits to Heaton Stannington and Man City 's Academy! (can't ever remember visitin' THREE new groonds in the month of October!?)
We will be heedin' for the Waallsend High Street boozers, where again a'v nevaa ever had a drink in, but av hord that a couple of them are reet dives and they divvint take kindly to strangers invadin' their toon! <(must be sommik to de with 'Hadrian'???)
The game kicks off @ '4:30 bells' @ the Boys Club's Bigges Main groond which av been telt isn't tooo far from the Metro station!
Admission iz £3 and U16s are FREE!
A match report and pix will appear here later on sometime!
Monday, 13 October 2014
WHY DE WE DE THEEZE DAFT GROONDS!
Posted '9:28am bells' Monday 13th October 2014
The reason we de theeze daft groonds watchin' the resorves and academy sides iz because we enjoy it!
To watch a match with just 100 hardys souls in attendance meenz that the local boozers (if yi can find one?) arnt full of inebriated idiots chantin' daft songs aboot cr*p ex players and yoo can get sorved quickly!
Aalso it gets us 'oot of the hoose' to meet new faces for a bit crack.
Warwick Rimmer iz one such person who we met at wor U18s game against Man City on Saturday, who waz a scout for Tranmere Rovers. We'd never hord of him, but he telt us that he had been the manager of Sierra Leone in the 1980s and had played ower 500 games for Bolton Wanderers in the 1960s. (more than the legendry Nat Lofthouse!)
I 'googled it' yesterday to find oot that he waz a legend at both Bolton and Tranmere and had made the Birkenhead club ower £14,000,000, findin' new talent to sell on!
He aalso played alang side Toon hero Wyn Davies for Bolton az well and even had a testimonial in hiz honour a canny few years ago (Bolton v Burnley)
He described Sean Longstaff's free kick goal az a one that Ryan Taylor would have been proud of! (a Toon player who who he knew from the past!)
Yes!--yoo certainly meet some great characters at theeze games and we reeely enjoy it!---roll on the next blank weekend when we can visit a new academy/trainin' groond!
The reason we de theeze daft groonds watchin' the resorves and academy sides iz because we enjoy it!
To watch a match with just 100 hardys souls in attendance meenz that the local boozers (if yi can find one?) arnt full of inebriated idiots chantin' daft songs aboot cr*p ex players and yoo can get sorved quickly!
Aalso it gets us 'oot of the hoose' to meet new faces for a bit crack.
Warwick Rimmer iz one such person who we met at wor U18s game against Man City on Saturday, who waz a scout for Tranmere Rovers. We'd never hord of him, but he telt us that he had been the manager of Sierra Leone in the 1980s and had played ower 500 games for Bolton Wanderers in the 1960s. (more than the legendry Nat Lofthouse!)
I 'googled it' yesterday to find oot that he waz a legend at both Bolton and Tranmere and had made the Birkenhead club ower £14,000,000, findin' new talent to sell on!
He aalso played alang side Toon hero Wyn Davies for Bolton az well and even had a testimonial in hiz honour a canny few years ago (Bolton v Burnley)
He described Sean Longstaff's free kick goal az a one that Ryan Taylor would have been proud of! (a Toon player who who he knew from the past!)
Yes!--yoo certainly meet some great characters at theeze games and we reeely enjoy it!---roll on the next blank weekend when we can visit a new academy/trainin' groond!
Sunday, 12 October 2014
312 (a&b) platt lane academy manchester city *** BLUE MOONIES U18s 2 THE TOON U18s 2
(Ground number 312 a&b)
Date of First Visit: 11th October 2014
Platt Lane Academy, Manchester
Pitch 'A'
Manchester City U18s 2
Newcastle United U18s 2 (og?, Sean Longstaff)
Pitch 'B'
Manchester City U16s 3 ?
Newcastle United U16s 0 ?
(divvint naa the final score!)
Attendances: approx. 100 on each pitch (just 4 NUFC mad-sad groundhoppers, namely, 'Fink the mad-sad groundhopper' (yours truly!), 'Michael the Mag', 'Adam Mac' and wor driver 'Blondie Alan the Morris Dancer'!)
"RYAN TAYLOR OVER THE WAALL!"
With ne Premyaa Leegue games ower this weekend due to a International break we decided to heed for Mancland where wor acadamy sides were playin' 'The Blue Moonies' academy sides at their Platt Lane Academy complex/trainin' groond, which iz just alang from their old Maine Road groond which they vacated in 2002.
On arrival we made a 'fruitless' trog to try and find a boozer az we still had an hour to spare before the '1 bells' kick off!
The Moss-side area of Manchester iz still a place yi would gladly send your muthaa in law tee for a fortneets holiday and even the metal rubbish bins in the back lanes had padlocks on them to stop them bein' nicked!
We passed City's old groond which iz now derelict with weeds and trees growin', where the stands once stood and we could see that on the far side that some new hooses were bein' built where the main stand used to be!
After askin' a bedraggled 'local' where the nearest boozer waz located, he telt us that the nearest one (that wasn't boarded up!) waz half a mile away, az he pointed us in the direction of a main road.
Az we had anly 40 minutes to spare now, we reluctantly decided to torn back to the Academy!
A boilin' hot cup of coffee in a smaall cardboard cup waz to be wor 'liquid lubrication' instead of the usual 'alcoholic variety' in the Academy canteen, but at £1 a cup it wasn't good value! <(Man Us Academy in complete comparison, provide yoo with FREE coffee!)
Anyway!--it waz soon time to take up wor standin' positions near the halfway line when 'Blondie Alan the Morris Dancer' realised that we were at the WRANG GAME az it waz the U16s who were warmin' up and NOT the U18s---the game we'd come to watch!
We were directed to anothaa pitch on the othaa side of the complex where we ended up standin' next to an old gadgie in hiz 70s who telt us that he used to play with Wyn Davies at Bolton Wanderers in the 1960's
"Wots your name?" aa asked him curiously. "Warwick Rimmer!" came the reply and he telt us he waz scoutin' for Tranmere Rovers and had hiz notebook and pen at the ready!
The Toon U18s took the lead in the 22nd minute when a mix up in the City defence ended up with a heeded own goal by one of their defenders!---that's the way it stayed til the break and then me and 'Adam Mac' decided to take in a few minutes of the U16s game on pitch 'B', az their game had kicked off orlier and the 2nd half had just started!
A stewardess telt us that, "City where winnin' 3-0 and were well on top!" I went to take a photo of the action but she telt me I couldn't and shud put my camera phone away!
We moved away az she constantly looked in my direction to see that I had carried oot her orders!---and when she wasn't lookin' I slyly took a couple of pix before we retreated and heeded back to the U18s game after takin' 15 minutes of this game! <(and--No! we won't include it az a different groond az it waz on the same complex! <(Mad-sad groundhoppers rule '27B'!)
On arrival back at pitch 'A' Warwick telt us that City had just equalised!---He then went on to tell us that he waz once manager of Sierra Leone in the orly 80s! <(ie: we were standin' next to an ex international manager!)
A brilliant free kick by wor number 7 Sean Longstaff on the edge of the box flew straight into the net ower the wall and Warwick commented that it waz just like a 'Ryan Taylor' free kick, someone he worked with in the past!
Two penalty appeals by us were torned doon (one for a foul in the box--the othaa for hand baall!) before City equalised again in the 88th minute through Charman, for an undeserved draw!
Man City pub crawl (one!)
We said wor 'goodbyes' to Warwick and heeded for the ootskirts of Manchester where some much needed 'tonsil ticklin' took place in a boozer caalled 'The Snipe' next to the entrance to the 'M60 ring road!---It waz then onward through numorous roadworks and we arrived back 'in toon' at '6:45 bells'--- 312 and coontin'!
Date of First Visit: 11th October 2014
Platt Lane Academy, Manchester
Pitch 'A'
Manchester City U18s 2
Newcastle United U18s 2 (og?, Sean Longstaff)
Pitch 'B'
Manchester City U16s 3 ?
Newcastle United U16s 0 ?
(divvint naa the final score!)
Attendances: approx. 100 on each pitch (just 4 NUFC mad-sad groundhoppers, namely, 'Fink the mad-sad groundhopper' (yours truly!), 'Michael the Mag', 'Adam Mac' and wor driver 'Blondie Alan the Morris Dancer'!)
"RYAN TAYLOR OVER THE WAALL!"
![]() |
| 'GEORDIE TIMES EXCUUUSIVE!' SEAN LONGSTAFF'S FREE KICK GOAL (2nd Toon player from left) (ball goes in just under bar) |
With ne Premyaa Leegue games ower this weekend due to a International break we decided to heed for Mancland where wor acadamy sides were playin' 'The Blue Moonies' academy sides at their Platt Lane Academy complex/trainin' groond, which iz just alang from their old Maine Road groond which they vacated in 2002.
On arrival we made a 'fruitless' trog to try and find a boozer az we still had an hour to spare before the '1 bells' kick off!
The Moss-side area of Manchester iz still a place yi would gladly send your muthaa in law tee for a fortneets holiday and even the metal rubbish bins in the back lanes had padlocks on them to stop them bein' nicked!
![]() |
| "THEY'LL EVEN NICK YOUR GARBAGE HERE!" |
We passed City's old groond which iz now derelict with weeds and trees growin', where the stands once stood and we could see that on the far side that some new hooses were bein' built where the main stand used to be!
![]() |
| MAINE ROAD---NOW! |
After askin' a bedraggled 'local' where the nearest boozer waz located, he telt us that the nearest one (that wasn't boarded up!) waz half a mile away, az he pointed us in the direction of a main road.
Az we had anly 40 minutes to spare now, we reluctantly decided to torn back to the Academy!
![]() |
| ZEBRA CROSSINGS --- MAN CITY ACADEMY STYLE! |
A boilin' hot cup of coffee in a smaall cardboard cup waz to be wor 'liquid lubrication' instead of the usual 'alcoholic variety' in the Academy canteen, but at £1 a cup it wasn't good value! <(Man Us Academy in complete comparison, provide yoo with FREE coffee!)
Anyway!--it waz soon time to take up wor standin' positions near the halfway line when 'Blondie Alan the Morris Dancer' realised that we were at the WRANG GAME az it waz the U16s who were warmin' up and NOT the U18s---the game we'd come to watch!
We were directed to anothaa pitch on the othaa side of the complex where we ended up standin' next to an old gadgie in hiz 70s who telt us that he used to play with Wyn Davies at Bolton Wanderers in the 1960's
"Wots your name?" aa asked him curiously. "Warwick Rimmer!" came the reply and he telt us he waz scoutin' for Tranmere Rovers and had hiz notebook and pen at the ready!
The Toon U18s took the lead in the 22nd minute when a mix up in the City defence ended up with a heeded own goal by one of their defenders!---that's the way it stayed til the break and then me and 'Adam Mac' decided to take in a few minutes of the U16s game on pitch 'B', az their game had kicked off orlier and the 2nd half had just started!
A stewardess telt us that, "City where winnin' 3-0 and were well on top!" I went to take a photo of the action but she telt me I couldn't and shud put my camera phone away!
We moved away az she constantly looked in my direction to see that I had carried oot her orders!---and when she wasn't lookin' I slyly took a couple of pix before we retreated and heeded back to the U18s game after takin' 15 minutes of this game! <(and--No! we won't include it az a different groond az it waz on the same complex! <(Mad-sad groundhoppers rule '27B'!)
![]() |
| NUFC U16s game ---- pitch 'B' ----got the foto ha! ha! |
On arrival back at pitch 'A' Warwick telt us that City had just equalised!---He then went on to tell us that he waz once manager of Sierra Leone in the orly 80s! <(ie: we were standin' next to an ex international manager!)
A brilliant free kick by wor number 7 Sean Longstaff on the edge of the box flew straight into the net ower the wall and Warwick commented that it waz just like a 'Ryan Taylor' free kick, someone he worked with in the past!
Two penalty appeals by us were torned doon (one for a foul in the box--the othaa for hand baall!) before City equalised again in the 88th minute through Charman, for an undeserved draw!
Man City pub crawl (one!)
We said wor 'goodbyes' to Warwick and heeded for the ootskirts of Manchester where some much needed 'tonsil ticklin' took place in a boozer caalled 'The Snipe' next to the entrance to the 'M60 ring road!---It waz then onward through numorous roadworks and we arrived back 'in toon' at '6:45 bells'--- 312 and coontin'!
![]() |
| "WE WAZ THERE!" |
Friday, 10 October 2014
BLUE MOONIES U18s v THE TOON U18s *** PLATT LANE, MANCHESTER *** THIS AFTERNOON!
Updated '8:40am bells' Saturday 11th October 2014
We plan to make a rare 'sorte' this afternoon @ 1:00 bells' when we heed for Mancland for wor U18s game @ Man City's trainin' ground and we are leavin' in a few minutes time!
It iz ower 9 months since we last did an away youth game, which waz at Man Us trainin' groond @ Carrington! <(we won!)
The reason we are dein' this iz because of course there iz ne forst team action ower this weekend, due to the International break---and we need wor 'fix'! <(and of course it iz a new groond!)
The 'NUFC mad-sad groundhoppers' are slowly pickin' off the Premier Leegue/Futbaall Leegue away trainin' groonds to watch wor youngins, and we have now done a canny few and are into 'double figures'! (see below--in no particular order)
'NUFC mad-sad groundhoppers' away trainin' ground list!
1: Smoggies trainin' ground @ Herworth
2: Leeds trainin' ground @ Thorpe Arch
3 Blackborn trainin' ground
4: Spurs trainin' ground
5: Sheff U trainin' ground
6: Sheff Wed trainin' ground
7 mackems trainin' ground
8: Stoke trainin' ground <(in Newcastle!) <(under Lyme!)
9: Man U trainin' ground
10:WBA trainin' ground
We plan to make a rare 'sorte' this afternoon @ 1:00 bells' when we heed for Mancland for wor U18s game @ Man City's trainin' ground and we are leavin' in a few minutes time!
It iz ower 9 months since we last did an away youth game, which waz at Man Us trainin' groond @ Carrington! <(we won!)
The reason we are dein' this iz because of course there iz ne forst team action ower this weekend, due to the International break---and we need wor 'fix'! <(and of course it iz a new groond!)
The 'NUFC mad-sad groundhoppers' are slowly pickin' off the Premier Leegue/Futbaall Leegue away trainin' groonds to watch wor youngins, and we have now done a canny few and are into 'double figures'! (see below--in no particular order)
'NUFC mad-sad groundhoppers' away trainin' ground list!
1: Smoggies trainin' ground @ Herworth
2: Leeds trainin' ground @ Thorpe Arch
3 Blackborn trainin' ground
4: Spurs trainin' ground
5: Sheff U trainin' ground
6: Sheff Wed trainin' ground
7 mackems trainin' ground
8: Stoke trainin' ground <(in Newcastle!) <(under Lyme!)
9: Man U trainin' ground
10:WBA trainin' ground
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
ARCHIVE GROUNDS MATCH REPORT LIST
- (revisited 2021) (1)
- 000 grounds visited watchin' nufc (1)
- 001 st james park (1964) Newcastle v coventry (1)
- 001 st james park 2007 v sampdoria (1)
- 001 st james park 2014 v Liverpool (1)
- 002 joker park blunderland 1967 (1)
- 002 joker park revisited 1970 (1)
- 003 anfield liverpool (1)
- 004 highbury arsenal (1)
- 005 molinuex wolves (1)
- 006 loftus road qpr (1)
- 006 revisited loftus road qpr (1)
- 007 maine road manchester city (1)
- 008 the dell southampton (1)
- 009 upton park last ever visit 2015 (1)
- 009 upton park west ham (1)
- 010 ibrox park rangers (1)
- 011 highfield road coventry (1)
- 012 redheugh park gateshead (1)
- 013 city ground Nottingham forest (1)
- 014 selhurst park crystal palace (2)
- 015 bloomfield road (1)
- 016 goodison park (1)
- 016 goodison park everton (1)
- 017 filbert street Leicester 1992 (1)
- 018 Victoria ground stoke (1)
- 021 edgar street hereford (1)
- 022 bramall lane sheffield (1)
- 023 baseball ground derby (1)
- 026 white hart lane tottenham (1)
- 028 old show ground scunthorpe (1)
- 030 hillsborough sheffield (v burnley) (1)
- 034 turf moor burnley (1)
- 040 boothferry park hull (2)
- 044 shielfield park berwick (1)
- 045 the den millwall (1)
- 050 craven cottage fulham (1)
- 053 boundary park oldham (1)
- 055 home park plymouth 2010 (1)
- 058 carrow road Norwich (revisited 2017) (1)
- 059 revisited oakwell Barnsley 2016 (1)
- 061 (revisited 2007) Victoria ground (now 'park') hartlepool (1)
- 069 palmerston park queen of the south (1)
- 070 easter road hibernian (1)
- 073 vicarage road watford (1)
- 078 ferens park durham (1)
- 086 dens park dundee (1)
- 087 federation park (1)
- 090 dean court bournemouth (1)
- 091 elm park reading (1)
- 091 elm park reading revisited (1)
- 097 ashton gate revisited Bristol city (1)
- 100 away pub crawl challenge (1)
- 100 prenton park tranmere (1)
- 100 pub crawl challenge (1)
- 102 roots hall southend (1)
- 105 revisited bootham crescent york (1)
- 106 belle vue doncaster (1)
- 108 griffin park revisited 2017 (1)
- 109 porta elisa luccese italy (1)
- 110 stadio san nicola bari italy (1)
- 113 derwent park (1)
- 120 victoria pleasure grounds goole (1)
- 133 riverside stadium (1)
- 136 bucks head telford (1)
- 143 revisited lotto park (1)
- 149 doctor pit welfare park bedlington (1)
- 158 olympic/respublikansky stadium kiev (1)
- 166 nou camp barcelona (1)
- 166 revisited camp nou barcelona (1)
- 170 (revisited) dalymount park Dublin 2016 (1)
- 177 rockcliffe park middlesbrough (1)
- 187 belle vue park consett (1)
- 187 belle vue park consett last ever visit 2013 (1)
- 192 autoquest stadium Widnes (v Everton res) (1)
- 199 new broomfield park (1)
- 214 wetherby road (1)
- 215 killingworth young persons centre (walker central) (1)
- 218 lyme valley stadium (1)
- 219 (revisited)bay arena leverkusen germany (1)
- 220 san siro stadium inter milan (1)
- 223 raydale park gretna (1)
- 233 moss lane Altrincham (man u res) (1)
- 235 (reviited) orange velodrome (1)
- 235 stade velodrome marseille (1)
- 247 raizor stadium la coruna 2010 (1)
- 250 kingsley park ryton (nufc academy) (1)
- 251 revisited jjb stadium wigan (1)
- 255 whaddon road cheltenham (1)
- 258 a le coq arena (1)
- 265 Victoria stadium/marston's arena Northwich (v man u res) (1)
- 266 keepmoat stadium doncaster (1)
- 267 ricoh arena coventry (1)
- 268 welfare ground hetton le hole (v s/land res) (1)
- 269 church road north Ferriby (v hull res) (1)
- 270 tallaght stadium dublin (1)
- 271 woodhorn lane ashington (1)
- 272 cardiff city stadium cardiff (1)
- 273: don valley stadium (1)
- 274 liberty stadium swansea (1)
- 275 crown ground accrington (1)
- 276 champions hill stadium dulwich hamlet (1)
- 277 great barr west brom (1)
- 278 leighsports village stadium blackburn (1)
- 279 shirecliffe sheffield (1)
- 280 veld 7 almere (1)
- 281 b2 net stadium chesterfield (1)
- 282 parc y scarlets llanelli (1)
- 283 amex stadium brighton (1)
- 284a and 284b academy of sshh (yee naa wot) cleadon (1)
- 285 NOT motspur park london (1)
- 285a and 285b middlewood sheffield (1)
- 286 brockhall academy blackburn (1)
- 287 gellert stadium chemnitz germany (1)
- 288 estadio algarve faro portugal (1)
- 289 kyocera stadion den haag the hague holland (1)
- 290 municipal stadium of peristeri (1)
- 291 estadio dos barreiros maritimo madeira (1)
- 292 bulls croos training complex spurs reserves (1)
- 293 jan breydel stadion brugge belgium (1)
- 294 underhill barnet london (1)
- 295 stade chaban delmas bordeaux (1)
- 296 silverlake stadium eastleigh (v southampton res) (1)
- 297 metalist stadium karkiv (1)
- 298 luzhniki stadium Moscow (v anzi) (1)
- 299 clayton wood stoke (1)
- 300 estadio da luz benfica (1)
- 301 fir park motherwell (1)
- 302 rugby park kilmarnock (1)
- 303 st Mirren park st mirren (1)
- 304 globe arena morecambe (1)
- 305 Pirelli stadium burton (1)
- 305 revisited perelli stadium burton (1)
- 306 belle vue stadium consett (1)
- 307 NOT! woodside park bishop's stortford (1)
- 307a and 307b aon training complex carrington (1)
- 308 veltins arena gelsenkirchen germany (1)
- 309 priesfield stadium gillingham (1)
- 310 meadow park borehamwood (1)
- 311 grounsell park heaton stannington (1)
- 312 platt lane academy man city (1)
- 313 bigges main wallsend (1)
- 314 the new den millwall (1)
- 315 lostock bolton u18s (1)
- 316 oakwood training centre derby (1)
- 317 city football academy complex (pitch 8) manchester city (1)
- 318 new manor ground ilkeston (1)
- 319 broadfield stadium crawley (v brighton U21s) (1)
- 320 horsfall stadium bradford pa (1)
- 321 Victoria road dagenham (west ham) (1)
- 322 new york stadium rotherham (1)
- 323 roundwood pavilion Rotherham u23s (1)
- 324 kassam stadium oxford (1)
- 325 turnbull ground whitby (v celtic u23s) (1)
- 326 opel arena mainz germany (1)
- 327 st georges park nr burton (v stoke u23s) (1)
- 328 heritage parkbishop auckland(v mboro u23s (1)
- 329 weston homes stadium colchester (1)
- 330 London stadium west ham (1)
- 331 edgeley park stockport (v burnley) (1)
- 332 bracken moor lane stocksbridge (v sheff u u23s) (1)
- 333 adams park Wycombe (reading u23s) (1)
- 334 holker street barrow (1)
- 335 Richmond park st pats ath (1)
- 336 trungle parc mousehole (1)
- 337 estadio dragoa porto (1)
- 338 nethermoor park guiseley (v leeds u23s) (1)
- 339 kingfield stadium woking (v reading u23s) (1)
- 340 Hibernian traing ground (v hibs u20s) (1)
- 341 tottenham hotspur stadium (1)
- 342 moss rose macclesfield (1)
- 343 roy west centre (v hull u23s) (1)
- 344 new meadow shrewsbury (u21s) (1)
- 345 rush green Romford (v west ham u23s) (1)
- 346 spotland rochdale (1)
- 347 (NOT!) wba trainin ground (1)
- 347 LNER STADIUM (1)
- 348 blackwell meadows (1)
- 349 liberty way (1)
- 350 clarence park (1)
- 351 seagrave training ground (v leicester u18s) (1)
- 352 north street (1)
- 353 perth green (1)
- 354 brentford community stadium (1)
- 355 the walk stadium (1)
- 356 saalfelden arena (1)
- 357 grenzlandstadion (1)
- 358 bodymoor heath (v villa u21s) (1)
- 359 arrowmark home improvements stadium (1)
- 360 nigel doherty academy nottingham (v forest u21s (1)
- 361 loughborough university stadium (v derby u21s) (1)
- 362 powerday stadium (1)
- 363 Centro Sportivo (v ac milan u19s) (1)
- 364 brakel training ground (1)
- 365 signal iduna park (1)
- 366 Stade Georges-Lefevre (v PSG U19s) (1)
- 367 (2026) revisited parc des princes psg (1)
- 367 parc dez princes (1)
- 368 eco giants stadium (1)
- 369 1st cloud arena south shields (vU21s) (1)
- 370 proctor cars stadium (1)
- 371 the lamb ground (1)
- 372 jakemans stadium (1)
- 373 joie stadium (1)
- 374 wast hills (v birmingham U21s) (1)
- 375 stade joseph marien (v usg u19s) (1)
- 376 gander green lane (1)
- 377 hill dickinson stadium (1)
- 378 uprich-haberland stadion (1)
- 379 tofig bahramov republican stadium (1)
- airdrie (1)
- alfreton (v nottm forest u23s) (1)
- annfield plain (1)
- atrtomitos (1)
- austria (v mainz 05) (1)
- austria (v munich 1860) (1)
- birtley (v leeds u15s) (1)
- blackpool (1)
- Blaydon Races song (1)
- boston (v U21s) (1)
- brussels v USG (1)
- clitheroe (v Fleetwood U21s) (1)
- darlington (1)
- dortmund (1)
- dortmund (v dortmund u19s) (1)
- dunston (1)
- estonia (1)
- everton: last ever visit (2024) (1)
- france (1)
- geordie glossary of terms 'a' to 'z' (1)
- germany (u19s) (1)
- great barr (1)
- greece (1)
- ground zero elland road leeds (1)
- hanwell (v brentford b) (1)
- harrogate (1)
- Jamie's 1st game v wolves u21s (1)
- jarrow (v s'land u15s) (1)
- king's lynn (v norwich u23s) (1)
- kufstein (1)
- leverkusen (1)
- liverpool (v everton) (1)
- manchester (v man city u21s) (1)
- marseille (1)
- matock (v derby u21s) (1)
- middlesbrough (1)
- newcastle under lyme (v stoke u19s) (1)
- nuneaton (v Birmingham U23s) (1)
- olympic stadium (1)
- paris sg (1)
- qarabag (1)
- saalfelden (1)
- sheffield (1)
- st albans (v watford u23s) (1)
- sutton (v palace u21s) (1)
- tallinn (1)
- tamworth (u21s) (1)
- the geordie times (an explanation) (1)
- the geordie times online (1)
- the toon 1 thetoffees 2 (1)
- the toon v bolton (1)
- YORK (1)





























