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FA Vase
Saturday, 22 September 2007
(The home side, Seaham Red Star, are in red and white stripes.)
Well, we knew the return to Seaham Town park would be interesting, as Neil Hixon made his first visit to Red Star only 10 days after stunning them by leaving the club to come to RCA. It was interesting all right, as the side Neil built were right up for the battle against his new charges. Sadly the same could not be said for the Sunderland RCA team. We conceded the first goal early, as Seaham's giant centre forward, Andy Jennings, looked like he didn't believe the space he had found in the six yard box; neither did any of the spectators.
Always second best, the RCA lads kept it down to two goals at the interval, but afterwards the floodgates opened and within 10 minutes of the restart Red Star had stretched their lead to five. It got worse, and with the local fans and officials more or less quietly jubilant, Seaham notched two more. Jennings, who we found unplayable throughout, got his hat trick, and by the end RCA were a thoroughly beaten outfit, and out of another national cup competition, only the All England Sunday Cup still to go... Its not all bad news though, I managed to puncture the excitement a little by pointing out that we would be a good deal more worried if we had won 7 - 0 against a team put together by our new boss!
Just a short comment on quotes you may have seen from Seaham Red Star suggesting we were less than honourable in our approach to Neil Hixon. This is simply not true. I personally rang John Smith the Seaham secretary to tell him we were going to try and talk to Neil, and as far as I am concerned that was all I needed, although was not required, to do. It is not my job to interfere in internal relations at another club, or to tell them if someone has decided to leave and come to us. I don't know what was or wasn't said between Neil and Seaham Red Star, and I don't want to know, that is their business. We are just pleased he is now on board with us at Meadow Park.
Mind, they got their own back. Against all the normal conventions and courtesies, and in order to make my match notes, I had to buy my programme at the game last Saturday, there was none available for this particular visiting secretary. Ah well, whatever floats your boat...