View from the Cemetery

Mixed fortunes on the road this last week or so, big disappointment up at Team North the other night in the proverbial six pointer, followed by a very good point down at Synners on Saturday, featuring that rare pleasure, a goal from the off without the other side touching the ball. First man in action for Synners being the keeper picking it out of the net. I would have liked to see that one. And stalwart work thereafter I hear. Team North a less happy occasion I'm told. I'm no expert, as many people will tell you, but it seems to me that our bold young boys usually have only one way of playing, gung-ho from the off, and never mind cagey ten man defending. Or even three or four man. Good stuff most of the time, and I'm all for it, leads to great nail biting wins like the 4-3 at Consett, but sometimes you could wish for something a bit more Italian in the defending stakes; like when you are 1-0 up at relegation rivals for example? Still best to encourage youthful adventure. Never mind, on we go, going to be an interesting last few weeks, bring it on I say. Down to the wire and good nerves vital. I remain confident.

As you will know I am not one of those who treats the biannual battles between Newcastle and Sunderland in the "big league" as the be all and end all of football in the North East. Generally speaking my interest is focused well and truly on the drama and excitement available just over the fence. But there is no denying that the old juices stir and joy rises anew when the current group of bold Sunderland patriots, hailing from all points of the compass as they do, head north and come away victorious against the equally multinational, with a French flavour, forces of darkness who live in Sid James Park. Particularly when I am informed that it was as comprehensive a three nil as you are ever likely to see. He certainly wouldn't have been my pick, not that anybody asked, but there is no doubt the Uruguayan knows his stuff. And maybe his nationality, accustomed as he and his fellow countrymen are to having to fight to be noticed amongst bigger neighbours with a vastly inflated sense of their own importance, enabled him to pick up the regional vibe quite quickly. He could have chucked himself down the touchline like the mad fascist though. To be fair in recent years it has gone against Sunderland more times than not, so these last few games are good reason for celebration, even for those of us who concentrate on the real thing. The old town has few enough good news stories, barring football and Nissan. So, a jolly good weekend was no doubt had in the hostelries of Ryhope. The ones that are left that is. More shut than open nowadays. Not like the days of my youth when the whole lot were thronged. Ah well.

So, what's your opinion on Friday night games? A good addition to the entertainment options available to clubs, a chance to pull in a few punters who might not otherwise ever bother? Or a disgrace, letting down the sacred principle of 3:00 on a Saturday? Or does it depend why you are moving the fixture? I guess you pays your money and takes your choice, assuming both clubs can agree of course. I only ask because a little bird tells me, by shouting loudly while hunting for worms, that Spennymoor, or Evenwood Rovers as I like to call them, are somewhat miffed that the game at the Brewery Field this coming weekend isn't being moved to Friday night, in order to avoid a clash, or not quite a clash, with the Wear-Tyne derby being played on Saturday lunchtime. Should games be moved for this reason?

I hear some of those of a more mobile existence enjoyed a trip out to the National Football Museum in Manchester the other day. And with hospitality thrown in by the Northern League. Jolly good I must say. Back in the other life I once visited it when it was at Preston North End's famous old ground at Deepdale. It was damn good then, so presumably even better in shiny new premises. Though no doubt the good folk of North End were somewhat miffed. Having said that I had the place to myself, so I don't think they were snowed under with punters making the trek to North Lancashire. Seems the new place is a glass palace of imposing size, and with good video and other evidence of times gone by, although with a considerable Manchester, and United at that, bias evident all round. Only to be expected I suppose, although if most of the people who come through the door are from Manchester, they are more likely to be Bury fans than Man Utd afficionados; it's a long way from Somerset...