View from the Cemetery

It's a long way home from Carlisle if you get beat, and for us it always seems to be a Tuesday night, which certainly makes it worse, so the point the other evening was gratefully received, I'm sure. Although my correspondents tell me it could easily have been all three. In particular a very solid first half performance, defending solidly and breaking well, with a shot rattled off the crossbar and the keeper making at least one top class save, could have seen us go in more than the one goal to the good at half time. Inevitably the massed ranks of highly paid Scottish mercenaries, taking advantage of their full time training and consequent fitness edge, put us under the cosh a bit second half, but overall a very good show, I am reliably informed. However, apparently one of our colleagues, bouncing back across the A69 to the upbeat strains of Marvin Gaye, failed to spot a speed camera and may pay the price, which took the gloss of his good humour, but you can't have everything now can you? Still all in the camp seems sunshine and harmony at present, much philosophising for the Sky cameras going on the other day, National Non League Day no less as you all know, and barely a harsh word to be heard all afternoon. What could possibly go wrong? Just wait, we'll think of something...

Two home defeats in four days, emergency measures called for, so never fear the Ghostly Gadgie will be home for Saturday. I would have been anyway, but never mind, got to show your support for the lads when times are hard.

The incredibly tough start to the season continues with Dunston next up, it must get easier sometime soon? Sounds like the second half the other night was a bit of a let down, but then fixtures with Bishops tend to be everything or nothing for us, mostly nothing lately. Still not to complain so far, mid table and some respectable results in the bag. Crowds looking a bit better too. Are the good people of Sunderland waking up to the value of the non league game? Are the antics of the Italian chappy over at the Wearmouth Stadium and his collection of odds and sods sourced from all over the planet turning people off?

Doesn't much look like a Sunderland side to be fair does it? And now the FA are chipping in about home grown players and the needs of the England team taking precedence. Occurs to me that if they hadn't spent £775 million quid on a stadium which would be easer to get to if it was on the dark side of the moon they might be in a stronger position to lecture people on long term planning, but what do I know? Anyway all to the good, grassroots is what we are all about, and with the active cooperation of our good friends at the council we will have our new facilities in place one of these days. Will we see half a dozen Ryhope lads in the England team that wins the World Cup in 2022? I bet we will...

So, Sunday morning in Madrid, and this is the choice: a first ever, probably only ever, visit to the Stadio Santiago Bernabeau, home of Real Madrid and one of the most iconic football grounds in the world for a lunchtime fixture against Athletic Club of Bilbao, one of their oldest opponents and with Real and Barcelona the only clubs in Spain to have always played in the top league in the country. And more than that, they play in red and white stripes, which with their English name is down to the big part played in their formation by shipyard workers from some small place in North East England. So, practically an away fixture for Sunderland then. Or, a trip to the El Rastro flea market. No difficulty there then.