View from the Cemetery

Another good win on the road, up at Bedlington, what is it with this club? I spend hours peering over that fence, and then miss all the good action all over the North East. It's deadist, that's what I reckon. And they reckon it was a good game at Bedlington, got quite lively in the second half, hopefully the secret snooper was elsewhere that day. But no doubt the Whitley Bay and Hebburn games will be different. (And it certainly was on Tuesday night, 6-2 indeed, where did that come from? 5-0 down in half an hour! Still at least we won the second half...)

Who is that writes all these jokes, mostly in very bad taste but often very funny, which appear literally seconds after any kind of an event surrounding sports stars or celebrities? The tragic event in South Africa involving Oscar Pistorius, the blade runner, is the latest example, the first one even reached us lads here almost before the news of his girlfriend's tragic death. Got to be careful here, don't know who is to blame, so I'm not pointing any fingers anywhere. Although of course, what can they do to me? Being dead like. But it does display the irresistible urge to make light of things, however grim, that seems to drive the human race. Enough philosophy though.

Us lads of former years are used to the cold of course, not a lot of central heating in the cemetery, but by jove, it has been parky, hasn't it? I must admit I was getting a bit depressed, what with the weather and no football and the January blues and what have you, but surely we must be getting back into action soon? Mind, from here Meadow Park looks like a duck pond, not a football pitch, but it might be an advantage to know where the puddles are when we get playing again; or plodging.

And so what is the football news around and about? Well, transfer deadline the other day, that Beckham doesn't give up easy does he? What a greedy B%4*&^*&. And evidently old Mido was touting himself about as well, just what you need in an emergency, King Farouk in shorts, and you can't say Pharoah than that...

So the rampant hordes from Darlo come to town, and will it be a record gate? No, I don't think so, seems like there is general agreement that the game against the Mags sometime in the 80s saw a good thousand through the doors, although nobody knows an accurate figure, and there is a good deal of romance in certain parties memories of the night in question. I can't remember much about it, or indeed anything about it, what with being a mere child of 10 at the time I will have just been in the pub; yes it was a different world back in those days and no mistake...

Anyway should be a canny afternoon, if it’s on of course, the forecast is turning distinctly wintery. Much preparation being made, burger vans booked I hear, and extra pie being ordered, and even tickets printed, be a pity if the threatened boycott came off, never mind the weather...