View from the Cemetery

A happy new year to both my readers, kindly try and look interested at the back, and here we go again on another footballing year, what will it bring? Time for some predictions? OK, since you ask so nicely.

Well it looks like our friends on Tyneside are determined to maintain their self-appointed title as the entertainers, their 10 goal adventure at Arsenal certainly entertained the lads in the Ryhope bars the other night, so yes, I think we can rely on continuing mirthful activity from the wee club at Sid James Park, the gift that just keeps on giving. And enjoy the trip to Kharkiv by the way...

Time for the traditional look back at the year, so what have we been exercised about this past 12 months? Well, a spectacularly good season in 2011/12, who can forget being top of the League in April? And finishing a superb fourth. Wasn't everybody saying when we touched top in October it was a flash in the pan? And me among them! But we kept it going very nearly to the end, fair made me proud. And, when all is said, it was the best ever season in the Northern League for the raggy lads from Ryhope, and by a long way, so worth a mention over the mince pies and whisky; did someone say whisky? Yes, please, I will.

Well, I reckon it's not really on asking a man in my condition to produce articles, or a even a paragraph or two, at this kind of notice, but needs must, so let us consider the possible talking points. Our big brothers over the water finally getting a win to keep Mr O'Neill in office? The bad weather and what kind of winter we are looking forward to? The &*^*&*$ Secret Shoppers? No, none of these, I think we will go with referees; again.

In his ceaseless quest to ensure the improvement of the Northern League I see the chairman has turned his attention from bad language to bad weather this past week or so, musing on the willingness or otherwise of clubs and referees to call games off when pitches are judged unfit. He is joined by the League secretary, already with his eye on Malta in May, in generally wishing that all concerned would just get on with it, ignore the clarts and the standing water, and bash away like the good old days. Makes for good entertainment he reckons.