(12 Apr 2015, 4:57 pm)Andreos1 wrote Don't forget the Russell Foster or Apollo Doors kids leagues!

(12 Apr 2015, 4:57 pm)Andreos1 wrote Don't forget the Russell Foster or Apollo Doors kids leagues!

(12 Apr 2015, 5:34 pm)leestransportphotos wrote I we could do with updates from these two leagues as well please Davie... Some crucial games coming up!

(12 Apr 2015, 5:36 pm)aureolin wrote It takes one of those leagues long enough to get their results posted themselves....

(12 Apr 2015, 5:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote A few divisions in those leagues were wrapped up yesterday.
Took a while for confirmation to be posted on the website for one or two that are of personal interest.

(12 Apr 2015, 6:32 pm)aureolin wrote Still a few weeks left in ours. Loads of games called off over the winter to be rearranged too, due to quality of pitches away from the main centres.

(12 Apr 2015, 7:13 pm)Andreos1 wrote I've seen a gradual improvement over the years, from when I used to play and when the eldest first started playing 7/8 years back.
The increased use of 4G pitches and some of the non-league teams hiring out their facilities, has seen a gradual drop in postponed games over this winter - from what I have seen/experienced.
However, that isn't across all age-groups and I know not all of the centres have seen much improvement with their drainage facilities.
The lack of snow this year seemed to help too.

Still not good enough and still more money needs investing into the system.
Burton is all well and good with the professionals, but unless the grassroots system gets a lot more investment, those at Burton will end up twiddling their thumbs or having their work cut out.

(12 Apr 2015, 7:56 pm)aureolin wrote Development and up to U9 or U10 are fine, as most fixtures in the RFYL are arranged on the four 'development centres' own pitches. We've played at Newbottle, but not at any of the others. Even the grass pitches there are miles ahead of anything else you're likely to encounter. 

Most places we play at have hills and ditches on the pitch, and the goals are probably not match legal. The pitch we played at on Saturday was in desperate need of watering and seeding, and you ended up with a cloud of dust in the keeper's face every time the wind blew. Madness.

(13 Apr 2015, 10:17 am)Tom wrote I'm expecting another dismal performance by Newcastle tonight...

Is everyone else expecting the same?

(13 Apr 2015, 10:21 am)MrFozz wrote In a word.....

YES

(13 Apr 2015, 10:17 am)Tom wrote I'm expecting another dismal performance by Newcastle tonight...

Is everyone else expecting the same?

(13 Apr 2015, 11:19 am)Davie wrote Do you expect anything else mate?

(12 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Can I make a request Davie? Could we have updates from these leagues as well?

Championship?
League 1?
League 2?
Conf Prem?
Conf North?
Conf South?
Northern Premier League?
SPL?
Southern Premier League?
Ismathian League?
Northern Premier League Premier Division?
Southern Football League Premier Division?
Ismathian League Premier Division?
Northern Premier League Divison 1 North?
Northern League Divison 1?
Northern League Division 2?
Wearside League?
Any Sunday League Games of note?

I just don't feel there are enough updates coming in

(12 Apr 2015, 8:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote Have you been lucky enough to play at one of the cricket pitches?
Bournmoor has been used for RFYL and Gateshead Fell for GYL.

Smooth and lovely flat surfaces, but not a football pitch and ultimately, more money filtering out of the system in the form of rental costs.

(14 Apr 2015, 9:25 am)Tom wrote Sissoko seems to have got a two match ban, as opposed to one.
Is this because he's already been sent off or something?

(14 Apr 2015, 9:28 am)MrFozz wrote Or the FA have decided to extend the ban for some reason...normally when the sending off is for violent conduct or you put in an appeal that you'll never have a chance of winning

(14 Apr 2015, 9:30 am)Tom wrote Might be aye, but the sending off wasn't for violent conduct, it was for two yellows?

(14 Apr 2015, 9:38 am)MrFozz wrote It looked a bad challenge though...

I have only seen it quickly so cant say for certain

(14 Apr 2015, 9:43 am)leestransportphotos wrote 2 Red Cards = A longer suspension as far as I'm aware of

(14 Apr 2015, 9:43 am)leestransportphotos wrote 2 Red Cards = A longer suspension as far as I'm aware of

(16 Apr 2015, 12:03 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Some great words about Gateshead there

Also... On a more negative note,

Please take a moment to pay your respects to former Gateshead FC manager Colin Richardson who sadly passed away at the weekend aged 71. 'Richo' was a well known manager in Non League circles and spent the last few weeks of his life as a scout for West Bromwich Albion.

Rest In Peace Colin

(16 Apr 2015, 8:42 am)Andreos1 wrote Partly inspired by this: http://ashleyout.com/articles/a-guest-blog-on-the-state-of-newcastle-united-by-george-caulkin-northern-sports-correspondent-of-the-times/

I wanted to jot down some thoughts about my experiences and ideas on events at SJP.

Years ago, I jumped on the football bandwagon. Got addicted to it and over the years played it, managed it (computer games of course) and coached it (kids teams).
As a youngster growing up in the 80's, it wasn't a good time to go to a game. There were fights, fires, disasters, pitch invasions and locally - usually 90mins of dross.
Eventually, as things seemed to be quieting down on the terraces and Newcastle seemed to be on the up and making an early push for promotion back to what was Divison 1, I got my opportunity to head to SJP.
I had managed to escape the fun, but archaic Graham Courtney and Charles Harrison on Metro Radio and got to see Newcastle play for the first time. There had been the odd TV game, but I was there, in the flesh, standing in the Gallowgate end.

I saw Micky Quinn miss a penalty, but I saw Newcastle scrape out a win. I was hooked.
Unfortunately, a dip in form and a series of pitch invasions and also Hillsbrough, discouraged too many additional visits over the next year or two. Metro Radio and the perennial squeaky door during pre-match player interviews would have to suffice.
I lived and breathed Newcastle United. Newspaper articles, TV appearances, visits to the training grounds. All absorbed and retained for a rainy day.
I would break a neck to listen or watch a live game on the radio or telly, until my next visit to SJP.

Managers came and went, Jim Smith replaced by Ossie Ardiles. Keegan stepping in and creating a soap opera, Dalglish, Gullit, Robson, Souness, Roeder, Allardyce, Shearer, Keegan (again) and then the interims, caretakers and directors of football that have epitomised the Ashley era of financial stability, but dross on the pitch.

It was during the latter days of Allardyce, on a cold November day that things started to change for me.
It was poisonous. Hammered at home to Liverpool and 50,000 baying at the home manager.
Gradually, my visits to SJP slowly declined. My interest in football didn't though. My passion for Newcastle United wasn't what it was - but I couldn't put my finger on the reasons.

I would go to Gateshead games, pop down to Hartlepool, watch Northern -league stuff when family members were playing and watch Newcastle on the telly. Heck, I even paid money to watch Greenock Morton - but couldn't bring myself to go to SJP on a regular basis. 2/3 times a year, even in the second promotion season when the football was decent and the goals flowed.

It has got to the point now, where my interest in the team goes as far as youth cup games, listening to the odd game on Radio Newcastle, hearing the same patter day after day on Total Sport and visiting nufc.com.
I still give the obligatory fist pump when (if) they score and will always want them to win, but the excitement isn't there any more.
The term balance sheet champions is bandied about a lot. £34m sitting in the bank account according to latest reports. Very ambitious financial plans. Stagnation on the pitch can only damage those finances in the long term.
If supporters don't spend money within the club, club profits are going to be damaged.
Unless there is a change of ownership or we see a movement in the policies set down by Ashley, mid table obscurity and relegation battles, coupled with dire performances will continue to be the norm.
There isn't going to be the renaissance seen under Keegan or Robson. There aren't going to be barmy nights in Europe and it doesn't look like a cup run or two will ever happen soon.
Fans want to see excitement. They want to feel the anticipation of a new season approaching, seeing how new summer signings settle in and put in 100%.

I have no idea why I picked Newcastle to be my team. Growing up with parents who weren't too bothered about football and the lack of a footballing flagbearer, it could have been any team that I picked.
Maybe a combination of factors - pre-Metrocentre shopping in the town and being caught up in the match day throngs, being given a Pannini sticker book, who knows. All I do know, is the media didn't love football like they do now.

As it is, I enjoy watching Gateshead. Experienced things that I never did with Newcastle and as good as the European nights were (never got to Milan, Turin, Monaco or any other away game), Grimsby at the IS, Wembley and The Hawthorns will stick with me for ever.
A lot of the old school Gateshead supporters resent people jumping on the bandwaggon and to an extent, I understand. Seeing people turn up, wearing red and white or black and white tops to watch Gateshead, well... It just isn't right.
However, not all of those turning up at the IS are newbies. Like myself, they have been going on and off for years - fitting it in around games at SJP. The lack of entertainment at SJP, has seen those fleeting trips, turn into more regular visits.
Hopefully the club can grow because of it and benefit from the regime ruining Newcastle United.

(16 Apr 2015, 4:28 pm)MrFozz wrote Can ya not send the FPF round to sort the Fat Cockney...best stop there, don't want to further wear something that was worn out a long time ago [emoji14]