So the old Spenny hoodoo strikes again, and as usual mostly in the shape of a small balding ginger Irishman. I am only pleased I wasn't there to see it. Not bad in the first half, but second best after that was the way I heard it, albeit we had a couple of good chances which might have changed things if they had gone in, as goals always do. Never mind, still in great shape; which I also heard was not something you could say for the aforementioned red headed Dubliner. Supposedly he played a role more like a quarter back than a footballer, sitting in front of the back four and hitting forty yard passes all day, a role that does away with the need to run about very much; to his evident pleasure. And to be fair he does it very well. Including the not running about bit. George wouldn't allow it though, which maybe explains why his stints with us tend to be of the cameo variety; good job we like him really....
Anyway RCA and Spenny weren't the news last week, that has to be West and Dunston, and very many congratulations to them both. The North East football world will have to get its finger out now though, otherwise the attendance at Wembley could cause a few frowns from the FA bigwigs. And methinks they will be frowning enough when they work out how much the Northern League clubs have scored out of the Cup kitties this season, an all time record I guess, what with the likes of Hebburn and Ashington doing well in the Big Cup and now this tremendous effort in the Vase. And the thought of it continuing year by year might motivate them to get the much discussed reshaping of the pyramid well underway, and sharpish. Will it be the oft mentioned Humber to Tweed league? Or a North and South and then North East split of the Evo Stik First? Or something else? Or nothing at all? No good asking me, my current location makes it difficult to keep up with all the gossip, as you can appreciate.
Anyway back to the parochial concerns. Just a few weeks to go now before the annual summer rebuilding programme gets underway, I wonder what the Boss has in mind this time? Internal walls coming down is an option so they say, but will the council get the electric sorted by next winter? Could be embarrassing if they don't. All will be come clear, but will it need to be a home fit for champions? The next couple of weeks will tell us; fingers and toes crossed all round....