View from the Cemetery

Well, performances mostly better than results in these last two games. Silly mistakes in both spoiling decent efforts. Still a learning curve for a lot of lads I guess. But nice to see a jolly good crowd in last Tuesday, best of the season by some way, and rumour has it that Saturday could be even better. Not the last away trip for North Shields before Wembley, but a slightly less onerous journey than over to Carlisle on Tuesday night, and, as a consequence, we hear the hordes of the rejuvenated North Tynesiders are coming en masse. And very welcome they will be too, at least in most parts, although by all accounts things were getting a little fractious in the clubhouse the other night. Sold all bar the tables and chairs I hear, run off their proverbial. Still, attendances are a major problem. By some way the worst supported club in the Northern League First Division, why is that? And in one of the biggest urban areas in the region. Takes some working out, and not a title the club would want. Niall Quinn, when with Sunderland, used to muse on the difference between one club and two club cities, and I think we suffer from the Sunderland or nothing mentality. Just a case of fighting on I reckon, at some point a few more will see the virtues of a cheap day of highly competitive football of a Saturday afternoon. Probably time for some lateral thinking re promoting things again for the start of next season. The odd Friday night? Occasional free or very cheap admission? Got to be worth a try.

I joked a couple of games ago that our lads could play these last few games in flip flops and while smoking cigars. At least, I thought I was joking. During the second half on Saturday it looked like our brave boys had taken me very much at my word. Seven goals, six of them at the wrong end in forty five minutes? Give me strength. Mind, our sole second half effort was the pick of the bunch, a two touch spectacular from the kick off, canny from the Bogie man. Never mind, on we go, because tonight should be easy...

Another good win on Tuesday night, and at home for a change. Excellent spirit shown by all, and worthy winners I thought, with our pace a constant worry to Whitley Bay. Nothing quite so tasty as pace, as I may have mentioned before. Although one gets the impression that getting beat off the raggy lads from Ryhope doesn't rate that highly as far as some of our footballing colleagues are concerned. And why should it? Nobody likes getting beat. But it pays to be honest with yourself about it. My old man used to say, and he wasn't wrong, that the greatest single advantage you can have in life is to be underestimated. Seems to me that sometimes people look at the league table when they should be looking at the pitch. That’s fine by me, let’s take full advantage when we can. Mind, dad's old metaphor used to finish with something about people still underestimating you as it slid between their ribs, but that’s not really suitable for a family web site so I'll miss it out. But you get my point...

Blimey, all settled with four games to go, who would have guessed? Not me, that’s for sure. I have spent the winter anticipating a last game nail biter. Eight and a half months, or 229 days as some say, in the relegation spots, and then all over and done with a few games later. Feel a bit short changed now to be honest! Only joking of course, I'm really looking forward to watching our lads playing these last four home games wearing flip flops and smoking lah di dahs. Although no doubt our lords and masters on the league management committee would have something to say about that. Be fun watching them trying to find a relevant rule mind...