View from the Cemetery

Is big money spoiling the game? It never spoiled any game of mine that's for sure. I only ask because it seems some kid at Chelsea is upset because he is only on 30 grand a week while Lampard is on 160 grand. Don't know about you, but I could weep for the lad. Reminds me of the old story about Tommy Docherty in his playing days going to see the manager to complain that the legendary Tom Finney got paid more than him, with his £10 a week, and £8 during the close season, two quid more than old TD was on. "But Tommy son, Tom is a much better player than you" says the manager.

What is it with us and them Teessiders? Spend their lives in all that smog, come up to sunny Ryhope for a bit fresh air, get given the opportunity to have a good shout and bawl to clear their lungs, take full advantage of Defty's hospitality (which somebody tells me has got a lot more interesting of late, much good it does us lads), and then the ungrateful buggers knock us out of the Vase and for good measure pinch the points in an outrageous fashion the next week.

Well, what a rollercoaster we do ride!

Hello, and nice to be back. I am delighted to find that there have been some murmurings of discontent amongst my loyal readers about my long absence from view, as it were. "What's wrong with the ex gadgie" has been heard I hear. "Is he dead?". Well, yes and no, my son, yes and no...