Scoreboard82

Interesting league that NPL east. Dunston v Hebburn next season. A mix of Yorkshire/NE teams. Stockton, Shildon, Marske all in there.

Has he got the match ball in there?

Ooh aye, chocolate brown colour. Loved the late 70s/early 80s shiny Addidas kits as worn by Forest, Ipswich, Birmingham etc too.

Not the most impressive but a bit of a novelty looking back. As a kid in the 70s i had a Coventry full kit. Dunno if the oldies on here can remember it? All sky blue but with 2 thin dark blue and white stripes down each side that continued down the front of the shorts. I'm sure Wales had a version. Think whichever kit maker at the time (umbro/admiral) sold whole kits in boxes.

It is criminal. Just read the nufc.com match report from that fantastic day. So saddening, no maddening to think of how a great club has been allowed to decline. It was all coming together at the end of that season. The team was showing potential. The fans were united and happy. We'll never know but I believe even moderate backing would have kept Rafa. The club committed suicide that summer.

Yes. Burnley now start the game knowing a win puts their safety to bed so last night's result was a good one for us.

Admittedly I hastily skimmed over the opening and key line of those tweets re hierarchy and was blinded by the Ashley/Glazer, Pompey, Charlton stuff. Still feel many fans think along those lines of it could be worse and so accept our plight though.

Oh the old it could be worse chestnut. We could of fallen a few divisions/went bust. Well it could be better. Did some ground hopping since I jacked my ticket. Trying to do the 92. I've been envious of lower league fans at some of the places I've visited cos their owners want their clubs to be as good as they can be. The fans can wholeheartedly back their side and are valued.

Unfortunately most of our fans aren't happy sitting at home moaning about Bruce and Co. They go to the games and moan about Bruce and Co.

Not inconceivable that we lose the next 2 and Fulham win theirs but on the other hand nor is Fulham losing at Old Trafford coupled with us getting a point at home to Sheffield United which will do it if my maths are correct. I'd be very nervous if the next 2 games did pan out that way though.

1992. 2-1 win at Leicester to avoid potential relegation to Sunland level, 3rd tier. Other results meant our result didn't matter but we were so close to disaster. Absolute hell on that day. Pitch invasions, seats thrown. David Kelly seeking refuge in the Toon end even. Watched the goals on YouTube today and probably felt more nervous than I did at the game even though I knew the outcome. Think I travelled that day resigned to us being relegated cos Leicester were a good promotion chasing side that season.

IIRC we won comfortably 4-0.

What division are Hebburn going into now then?

It's a strange place from what I've seen from the outside. Visited York last Nov and went with the wife to the out of town shopping centre next door. Forgot the name. Bus literally stopped outside new stadium and you wouldn't know it was there. Could only see the bowling alley attached to it. I'msure it looks very nice inside.

How angry would you be as a Fulham fan? Shoot yourself in the foot? They're blowing each toe off one by one conceding these late goals. Most welcome help for us though. I did start to get nervous again when it looked like Fulham would beat Arsenal but it would take a miracle for them to catch us now. Fulham v Burnley fixture helps as they can't both win.

Would always be a crowd watching the FT scores outside the old Northern Electric shop near Greys monument after a home game. Opposite where Greggs is now. Think its Boots these days. Used to be either that or the football pink for the results in them days. Happy days.

You're right. Staying away is the only real sanction that can make a difference and that's what I'll be doing. All I'm saying is fans of lower division Blackpool staying away puts more pressure on their owners because gate revenue at Blackpool is a much bigger proportion of income to that club as it is premier league Newcastle. That's why I say if we go down and stay down for a few seasons and tv money dries up it might crank the pressure up on Ashley to sell. That combined with us staying away of course.

Peter Withe 3rd left and possibly Frank Clark 2nd left?

1st game in 1976. ST holder for 29 years til Rafa went. 180+ loyalty pts sacrificed. Hoped more would do likewise and chuck it but sadly the 'if Rafa goes we go' claim was all bollocks and I felt badly let down when the drop in attendance was minimal. Wondered why I'd gave up my pts and what had been a massive part of life since I was a bairn. After fluking a few good results and feeling like I was missing it, I fell for taking up a free half season ticket when one was offered. Very wrong in hindsight. It's blatantly obvious we have a football club in name only and have a desire to merely exist and no longer compete. A pointless club. The club is rotten to the core. We should be like Blackpool who's fans really did stay away and eventually brought change. Mind you Blackpool didn't have premier league tv money coming in but neither will we next season. Having been away for so long and well out of a bad habit, I'll be staying away and it won't be easier than it is now.

Same old verbal diarrhoea. How dare we want to do more than simply exist. It's made all the more frustrating because it's trotted out so regularly. If it was say Everton or Villa they wouldn't think it acceptable.

1-0 Brighton i reckon.

lose at Brighton and it's a 2 horse race. Us/Fulham? Where are the '6 or 7' teams looking over their shoulders now Bruce? They're disappearing over the horizon.

Aye, decent crosses going in, particularly 1st half, for the 1st game in as long as I can remember. By no means a Carroll fan. He's had his day but how couldn't Bruce see he needed him on to get on the end of one of them. Thing is, if he starts Carroll we wouldn't get crosses I like that in. We'd be lumping it forward to him and he'd be clumsily fouling defenders in his attempt to win the ball.

Don't want to go down but if we must then maybe the club might start being a burden to him, when he loses massive TV money and his adverts aren't exposed as much. Might have to take what he can get.

Like Samptime, that Zulte Waragem trip was possibly my best ever. Better than trips to the more illustrious places we've played in. We'd booked all our travel, hotel then couldn't get match tickets. I'd heard there was plenty available in the home end if you could get hold of one. Somehow got in touch with, of all people a Belgian Villa fan who offered to get a couple and meet us there. At work the day before travelling someone came in and said it had been on the news that any ticketless toon fans would be turned back. Panic ensued but we thought it's all paid for so we'd take our chances. After a few pints ijn the head of steam, likewisewe boarded the overnight Megabus to London before Eurostar. The adrenaline was pumping as we rolled into Brussels. Mean looking police awaited but they simply handed out 'Welcome to Belgium' leaflets with dos and don'ts and we breathed easy. After a day on the drink we went to meet our ticket man, nervous again that he might not turn up. Thankfully he did and we paid him in cash + numerous grateful pints. Enjoyed the game peacefully from the home end before meeting our Belgian contact again. Took us to a street called Ooverport street and for a Thursday it was as busy as the Toon on a Sat. Fantastic! More beer the day after then back to London. We'd shelled out for the train as opposed to Megabus to get home so we'd need cans. Went to the Sainsbury's?, the one opposite Miller's pub at Kings cross and got a case of 24 thinking better too many than too few. Power lines blew down and we were on there hours but couldn't care less as we had a plentiful can supply. The 'civilians' on the train were fuming at the delay and moaned at every apology the driver made while we were like 'that's ok, take your time'. Cheers for that experience alone Glenn. What a bloke and what a trip.