NUFC photos

[joeyt]

I'm pretty sure there's a story when we used to train at Maiden Castle where the players would finish training and just be sharing the changing room with general public

 

So one day two lads had just finished playing badminston and there was Ginola sitting next to them having a smoke

[Benwell Lad]

23 hours ago, joeyt said:

I'm pretty sure there's a story when we used to train at Maiden Castle where the players would finish training and just be sharing the changing room with general public

 

So one day two lads had just finished playing badminston and there was Ginola sitting next to them having a smoke

 

Yeah it was very open and used to attract crowds of hundreds, if not a thousand plus, especially during school holidays. That was after the Magpie Group take off.

Benwell often had a few dozen passers by just walking in and watching, right up close to the games etc, hearing everything that was said and interacting with players and coaching staff freely.

Pretty amazing really in comparison to today.

[Holloway]

[ramirez]

.

 

 

Edited July 3, 2025 by ramirez
Wrong thread

[TK-421]

On 30/06/2025 at 12:18, Benwell Lad said:

 

Yeah it was very open and used to attract crowds of hundreds, if not a thousand plus, especially during school holidays. That was after the Magpie Group take off.

Benwell often had a few dozen passers by just walking in and watching, right up close to the games etc, hearing everything that was said and interacting with players and coaching staff freely.

Pretty amazing really in comparison to today.

Remember when I was a kid, grew up and lived in Benwell just down off the West Road. Would have been the end of the 1987-88 season, not long before Gazza left, found out from a family friend that the training ground was in old Benwell Village, and I couldn't believe it, that it wasn't that far from where I lived!

Knocked off school the next day and went along, up the street (Gibside Gardens) and the gates were open, and you could just walk in. And there they were, the players all training, and no one told you to get out or anything. Hung around and waited till they'd finished and changed and as they approached their cars, went over with my Autograph book and they were all happy to sign it.

Used to go along there quite a bit after that, just watching them train and that. Never got down to Durham to watch them though when Keegan was manager.

 

 

Edited July 3, 2025 by TK-421

[LionOfGosforth]

22 minutes ago, TK-421 said:

Remember when I was a kid, grew up and lived in Benwell just down off the West Road. Would have been the end of the 1987-88 season, not long before Gazza left, found out from a family friend that the training ground was in old Benwell Village, and I couldn't believe it, that it wasn't that far from where I lived!

Knocked off school the next day and went along, up the street (Gibside Gardens) and the gates were open, and you could just walk in. And there they were, the players all training, and no one told you to get out or anything. Hung around and waited till they'd finished and changed and as they approached their cars, went over with my Autograph book and they were all happy to sign it.

Used to go along there quite a bit after that, just watching them train and that. Never got down to Durham to watch them though when Keegan was manager.

 

 

 

 

I remember Kenny Wharton and John Anderson lived in or around Chapel Park in the late 80s, used to come into the petrol station when I worked there. Ando once came in and said to me "Ah'll have a foiver pleeease" in that class Northern Irish brogue of his. Was starstruck for a minute and nearly put diesel in his Escort XR3

[LionOfGosforth]

Sure i've got some pics from Maiden Castle from 92 or 93 taken with Clark, Kelly and a few others

[Pilko]

On 29/06/2025 at 12:26, joeyt said:

I'm pretty sure there's a story when we used to train at Maiden Castle where the players would finish training and just be sharing the changing room with general public

 

So one day two lads had just finished playing badminston and there was Ginola sitting next to them having a smoke

 

Bez mentions that on Undr the Cosh, he says Ginola came from PSG's own training centre to sharing a dressing room with whoever had been in to play badminton - "Who is zis? Zis is my changing room!" - but other than remarking about it a few times that he wasn't arsed and cracked on with it like the rest of the lads did.

[Holloway]

Jinky, pure silk. The kit's not bad either.

[huss9]

5 minutes ago, Holloway said:

Jinky, pure silk. The kit's not bad either.

one of the unluckiest players we've had.

[Kid Icarus]

31 minutes ago, Holloway said:

Jinky, pure silk. The kit's not bad either.

Still lives up here, he was out celebrating in town for a couple of nights after the cup win.

[Holloway]

5 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Still lives up here, he was out celebrating in town for a couple of nights after the cup win.

Aye I heard he gets out and about. Big talent pool up in Scotland those days

[Mags Serbia]

[TheBrownBottle]

9 hours ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

I remember Kenny Wharton and John Anderson lived in or around Chapel Park in the late 80s, used to come into the petrol station when I worked there. Ando once came in and said to me "Ah'll have a foiver pleeease" in that class Northern Irish brogue of his. Was starstruck for a minute and nearly put diesel in his Escort XR3

John Anderson lived in Abbey Farm, just round the corner from Chapel Park.  Me and my dad used to see him a lot on Sunday mornings because he used to take his kids to Prudhoe swimming baths, just like we used to

[TK-421]

Think Ando might still live up that way (outer west). Sure i saw him in The Swan at Heddon one evening, few years ago.

[Benwell Lad]

15 hours ago, TK-421 said:

Remember when I was a kid, grew up and lived in Benwell just down off the West Road. Would have been the end of the 1987-88 season, not long before Gazza left, found out from a family friend that the training ground was in old Benwell Village, and I couldn't believe it, that it wasn't that far from where I lived!

Knocked off school the next day and went along, up the street (Gibside Gardens) and the gates were open, and you could just walk in. And there they were, the players all training, and no one told you to get out or anything. Hung around and waited till they'd finished and changed and as they approached their cars, went over with my Autograph book and they were all happy to sign it.

Used to go along there quite a bit after that, just watching them train and that. Never got down to Durham to watch them though when Keegan was manager.

 

 

 

 

One particular moment I remember was Jackie Charlton saying to Peter Beardsley "Peter I've forgot my cigars, run back to the dressing room and get them for me" and off troops an England international to the dilapidated hut in the corner running an errand for the gaffer. Incredible really 

One  of the first things Keegan did was insist that the changing rooms were upgraded.

 

[Benwell Lad]

15 hours ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

I remember Kenny Wharton and John Anderson lived in or around Chapel Park in the late 80s, used to come into the petrol station when I worked there. Ando once came in and said to me "Ah'll have a foiver pleeease" in that class Northern Irish brogue of his. Was starstruck for a minute and nearly put diesel in his Escort XR3

 

Dublin actually but right island 

[Coffee_Johnny]

2 minutes ago, Benwell Lad said:

 

One particular moment I remember was Jackie Charlton saying to Peter Beardsley "Peter I've forgot my cigars, run back to the dressing room and get them for me" and off troops an England international to the dilapidated hut in the corner running an errand for the gaffer. Incredible really 

One  of the first things Keegan did was insist that the changing rooms were upgraded.

 

He was a character Big Jack. Took the Sheffield Weds apprentices up to Scotland to ‘learn their trade’ grouse beating! 

[Benwell Lad]

Just now, Coffee_Johnny said:

He was a character Big Jack. Took the Sheffield Weds apprentices up to Scotland to ‘learn their trade’ grouse beating! 

 

Certainly was 

Another great memory was Jackie Milburn, who worked for the News of the World often walking in, and on occasions apologizing to spectators for the bad language his nephew Jack was using 

It really was a different era, but brilliant.

[huss9]

would have loved it for it to have worked our here for Big Jack. Really liked him.

but it was awful at times.

 

[LionOfGosforth]

7 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

John Anderson lived in Abbey Farm, just round the corner from Chapel Park.  Me and my dad used to see him a lot on Sunday mornings because he used to take his kids to Prudhoe swimming baths, just like we used to

 

Think Kenny W lived on Ladybank for a good while, right down from that petrol station. Funny anecdote time, I rear-ended someone on Lemington roundabout one day in the 80s. He gets out of his car and...it's Kenny Wharton. He was absolutely sound, no harm done. Footballers were slightly more relatable back then, putting fivers of petrol in their cars and laughing off getting crashed (gently) into.

[LionOfGosforth]

2 hours ago, Benwell Lad said:

 

Dublin actually but right island 

 

Shit aye

[PauloGeordio]

[Coffee_Johnny]

Is it too late to turn gay in your 50s? Asking for a friend. 

[Collage]

2 minutes ago, Coffee_Johnny said:

Is it too late to turn gay in your 50s? Asking for a friend. 

Alan evidently pondered it in his 20s