Non-league football

[Paullow]

Just back from the Blue Star match. Blyth probably the better side in the first half, but no massive chances for either. Ex Newcastle United legend Michael Ndiweni put Blue Star ahead after 51 mins with a good strike and it looked like they would see it out. He then missed a great chance with a header at the end to seal it, and about a minute later Blyth broke, won and scored a pen and after 6 mins of injury time, it went to pens. Both scored their first 2, but Blue Star missed their next two (Ndiweni saved, and then the next blazed over) so Blyth advance.

 

Disappointing as Blue Star are probably better placed to make a fist of things at the higher level, but there will be the Blyth derbies next year, as Jack says, which is crazy when you consider one is one of the most famous non league sides in the country and the other were in the 3rd tier of the Northern Alliance league in 2018, so in 7 years they have gone from the 13th tier to the 8th tier, while Spartans have had back to back relegations.

 

I know Blue Star is a bit of an iconic name, and were the strips Newcastle United used in the early days of the Premier League, but there does seem heavy marketing toward the West End - it was mentioned so many times in that earlier interview with the chairman, and there was a massive banner before the game on the pitch saying something like 'Welcome to' or 'This is the West End', so it might be a good marketing opportunity for them to change their name to Newcastle West End, if possible, obviously linking to the name before Newcastle United, but further making it clear they are the team of that area.

 

Just saw there was 2,151 there tonight which is a great crowd.

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Paullow

[Optimistic Nut]

Going along to Dunston tomorrow. 

[Paullow]

I'm going to do either Dunston or Jarrow, both 3pm kick offs, probably leaning towards Dunston with it being a couple of leagues higher.

[Paully]

If I wasn’t off to Brighton this morning then my fix would be the over 40s final between Hebburn and Hartlepool at North Shields’ ground at 10.30 followed by the promotion play-off final at Perth Green between Jarra and Thornaby at 3!