if you had a lame dog................

You'd have taken it to the vet's by now.

Fecking Hell Whats Happening!!

Sitting back today and reflecting on Saturday's match against Brum I am still disgusted at the lack of effort, confidence and tactics that is right the way through our belovered club right now. The best thing about Saturday was that the exit from Dundas Street was trouble free and we were the first coach to depart and for once got home before 6.00pm - looks like it was a wise move for the time being.
Getting back to the teams performance you can see just watching that there is a total lack of confidence throughout the team and take away early shots from Stead our first real shot that worried the goalie enough to make a save was in the 83rd minute. Watching other teams, yes it is a pain to watch the TV at present, all the teams in the Premiership appear to be creating chances - except SAFC.
What about Birmingham? Never scored for a long time and then score at SOL to take all points. They like Pompey are the worst teams to come to the SOL this season and we never looked like beating either of them. Whats the odds for Crouch to score his first goal for Liverpool on Wednesday night?
To close with my opening title "Fecking hell what's happening" can anyone see a way forward or are we down and out?

Jim Gilling
FTM

What a relief!

Next weekend I'm NOT going to see Sunderland play - what a blessed relief! A while back I decided not to go to the Spurs away game and I'm glad I made that decision. I decided to go to Charlton the week after but decided to give Spurs a miss. The way Sunderland have been playing has been spoiling my weekend and most of the following week. All I've got to do now is get through the Liverpoool game on Wednesday then I can 'relax' and not worry about watching Sunderland for 10 days. Of course I'll be listening out for the result and hoping for a better performance but I think I'll "do a Turton" next weekend and switch off from football and try and get some enthusiasm back for my London awayday to Charlton with the Billy's.

Murray injured in restaurant incident

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray and his wife were injured by a beer glass in an incident in a Newcastle restaurant on Friday night.
Police are investigating the incident, which took place at around 11pm and left Mr Murray with a facial injury and Mrs Murray with a damaged eye.
The pair were having dinner with Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy and his wife.
"Sunderland AFC can confirm that there was an incident at a Newcastle restaurant last night," said a club statement.
"Mr and Mrs Murray and Mr and Mrs McCarthy were having a meal when the incident occurred at approximately 11pm.
"A beer glass was used in an attack on Mr Murray, who sustained an injury to his face. Mrs Murray also sustained an eye injury caused by flying glass.
"The police have advised Mr and Mrs Murray, Mr and Mrs McCarthy and the club not to comment further at this time."
It is understand McCarthy intervened in an effort to stop the attack.
Mr Murray, a multi-millionaire former accountant who made his fortune by selling kitchens and bathrooms, is the longest-serving chairman in the Black Cats history, having succeeded motor dealer Sir Tom Cowie in 1986.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are investigating a complaint from the chairman of Sunderland AFC that he was assaulted in a Newcastle restaurant last night.
"We received this complaint this evening."
Both the police and the club refused to make any further comment about the incident.

Whats worse?

Sunderland in the shit or the nation taking pity on us?

The playing side can be put right given time but a nation showing sympathy for our plight will stay in the consciouness for a long long time.

Today has got to be the day ....

.... when we win at home and break this terrible losing streak of defeats. I know I've said this for the last two 'must win' home games but if we don't win today then we're definitely doomed. Not confident, all we can do is hope, but if we win today and get motivated and get a point from Liverpool we might have an outside chance of survival. Or am I living in dreamland?

P.S. After Liverpool on Wednesday we don't have another home game till Boxing Day!

Tomorrow in the Fort

Keane on his way to Glasgow.

One of the cousins eh Billy? Is he a Gilligan I wonder?
The Coxhoe Cameraman

Season comparison

Posted above is my points graph comparing the last 4 seasons we've been in the Premiership. What it shows is that so far this season our record is that we have lost 5 , drew 1, won 1, drew 1, then lost the next 5 giving us 5 points after 13 games.

In season 2002/3, the year we got relegated with 19 points, we had 13 points after 13 games.

Therefore we are a massive 8 points worse off than that season.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cue for the Grim Reaper to come in with a '"We're doomed" posting!

The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006

-----------------------------------------------------
Mr JAMES GILLING, Mr IAN KENNETH MILLER are flying on:
-----------------------------------------------------
Saturday 10 June
Newcastle To Berlin Schoenefeld; flight 6487 dep. Sat 10 Jun 14:15; arr. Sat 10 Jun 17:15 Check in opens Sat 10 Jun 12:15; Closes Sat 10 Jun 13:45
Tuesday 20 June
Berlin Schoenefeld To Newcastle; flight 6488 dep. Tue 20 Jun 16:30; arr. Tue 20 Jun 17:30 Check in opens Tue 20 Jun 14:30; Closes Tue 20 Jun 16:00


Come on guys anyone else fancy a holiday in Germany in June and hopefully better football than that being served up at the Sunderland Stadium of Light?

Get yer names down and book the same flights - come on England, come on England

There were 10 German bombers in the air
10 German bombers in the air
There were 10 German bombers, 10 German bombers, 10 German bombers
in the air

And the RAF from England shot 1 down,
the RAF from England shot 1 down
And the RAF from England, the RAF from England, RAF from England
shot 1 DOWN

There were 9 German bombers in the air ..........

Sing up you know you want to!


Jim Gilling / Ian Miller
Invasion of Germany 2006

Premier league.

These are the kind of lads we want in the Sunderland camp right now. They had the fighting spirit to keep everyones hopes up. What a first team squad these lads would have made. Fit as fuck, take anyone on and beat them.

Copyright The Huyton Hoofer ( personal collection) 14th (Service) battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
The Coxhoe Cameraman

SAFC v Aston Villa

Day started badly and finished up worse. I think that about sums up last Saturday.

First of all the coach arrived 1.10pm instead of 12.55pm due to the A19 being closed at Yarm as the coach was coming from South. Whether this was an excuse for just running late remains to be seen but Mrs Gilligan was going to York and said that the Northbound was closed so perhaps the driver was not lying. I will still drop them a line about the need to be on-time. A few missing on the coach but we still broke even on the day thanks to £10 from the football card.

Arrived at the drop of point 2.00pm, we also got stopped at Vardy's garage due to non existant roadworks plenty of cones but no workmen - I think Sunderland Council make it difficult for fans to get into Sunderland and so starts the frustration off before we get to the ground. A couple of pints in the Fort and into the ground just intime for kick-off. Good to see the old boys back especially Phillips who is still everything we need to put our house upfront in order.

Kick-off and not much between the two teams both looked edgy and not wanting to make a mistake, great to see Bassila back looked good again and later in the second half, just after Villa scored was unlucky with a pile driver that hit the crossbar, the line and went out again. I think that although the first half ended 0:0 we should have been 1 down as it did appear to me that Ben Alnwick took the ball over the line when saving a shot; don't know what it looked like on the TV highlights as I have not watched any.

Second half we were second at everthing, quality upfront showed in the end and again poor defending. First Phillips netted with a close range header then two goals in as many minutes from Barry and Baros killed the game off and saw a mass exodus for the doors. I as usual stayed til the end and saw a penalty given for nowt - probably the referee was feeling sorry for us by now. Whitehead netted from the spot but damage was already done. Final score 1:3

Then back on the coach for more trouble - no traffic lights on outside the ground, cars leaving before coaches - all a f***ing mess and one that left a lot a disgruntled fans not only on our coach but I bet on the other coaches as well. We eventually left the stadium at 5.45pm nearly 1 hour after the game ended - no good to no man. If we had either drew or won reaction to the delay might not have been so bad but as the game, team and treatment of the fans coaches was crap who can blame passengers for having a dig at everthing. Letter going in this week from the branch to say exactly what we think of the parking and exiting arrangments.

Where do we go from here? Well I can put the coach parking right by moving to Dundas Street, but the team well enough is enough. Not sure how this can be put right, moral is low, no-one wants to stand up and be counted, we have no class,shite defence and forward line, we have no money to buy in January looking at the team out there on Saturday made me think - we had a few from last year playing the remainder were new and I am afraid some not as good as the ones that left. Okay the team we had last year were not good eneough for the Premiership but we have basically signed bad players, some exceptions like Bassila who I like and perhaps Miller will play more attacking if Bassila is in the side. As for the rest they would not get a game for Coxhoe Athletic on present form. We are in the mire upto and over our heads and it's only end of November. As the saying goes the league table never lies and we deserve to be where we are through bad management and bad play on the field.
Will our luck change, Mick is still looking for a formula that will work; he should get a maths expert in if it's a formula he thinks is the trouble. The formula will still get the same result Mick - crap players and management!

Finally as one of our founders would say " We're Doomed, We're Doomed"

J Gilling
FTM

C'mon Lads, where's the report?

Good, bad or indifferent we'd all like to read the views of the bloggers. Surely thats what this blog page is for. Can't ignore the fact that at present we are shite, but even so it would be good to read views of why we are shite, what we are going to do to put things right and some forthright views on whats going wrong.

Just to get the ball rolling I've been having a look back at some statistical information, comparing Wilkinson with McCarthy. Now we all know that Wilkinson was not the fans choice, was hounded out by fans, press and a bunch of players who had thrown in the towel and didn't fancy a bit of hard graft under Wilko.

The fans choice was McCarthy and sometimes you get what you deserve, so does McCarthys Premiership record stack up any better than Wilko's?

Wilkinson:- P14. W 2. D 5. L 7. F 16 A 33 Pts 11

McCarthy:-P 22. W 1. D 2. L19. F14 A 46 Pts 5

Undoubtedly we'd have gone down under Wilko but would we have been better placed to compete when( and if) we had come back up? Wilko made only 1 signing,Poom, McCarthy has made umpteen and how many of them have stood out really speaking, save perhaps Whitehead.

I can't help thinking we were very premature in showing the Wilkinson / Cotterill combination the door and they now look very good when set against McCarthy. Cotterill has Burnley flying in the Championship and will have then there or thereabouts in the shakeup. Now that would be the ultimate irony should Burnley come up as we go down.

Where to from here?

Down again?

This can't go on much longer.

Wilkinson and Cotterill would have done a better job than this, and would have still been there but for the glowing references the press gave them and a bunch of mardy arsed lazy twats who were frightened of hard work.

McCarthy out!!

ALS front cover

An accurate picture of what it feels like to be a Sunderland supporter at the current time!

Roy Keane

Manchester United captain Roy Keane has left the club my mutual consent.

Anyone think that Mick M will try to sign him in January. What do you think the odds are?

Jim Gilling
FTM

Pictures from Geneva

Le Brasseurs after the match

Lets all have a disco ........ 

End of the match and its 2:3 to England


 

Exocet missile direct hit in the Argentinian end!

God Save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen ......... 

Kick-Off minutes away! 

Mr Pickwicks - Friday night about 10.00pm 

Deano, Deano, Deano the Oxford fans shouted all night 

Argentina v England

Well Bloggers BT connection is back and I am back from a great week-end of festivity and football.
Friday started off at Durham Tees Valley airport for my 10.40am flight I went straight into my usual watering hole the business lounge for free wine and nuts. Had a few glasses of vin de blanc and boarded the KLM flight bound for Amsterdam, had a couple of 1/4 bottles of wine and the usual snack, a bit better this time as I was travelling business class thanks to my KLM air miles I had built up over the 30 years of travelling. Arrived in Amsterdam on time a quick dash to duty free for the usual 1000+ cigarettes and on the plane for Geneva, a few more bottles of vino and a meal before arriving to Geneva on time, stopped by customs for having more than 200 cigarettes on me. After pleading ignorance at the import laws they let me off with a warning not to do it again, a short train ride into the City centre and I was in my hotel opposite the main train station by 3.45pm local time.
The Hotel Suisse I can recommend, great location, good rooms, no bar but a mini bar in your room - no did not have another bottle of wine but headed out for the many bars around the hotel. At £50 per night it was a very good hotel and cheaper than what other fans were paying in nearby hotels.
First port of call was the Brasseurs, a bar that had it's own brewery and had brewed a new beer for the occassion Lions Beer. I skipped this drink preferring to drink the same as all the other fans called "yellow beer". Not a bad pint as it should be for £4.50 a pint. I got on talking with a few fans from Southampton and enjoyed the banter and the 4 or 5 pints I had. I went back to the hotel for a quick shit, shower and shave on with the aftershave for my Friday night out in Geneva.
I left the hotel at 7.30pm to meet up with an old work colleague Richard and his wife Mary. Unknown to me but they had booked us into a posh Italian restaurant I skipped this offer as when I bumped into them I was coming out of Burger King with a triple king burger meal - I didn't want to seem too greedy!. So we headed for Mr Pickwicks a bar stated in Free Lions as a must for Friday night as they were putting a band on for all England fans. We went downstairs where the band was to perform from 10.00pm it was now 8.00pm so a long night ahead. Richard got the drinks in and we started to talk about old times back when we worked together in the UK, we could just about hear ourselves speak as the noise in the pub was electric. After a few beers Richard and his wife left for the restaurant, I said I would meet them back in the pub after their meal. That was when my night really started. I met fans from all areas of the UK, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, West Ham, Oxford (Deano, Deano they shouted at me all night) Southend, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Swansea - yes there were Swansea fans supporting England! Well I don't know if they took pity on my cos I was on my own but they bought my drinks one after the other at a guess I think I got 8 pints of boddy's paid for at £4 a pint. When I offered to get the drinks in they all said that they were either moving towards the stage or moving onto another pub. Good seam indeed Mr Gilligan I thought. The "band" started and they were shite with a capital S singing boy band crap. England fans responded with chants of "shall we sing a song for you" "you're shite and you know you are" and "who are you who are you". However after several pints later and towards midnight they sounded like the best band ever! Richard and Mary arrived back just after 11.00pm and greeted me with "your still here and still standing" I introduced them to some of my new found friends, the Nottingham lads were by now well OTT and trying their hardest to tap anything in a skirt. I had to fend them away from Mary and Mary's huge tits as if I didn't I think Marys tits would have been on everyones mobile camera in the place. 4 couples all West Ham fans and all police in the Met. were next to me and one of them (one of the wives) kept hugging me and saying that I was the best Mackem she had ever met. She was sound asleep on the floor about one hour later.
Richard and Mary left at about 1.30am as it was closing time at 2.00am and they wanted to get home before the crowds headed out, some of them were heading back to the Airport to sleep there as they did not want to pay for Hotels! I left at 2.00am couldn't remember going back to my hotel only remember waking up looking at my watch and thinking 10.00am oh shit missed my breakfast might as well have another hour in bed.
So it was Saturday and the day of the match. I got out of bed at 11.00am and walked out of the hotel to get some fresh air. The bar next to my hotel, The Brittania, was full to the brim and most were drinking outside on the pavements usually against the law in Switzerland. I said to one guy bit too early for me and he said it was after 12 .... oh bugger I had forgotten to put my watch one hour ahead. I went down to the lake to try to freshen up, you know when you've had a few and you are wandering around not knowing what day it is and can't see very well due to blurred vision well this is what I was like and it was 12.30pm. I walked passed a huge St. George's flag that was laid out on a pavement for any England fan to write a message on. The flag is off to Germany with the England Fans Embassy a group of guys that give up their time on match days to assist any fans with answers to any problems they may have. One of these guys I have seen on local TV, don't know his name but know he was a mag, so I walked up to him and asked him how the scum was today. He stated "fucking Mackem the place is full of fucking Mackems" After he gave me my copy of Free Lions a magazine published for every England game - it's free but can still be sold for profit on Ebay - we started to discuss the recent derby match. He stated and not to be repeated as he would get lynched back home in scumland "We played well and a fair result would have been a draw" continuing he also stated " we play okay but don't get the breaks we deserve and they play shite and win matches" not bad statements coming from a loyal Mag. but remember not one word to any of his scum mates!
I made my way to a small but friendly pub called The Lord Jim run by a nice looking Swiss girl named Monica. It was chocker but I worked my way to the bar and stayed there until it was time to go. Pints of Fosters at £4.00. Again I got chatting to other fans, you all know I am shy really, one young lady was with a bus load from Reading and she was a great laugh, some guys from Sheffield, a few from Swindon, a gang from Luton and wait for it two lads who supported Scarborough home and away. Well again I was bought pints by most people I spoke to, best laugh of all was when one of the Scarborough lads got a round in he was a perfect gentleman and waited ... and waited ... and waited at the bar until it was his turn. Instead of shouting out his order he preferred to wait for "his turn at the bar". His mate jokingly told us that he took three days to book his flights on the internet. After 1/2 hour at the bar he eventually got served and the whole place erupted and everyone sang " shall we get a pint for you". Yes bloggers I did get the drinks in and it hurt at nearly £32 a round!
I left the bar at 4.00pm to head towards the tram station and the free tram number 13 to the ground. I was pleased that I came out when I did as the queues for the trams were long. We were crammed into each carriage and headed off to the ground, a 20 minute tram ride led to most people including me desperate for a pee. Once the train reached close to the stadium most of us releaved ourselves on the station platform and then headed for the stadium a 5 minute walk away.
After about 3 security checks I was inside the stadium. No programs for sale = no profit on Ebay and no program for Walter. I will send you a copy of Free Lions Walter. There were some programs for sale but were not official more like scrap books with pics of players in. Some guys did have what looked like official programs but these were not for sale in the England end and were all in French!
I went to my £30 seat that I would not sit on as we stood for the whole of the match. I was surrounded by about 12 Wigan fans who were cock-a-hoop about their start in the Premiership and hoped that their bubble wouldn't burst after Christmas and drag them down to a relegation fight. After the match they wished me and SAFC luck for the rest of the season and hoped we would stay up. Who would have thought Wigan fans would be saying this to us at the start of the season?
I was in the end behind the goal where the official Englandfans+ were situated about 7,000 in total. There seemed to be no segregation in the other ends as both Argentina and England fans were dotted about all over the place. Only one bit of bother to the right of me in the end opposite the players tunnnel, one Argentinian fan was giving obscene signs to a group of England fans in the same row as him. Not a wise move as one by one the 4 England fans waded into him and his mates. The riot police did not wade in with their battons but kept a gentle approach they ejected the Argentinian fan that started the trouble and left the others in their seats. Well done to them - wish they had been on duty at Arsenal the other week when innocent SAFC fans were ejected for doing nowt.
The match started - I will not say too much on the game iteself as you would all have seen it either live on TV or watched highlights (Walter went to sleep and still thinks they won 2:1!). I will say and other said it too that after the England v Turkey game at the SOL this was the best England game I have ever been to for action, goals and atmosphere. Songs worthy of a mention were (sorry Walter) "Argentina, Argentina what's it like to loose a war", "you'll never take the Falklands" and lastly at the end of the match "Easy, Easy, Easy" with Beckham joining in. Players worthy of a mention - Robinson - excellent saves, does he fancy moving to SAFC in January? Gerard - one of his best games in an England shirt, Rooney - great movement off the ball, he covered every blade of grass and must be on something, oh and then there was the player who scored the two goals at the end that won us the match - only real input he made in the match - that's also the opinion of alot of supporters after the match, but I guess that's what he is there for to score goals.
Game ends 2:3 to England what a performance, what an acheivement after some recent poor performances and against one of the top sides in the world. Chants of "lets all have a disco lets all have a disco" echoed around the air as we left the stadium to return back to the city by tram.
I got off outside of my hotel, had a quick change - more after shave and out on the piss again at 9.00pm. Went into loads of bars all heaving with England fans enjoying the night. The Swiss fans on returning from their win against Turkey were driving around the city flags outside their cars horns sounding all the time. Riot police where everywhere but standing well out of the way and letting everyone enjoy themselves without getting involved = no trouble. Swiss fans in the pubs singing along with the England fans and when the chant started " I'd rather be a paki than a turk" they were rolling about with laughter - magic moments. After meeting up with some of my new found friends (they had forgotten that it probably was my turn for the drinks) and after about 10 pints I made my way back to the hotel at 1.00am as I needed to get up early for a flight at 10.40am. Again can't remember getting back to the hotel but I did get up okay for a good breakfast headed for the train station for the train to the airport. Here I met with a Southampton fan who should have been on the 7.00am Easyjet flight to Luton but did not get up until 8.30am. He wasn't sure if his mates had made the flight as he went to bed at 2.00am and his mates weren't back to the rooms then.
Bought more cigarettes in Duty Free, caught my flights home, walked passed the customs at Durham Tees Valley Airport with a smile - they asked enjoyed the match I said you bet!
Got home at 3.30pm just in time for Mrs Gilligan to put the Sunday lunch on the table.

To summarise:

Great weekend
Great game
Great result beating Argentina (again)
Great hotel and location
Expensive beer
Expensive city - all watches, knives and clocks in the shops
Great fans - when left alone to enjoy themselves
The lovely Monica in Lord Jims
The England fans wearing their poppys with pride and respect for the fallen soldiers of all wars
The great humour and banter between England supporters and the Swiss fans
My new found mates and drinking buddies - my turn next guys!
The Swiss riot police for policing the city with a stand off approach and leaving fans to enjoy themselves without getting involved.
The chants, songs and dancing before and after the game
The fans inside the stadium saying the beer was better than in the City not knowing it was alcohol free.
The huge England fan who tried to get onto the crowded tram and couldn't make it and the fans on the tram singing " who ate all the pies......"
England fans the best international fans in the world.

Looking back it was all of the above and the fans behaviour that made you proud to be English especially seeing all those fans who are more than often tagged hooligans wearing their poppys with pride on Remembrance weekend. Roll on Germany - God save the Queen and all that stuff.

Clive D and his men, Miller and me are off to Germany in June for 7 to 10 days anyone want to show off their true colours and support the best international team in the world?

Photos to follow when I can get Picasso to run after my PC problems.

Jim Gilling
FTM and proud to be an Englishman.

No football = more cash

I suppose one of the benefits of not watching football, particularly Premier league football, is the fact that there seems to be a bit spare cash sloshing around these days. ( Well that and not having to subsidise offspring through higher education or shell out pocket money ). Never a one to let money wear a hole in my pocket it tends to burn a hole in my pocket and it just has to go. To that end this past year has seen the odd weekend away, a holiday in Canada and just feeling the need to buy what I want when I need it.

No football, particularly Sunderland AFC, means no more depressions and making my self miserable at the cost of hundreds of pounds a year. Breaking the habit, and that's what it is, make no mistake, was difficult with a sense of overriding guilt at not attending, but I worked through it and thought "Fuck it, I have no obligation to anyone but myself". I'll still have my mates, they'll still speak to me, they know where I'm coming from and one day, unless things change radically for the better, they too might find time and money to spend on themselves and indulge themselves a little more.

To that end, yesterday, money burning a hole in my pocket I popped out and purchased a DVD Recorder with integral VCR intent on burning a shit load of videos to DVD. Got some of the favourites out of the way, "Private Ryan", "Apollo 13", "Shawshank Redemption" and then started to sift through some of the others tucked away in the loft. Aha, the BBC version of the 1973 Cup Final saw itself on DVD by the day was out, " Goal" the 1966 documentary film of the World Cup and the full match coverage of the 1966 World Cup Final in glorious black and white.

Then I came up on it, Premier Passions, ( Its a shit copy) so I sat a watched it through and didn't copy it to DVD ( anyone got a good copy?). It was then that I realised that I'd made the right decision in staying away. Listening to Bob Murray back in 1996/97 is no different to listening to him today and the intervening years in between. " This club deserves Premier Football" "This club will attain Premier status and will not be relegated again" " I'm a fan too"

The highpoint of it all is our very own Billy giving Bob stick about the failures of the season and needing something to hang onto, Bob trying his hardest to sound like he gives a fuck and he is as gutted as everyone else, then Gary Stevens berating him and telling him ( in the nicest possible way) just how it feels for the fans and the amounts of money they spend following SAFC and how it makes us all miserable and on and on.

Nothings changed lads, nothing will change until there is a new direction at the top, even McCarthy is starting to sound like Reid.

So for the foreseeable future I'll keep my money in my pocket until I start to feel the heat from it and then I'll get shot before it burns me. After all, in the words of a wise old Sunderland Supporter who once lived near me.

" There's no pockets in shrouds"

ARGENTINIAN LASSES 2

ARGENTINIAN LASSES

here are the lasses who watched the game with us; it's worth stating they both brought a couple of beers each ... HA'WAY THE LASSES

walter PISSED 3

As you can see, it was getting dark and i was still lying on the park, PISSED. 8.00m

walter PISSED 2

walter PISSED 1

WHILE WATCHING ENGLAND-ARGENTINA (WALTER STILL SOBER)

Connection Problems

I am having problems with my Broadband line it appears to be faulty and BT will take anything upto 48 hours to fix. So my dear Bloggers you will have to wait until the line is up and running to hear about a great game and weekend in Geneva. Walter will probably not want to know!
I can connect using a Vodaphone Connect Card but with photos etc it will take sometime - the cards are okay to send and recieve emails but posting on blogsites is slow - slower than the way the Argentina team left the ground on Saturday night!

See you all on Saturday for the return of three old boys.

Jim Gilling
FTM

DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA

That's what we are talking about.. Don't cry for me.. What a bad second half for us, the argentinian side. Our manager couldn't have done worse tactically. I can't agree more with those who say he's an inexperienced coach.. He showed it yesterday... two goals in the last two minutes.. joke!!

I couldn't remember it all vividly coz by 3.45 pm here when Owen slotted his second goal, i was completely pissed. What was even worse, was that then we all went to a boarding school that owns like a sort of park for you to drink mate or play a bit of music, listen to some music or whatever..I can recall nothing. I slept from 4 till 8.At that time, some of the lads were fed up of waiting for me to wake up; that's why three of them dragged me home for 6 blocks and fortunately helped me in..

Photos from Arsenal away

1) The new stadium - fantastic
2) Shiner and fat boy Evans outside Highbury
3) Our view from our £35 seat
The Kella Cameraman

This time its gonna work.....

The Miller Men (aka Cgrissy and Shiner) make a quick getaway from the shithole they call Highbury

Miller Men Account of Arsenal Away.....

ARSENAL AWAY – NOT A JEFF WHITLEY SONG TO BE HEARD

Here we are again, fifty odd quid lighter hoping to see Sunderland’s season turn around. Every game we go to now we think ‘this could be the time, this is where our season starts’ but at the end of the game you’re just back to square one. This fifty odd pound is actually £55, for a train ticket and a seat at one of Europe’s top club grounds – and, just like the other 9 lads that accompany me on the 7.12am train out of Durham, I never been to Highbury - and we’re out to enjoy it win (haha), lose, or draw....

The train crossing Durham viaduct coincides with the sound of 9 cans cracking open – the first of many. Mirley is looking rough from last night’s session, and as I am armed with the digital camera for the 1st time this season I hope to get some unsavoury pictures of the lads in some uncomprimising positions! Mirleys first tin lasts him until Peterborough and I receive a phone call from a Mr Gilling explaining that he is feeling "very rough from last night" and "he won’t be having much to drink today". Men and boys Jimmy, men and boys…..although I do sympathise with him having Butch taking the piss out of him all day!

A couple of smart ladies and a big pisstaking session perk us up a bit and a few Stella and some of Ma Evans’ buffet later and we’re in London for 10.40am. We quickly jump on the Piccadilly line to Finsbury Park (they reckon Northumbria Police told Sunderland fans to stay away from this area?) and we find a pub called The Blackstock. We’re the first ones in and a little fat black barmaid dressed in everything that is Arsenal welcomes us – we find what will be our seat for the next 3 hours in perfect view of the big screen. The barmaid with nice yellow teeth puts Soccer AM on for us and we fill the dusty air with the sounds of the Kaiser Chiefs and Oasis from the juke box. By 1pm the place has filled up and we are the only SAFC fans in there – maybe the coppers were right about keeping away but a few renditions of "Shearer is a Wanker" gets us on good terms with the Gooners and we sort of upset them by playing Chas & Dave songs on the juke box so we gave them a gymnastics show by the pool tables – by the way, Davey owes the owner £300 to fix the floor after his 3rd attempt at a kart wheel…..

Shiner, complete with pervert’s mack, and his Middleham gang arrive to boost our numbers and we have a couple more and head on our 20 minute walk to the stadium. The queue to get in is quite big so we blame the coppers; it wasn’t the fact that we never left the pub until 2.45 though no, no, no. Once we find our seats I decide that this is the worst view I have ever had at any football stadium – and I am including Bury and Rotherham in this list. £35 for this? I see Sol Campbell launch a ball into the sky, the next thing it is down the other end on Van Persie’s chest and its 1-0. I think Arsenal had to work harder in their Friday morning training session.
Soon its 2-0, so I go for a pint – bollocks they don’t even sell beer, how good is this? After 70 minutes, half of us decide that enough is enough and we leave. Jonathan ‘Tore’ Stead just doesn’t cut it for me on the wing!

So, a quick slide down the banisters out of Highbury and a jog to the tube station and we’re on the way to O’Neills at Kings Cross for the final whistle and we find that the game finished 3-1.
Were any of us bothered who scored our goal? I didn’t care. Ashy does his best to break my neck as he freefalls out of his seat on to me, I am in a state of real pissed offness and the beer starts to go down badly – not a good sign but a quick lash out at one of the lads (which I later apologise for) I put my troubles behind me for a day and I am back on the Stella in full flow. We make our way to the Flying Scotsman, Clarky is put off by the 6 riot vans parked outside so decides to go to another pub across the road with Darren and Rodge (£45 heavier from a win on the bandit). I enter the Scotsman Zoo, faced by a couple of West Brom fans but by no means fazed as I see Ash, Mirley and Chrissy checking out the semi-naked lady on the stage (who I must say is the ugliest "gentlemen’s club entertainer" I have ever seen), another couple of pints out of a plastic cup and we have another hour to wait for our train home.

Unlike our previous visit to London we have plenty time to purchase our refreshments for the journey – Rodge went in and slipped on the floor and put his foot through the fridge door – ooops! The guy of Asian origin says it is ok but I think he stung him for the 12 cans of stella. Ash gets the infamous bottle of 20/20 for the exit from The Smoke.

The train home was eventful due to a handful of dickheads who got the train stopped at Peterborough – the coppers came and threatened arrest, even threatened Davey with arrest until they realise they wouldn’t be able to pick him up as he lay comatosed in his seat. Our resident coppers Rodge and Pete Carr diffused the situation and after a 40 minute delay we eventually set of again, but oh shit, some of us find ourselves out of beer, Christopher John Smith Ashworth even diverts to the Stella. With 2 or 3 more cans down our necks and some anti-Newcastle songs without the swearwords later, Durham is within sight. We hit the Fighting Cocks in spectacular style, we look like a gang of lads who had been on the piss for 16 hours but we didn’t half look good. I, by this time, am absolutely mashed – I even pay £6 to get into Café Rock to buy one bottle. Home James, I am getting too old for this – the hangover is gonna last until Tuesday….all in all it was a great day, with all the lads on the piss and I am glad Clarky come along for the ride….

Next stop Tottenham Hotspur, I am taking my adopted Uncle Steph Walton for company this time so I had better be on my best behaviour…

Jimmy's Sad Saturday in London

Jimmy and friends enjoy a convivial pre-match pint in London

We're on our way
After warnings from Jimmy that I had better not be late (!) I pulled up outside the Gilligan residence at a couple of minutes past 7, expecting to find him waiting on the doorstep. However, much to my surprise, the house was in darkness and no sign of Jimmy. As I got out of the car to find out what was happening the front door opened to reveal a dis-shevelled figure in the doorway. At first I didn’t recognise who it was and thought I’d gone to the wrong house but then the apparition croaked “I’ll be out in a couple of minutes Brian, slept in” and I realised it was Jimmy. What a shock, seeing him ‘without his make up’ and in such an obviously ‘distressed’ condition. What ever could have happened? As I waited in the car all sorts of thoughts rushed through my head and as I sat there I could see lots of activity in the Gilling household with Jimmy up and down the stairs and Linda, still in her dressing gown, not far behind. Surely they weren't popping upstairs for a quickie? Hold on, was that not a broomstick she had in her grasp? Surely she couldn’t be beating Jimmy with it to get him to hurry along? A few minutes later all was revealed when Jimmy shot out of the door and staggered to the car. No sign of Linda at the doorstep waving a fond farewell so maybe all was not well in the Gilligan household? As he got into the car Jimmy announced that he’d been out drinking on the Friday night in Kella, in the Lamp and the Greyhound, with the future son-in-law and was feeling a bit worse for wear. As we pulled away he said, between moans and groans, that he hadn’t got to bed till gone 3 o’clock. Jimmy also seemed very worried that he hadn’t combed his hair that morning. Don’t know what he was worried about as it looked much the same as usual but Jimmy mentioned this several times on the way to Kelloe. Perhaps what he meant was that he hadn’t had time to put that sprayey-on stuff onto his crown - they reckon it works wonders and is better than a George Reynolds backcomb! When we got to Kelloe Butch and Kenny were playing hell with Jimmy for being late and called him, amongst other things, a Coxha puff - the Kella lads seem to have a big thing about transport being on time apparently!

As we passed the Catholic Church in Coxhoe I wondered if we should maybe drop Jimmy off for the last rites as he had a deathly look about him but he said he’d be ok plus Butch and Kenny wouldn’t hear of it under any circumstances. This was not because they were sympathetic, just the opposite in fact, they said they were looking forward to tormenting Jimmy for the rest of the day! We sped towards Durham and got to the station in time to catch the train. During the journey Jimmy gave us some details of the previous evening, including his future son-in law being sick in the back on Linda’s new car – not a good way to impress the new in-laws. All Butch could say was that the dog’s would have a good time licking it up! Anyway, we soon found our seats and got settled on the train. Jimmy perked up a little bit and launched into a couple of chorus's of "There were 10 German bombers ..... etc" but as no one else was joining in he soon lapsed into a semi-comatose state, despite Butch’s offers of food and beer, and was like that most of the way to London. The journey to Kings Cross was uneventful and we got there just after 11 o’clock.

In the smoke
We’d arranged to meet up with Abbsy, Tommy and their mates so we found a taxi and headed for the Cock pub, just outside the Highbury and Islington tube station. When we got in the pub all the lads were already there and soon after we were joined by Thirla who had come up from Poole for the day. Jimmy seemed to have perked up at this stage and was soon chatting to the barmaids and lending a black lady his mobile. However this was to be Jimmy’s ‘high point’ of the day and it was to be all downhill from here. We had some good crack with Thirla and Abbsy then moved to another pub called the Hen and Chickens. Jimmy seemed to be flagging and could only manage some half hearted quips to the lass behind the bar but when he was rebuffed he quickly shut up. This was not Jimmy at all – usually he’s a persistent pest and it takes a crack on the jaw to shut him up but this time he was very subdued. The lads broke up into different groups and we went our separate ways. Jimmy and I ended up in the Highbury Barn pub where we had a pint and a bit crack with some Arsenal supporters. We then had some fish and chips and set off for the match.

At the match
Other seasons we’ve been seated behind the goal but this time we were seated in the corner and the view was pathetic. Someone said it was like watching the game on a widescreen tv except that if the ball went above head height you couldn’t see it due to the low roof. The sooner Arsenal move to the new stadium the better as the facilities at Highbury are atrocious. The game seemed to pass by quickly with Butch and Kenny leaving at half time to go to the Flying Scotsman to see the strippers. Not bad judges as we were well outclassed and were never going to get anything out of the game. At end of the game we said goodbye to Thirla then made our way to the tube and back to Kings Cross.

Homeward bound
When we got back to the station we saw Clive and his mob but once again Jimmy was strangely subdued. Usually he’s slavering around Christine and Mary but this time he was very quiet and just went off to get some bait for the journey home. After a while they announced the train and we found our seats and settled down for the journey home. Once again Jimmy adopted the semi-comatose position and refused all offers of beer from Butch and Kenny. Amazed at this refusal (anyone who has been on an away trip with Jimmy knows he is usually the ‘life and soul of the party’ on the way back) Butch started to theorise on reasons why Jimmy was ‘keeping himself right’. Was it because he was still fatigued from the previous night’s heavy drinking session or was there another reason? Butch reckons that Jimmy was ‘under orders’ not to come in pissed to Coxhoe club. Apparently our hero has sometimes come back from an away game in a high state of inebriation and caused havoc in the club by berating one and all. Rumour has it that Mrs G and the other members of the company have made it plain that it mustn’t happen again as it was spoiling the night and Jimmy had been given a ‘final warning’. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusion but it’s a fact that Jimmy was very quiet and didn’t have a drink on the way home.

In Coxhoe club on the night
Rumour has it that “sunderland tillI die!’ may have been in the club on the night. I wonder if that blogger might like to post a report of how Jimmy was in the club. Or perhaps Jimmy might like to add some comments? Surely he was on his best behaviour!!

Quotes of the day
A few quotes I can remember from the day

• "You're not gay now Jimmy" - Butch, on the train home
• "Little donkey" - Kenny, on the train home
• "Never again" - Jimmy, as he got into the car on the morning
• "I always knock around with them a bit before I live with them" - Abbsy
• "What time does the night do start Jimmy" - Kenny and Butch, in the car going to Durham
• "Here mate, have a look at this on my phone" - Butch, all f###ing day!

Perhaps someone else can remember a few more!

Apologies to Jimmy for making him the main focus of this posting but it was funny to see him suffering, as he's made us suffer before, and for him to have a taste of his own medicine. Here's hoping he has a better day out when he goes across to Switzerland to see England play next week and that he's refreshed for our next trip to London in December to see us play Charlton.

Postscript
Since publishing this blog another few things have come to mind, namely :-

The lad on the train on the way back, drunk as a lord, swaying down the aisle, can in hand singing "We'll win again" to the tune of "We'll meet again". He kept repeating the same line over and over again until one of the other lads said "That's the spirit, this lad isn't giving up" to which our singer said "I don't really believe it like" and fell into a drink-induced sleep.

A huge and heated argument about how to get Murray out. The gadgy (with his daughter) who was totally smashed and joined the argument but could hardly talk. Later in the journey the lad got sat next to Jimmy. Butch shouted something about "Watch the bald patch" at which point the lad started rubbing Jimmy's crown with the whole train started singing "Turn round so we can see your baldy head" (Jimmy has just emailed me this one!)

The joys of away travel - no wonder football supporters get a bad name!

Where's the Report Billy?

Ha'way Billy where's the report on the great "exciting" trip away yesterday. The 2 Billy's will be getting anxious for your record of the day.

J Gilling
FTM
(Now Getting Back to Normal!)

And think it's over Mick..

I do not know whethet you will agree with me or not but this is what i Think of Mick..

Mc Carthy... it's high time you left the SoL for the good of the club. You proved up to now you have not the skill to make the players realise they are in the top flight once for all. With you stratagy on the field, your SO predictable attack, i mean, the rival defense knows a mile away what the offensive movement will be..

Numbers prove my right as well; less than one goal per game on average..No class strikers too. I know, the club does not roll in money but..I hope in the winter market the board doesnt bring defenders as when they broght in defenders as when they brought El Kauori... Come on!!

Billy's legs

Well is there a resemblance? No sandals but could be all the same!
The Coxhoe Cameraman

Argentinian Football

Looking at Walters photos reminded me to post about Argentine Football highlights on Channel 5 on a Friday morning. Usually starts about 5:10am and finishes at 6 am. Generally on a early shift Fridays so caught it this morning.

The Velez game ( they won 2-1) included an unusual event. A goal that wasn't. A shot came in from outside the box, hit the back stantion and rebounded into the net through a hole in the top corner beside the stantion. It was the fast eyes of the linesman who ruled it out. That would have made it 2-1 to Velez but a later goal sealed the win.

It's worth a watch or even setting the video for. There are some canny footballers in Argentina.

So Velez currently lie second in the league.

I wonder if we have any money?

Now thats another tale.

sunderland tillI die!

As I was viewing the blog I noticed there is a new blogger on the list of contributors. Goes by the name of "sunderland tillI die!" As far as I can see this blogger has just joined the gang but has yet to make his/(her?) debut on the blog. Good to have you with us - please reveal yourself with a posting.

Billy and Hollybeck Carina

COULD THIS BE BILLY WITH HIS NEW DOG AT THE MANCHESTER TERRIER SHOW IN LEICESTER EARLIER THIS YEAR. I RECOGNISE THE LEGS FROM HIS PHOTOS OF LAS VEGAS. WHAT DO YOU THINK BLOGGERS

Arsenal v SAFC

Strangely I am looking forward to tomorrow and our final visit to Highbury. Is it because it's an away match and there are about 30+ of us going down on the train or that I am optimistic of the result? I think the latter is wishfull thinking but nice if we can get something out of the match. My prediction though is 2:0 to the Arsenal but a good day all round.
Billy will pick up me and the other Billy's at 7.00am tomorrow, I may have a hang over as my future son-in-law is coming over tonight with a few of his mates from Shotton and I am treating them to the delights of the Davy Lamp and the Greyhound two pubs where my heart still lies - Kella. Trouble is I am once again full of cold so may not enjoy the night and tomorrow as I would have liked.
So if a hangover exists not too much to drink on the train going down and a steady sup during the day as Mrs Gilligan expects me in the Club at 9.30pm fresh as a daisy. I will have to aim for this as next week I am away all weekend watching England v Argentinia in Geneva.
What are your predictions for the Arsenal game and will Billy get any fish and chips and get any sleep on the train???

Jim Gilling
FTM

on the way to the ground 

At the turnstiles 

Outside River Plate.. 

Velez fans on the terraces 

Walter with some Velez fans from Moreno, and the BLONDIE 

Pics taken from River Plate v. Velez.