Tuesday, March 28, 2006

SWALK and all that

Guys while driving back from the Midlands yesterday I was listening to Johnie Walker on Radio 2 and in conversation with "Sally Traffic" they discussed abreviations on cards like SWALK that I remember as Signed With A Loving Kiss. He then went on to ask Sally did she ever get a card with BURMA written on it. When she asked what it meant he laughed and said I will tell you after.

Well bloggers I have racked my little brain cells and can't remember what BURMA stands for ..... can anyone assist and also give some more that we used to put on valentine cards like we used to send to JoyceW, ElaineM, BeverleyD, CathelineV, ChristineK and others (you know the ones Huyton!)

I await your solution to BURMA and the others.......

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Message from Bally

Dear Coxhoe Branch,

We created chances but that elusive goal wouldn't come. We need to improve in the final third, we know that, but I could not fault the players. I have to say the supporters were magnificent, they played a massive part. I said to the players at half time that the fans were positive and they were. The crowd got right behind us.Are we heading in the right direction? I like to think so.
I'll go home happier. Not because of the result, but because of the way we played, there were a lot of good things.
The players have set a benchmark now in terms of how they went about it. They have to repeat it or even push on from it and I know they can.
It's frustration of a different sort this week. They [the players] should be putting the effort in, it's part of their jobs; but when they do put it in you want to see them get a bit of joy.
Unfortunately for us Mr Friedel was not going to let anything in. We have had a go and we just need that bit of quality.
We had started well and the goal was a real kick in the teeth. It could have been prevented.
I don't want to condemn the referee, they have a difficult jobs. Sometimes I will rant and rave against them, but I'll always have respect and understand that they have a tough job.
Today there were decisions made that I thought should have gone the other way. [About the penalty shout] The ref's seen it, he hasn't given it so you get on with it.
Good teams win ugly and Blackburn did that but we pushed them all the way. They got the goal and we didn't.
We deserved something out of the game but sometimes life's a bitch.

All the best,

Kevin Ball

Saturday, March 25, 2006

It just gets worse and worse!

What a mess!

Club anounces gates to the main entrance closed.

Police adopt heavy handed tactics.

Fans up in arms.

A sad day for Sunderland AFC when the freedom of speech is curtailed.

No fans = No club

Broken windows forced Cowie out of Roker, how long before Bob Murray says "enough is enough."

Fans phone-ins mirror the mood of the protestors. Many talk of not going again. West Yorks branch member says 2 years ago 70 a week travelled now it's a car load and getting smaller.

It's a crying shame.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Black Cats Bar - Update

After some juggling this is the best I can do at present, some minor changes may happen on the bus but this may be with my ticket in-case someone wants one match instead of the other.

Blackburn

Brian Mitton
George Winn
David Hodgson
Doggy Lad
Doggy Lad
Brian's Dad
Doggy Lad
Doggy Lad
Jim Gilling
Ian Pearson
Charlie Pearson
Phil Armstrong

Fulham

Wayne Trowles
Ian Hedley
David Hedley
Alan Fox
Andrea
David Walton
Thomas Hegarty
Daniel Hegarty
Derek Brimlow
David McAllister

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

THIS SUNDERLAND SHIRT IS MINE!!!!

Hello guys,


It's been a long time since this lazy sod last posted a message... The last time i had posted, Mc
Carthy was in charge... Now Bally is on the bench..

But the aim of my post is to show you all that in just a couple of days I'll have another Sunderland shirt.. I bought it at Mercado Libre, that is supported by Ebday... Just $52 for it. Check the link above to see what I'm talking about.. What do you think of my purchase??!

The Argentinian Mackem

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Message from Bally........

Dear Coxhoe Branch,

It was frustrating because I thought we defended well in the first half.

I must stress we didn't come here just to defend, we wanted to get people forward. But when half-time came I was thinking that we were doing all right; and then we came out in the second half and conceded a goal. It could have been prevented.

Defenders as a whole have a responsibility but there's other people who have duties too.
We spoke about confidence and I appreciate that it is short in supply here at the moment. But by the same token you've still got to roll up your sleeves and push yourself to try to get that result.

If you just retreat into your shell when you go 1-0 down, you've got no chance. At any football club, that's exactly what you don't want. I wanted a reaction after we went 1-0 down and I don't think I got enough of one.

I didn't enjoy some of the individual performances and some of the collective performance. It gives me more insight on how I judge people and see people.I've told the players that I'm not happy and I've gone round and spoken to them about it.

There are some good quality players here but it's other aspects they've got to improve on and I've told them in no uncertain terms what the requirements are.

We've had injuries to players who may have played a part today, players who add to the side. But then when they are not available, it gives other people an opportunity and you hope they grasp it with both hands.

All the best,

Kevin Ball

The last drop ..... at last

Well bloggers on the road again yesterday to see our fantastic team play at Bolton and an early start at 8.20am pick up time outside Gilligan Mansions.

Hang on a minute did I really say fantastic team ......... rewind and start again!

The "luxury" coach from Griersons picked me up within walking distance of my house, actually it was parked right outside the house. It was a 33 seater and I was the last pick up with still about 5 spare seats showing the sign of the times I thought; even Mrs 100% MaryF was not on the bus having said before the last away game that this was to be her last even CliveD was not on the trip as several nights on night shift took their toll ... or so he says. Only two ladies on the coach one reading a book all the way one showing her wagger off and sitting next to me all the way down; I'll let the regulars determine who they were.

We sped our way down towards Bolton making phone calls to the Chester-Le-Street branch who had booked us into a pub that no one, even them, knew where it was. Arriving about 10.30am on the boundaries of Oldham/Manchester and following CliveD's AA route guide we ended up as the directions said in a place called Middleton - a quick call to the Chester branch to find that the pub was no where near Middleton and they were sitting outside a pub waiting for a man to take them to a the pub where we were booked in; where's CliveD went you want him. Anyway with me and big Geoff leading the way we eventuallly found the Chester coach and then followed them to a pub near Oldham called the Last Drop and at £1.00 per pint of John Smiths me and StevieW settled in nicely at the bar, StevieW wanted to sit down but as Michele, Natalie and Helen behind the bar were very good looking and increasingly so every time they bent over we stayed at the bar all afternoon. The banter was good between the two of us and our new found friends behind the bar at one point we re-called saying that a pint and muffin at £2.50 was a real bargain at which point Michele made it clear that a muffin in Oldham was a sandwich.... our mistake or wishful thinking!

So after 7 or was it 8 pints it was off to Bolton and a coach parking fee of £20.00 - how do they get away with it and why doesn't SAFC charge away coaches if we have to continually pay. We settled into our £32 seats right at the back to be joined by the Miller Men who were stopping for the night at the hotel at the ground, well they were now after Chrissy booked them into the wrong hotel at first. I hope Miller gives us a report on his night out.

The game well it wasn't a game it was the worst performance I have recently seen no guts, no spunk or ability between them and when Leadbitter was taken off to be replaced by Breen I think that said the lot. Shite all the way through, even I started to nod off mid way through the second half. Trouble between SAFC supporters shouting for Murray Out and others (the Wingate branch) shouting get behind the team leading to several ejections from the ground. At the end when the whistle went it was a blessing as we all headed back to the coach. With a quick get away we were back in Gilligan Mansions for 7.45pm in time to take Mrs Gilligan out on her weekly treat to Coxa Club and back to £1.64 per pint.... far too expensive.

So we ended where we started the day ...... The Last Drop.


Jim Gilling
SOWUBIRAWSPTBF

Saturday, March 18, 2006

"Bolton v Manchester"

As previously reported I took our Tess to the Manchester Terrier show in Leicester today in preference to going to watch Bolton v Sunderland. We had a good day out and won 2 rosettes but she was not as successful as last time. Passed the Sedgefield bus at about 9 o'clock, well past Scotch Corner, so it looked like they were set for an early start on the beer - by my reckoning they'd be in Bolton by about 11 o'clock!

Listened to the radio on the way home and it seems like were never in contention and fortunate to be 0-0 at half time. Although it pains me to say it I think I made the right choice going to the dog show. I'm looking forward to Jimmy's report as I'm sure that with such an early start they'll have had a good day - until the game started!

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Black Cat Bar - Update

As a result of excellent work by Brian Mitton we have today received tickets for the Black Cat Bar. However due to demand it was not possible to get the seats together for one game. We have 10 for the Fulham game and 12 for the Blackburn game.

I will discuss and distribute the tickets on the bus for the Blackburn game in the meantime if you have a preference please let me know and I hope I can arrange the tickets to suit.

It may be possible that I contact you before the game if I have managed to select the members for each match, in that way you can give your main ticket up to a friend who will hopefully travel on the coach.


Thanks Brian!


Jim Gilling
Secretary

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Guess the destination?










The safari suit back in fashion












Barman of that great pub, pleased to see his old mates back in town






Fun and games






Holiday friends








Plenty to drink







Food (like what the others are eating)






City centre








Football

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Message from Bally

Dear Coxhoe Branch

We could have done without the early goal. He took it well, but it happened and we looked for a reaction after that. To be fair, I got one, the unfortunate thing was that we couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.
Half-time came at bad time as far as we were concerned. We were in ascendancy then, and it probably enabled Paul Jewell to get amongst his players. They came back into the game a bit more after half-time and it didn’t work out for us.
I still felt we could score a goal towards the end. Their keeper has pulled off a great save and Chimbonda has just stopped Steady from scoring.
I enjoyed the occasion in terms of my first game in charge and it was nice to hear Paul Jewell say what he said about the game, that we were the better of the two sides.
At times the players have got to take things on board and actually what we ask of them. Today has certainly given me food for thought.
I did what I felt was right today in giving Stevie Caldwell the captaincy, and I thought he had a magnificent game, as did Danny Collins. And to be honest, I didn’t fee the need for any changes. The players want to go out and show what they can do, but if I do feel the need for changes I don’t have any problem with that.
I haven’t spoken to the physios yet so we don’t ye know the full extent of Julio’s injury. It’s early days yet and I need to speak to them (physios).
I do think a lot of positive things came out of the game. We were stretched out as the game went on, but it was a pleasing performance.
I would love to have finished with a win for the club and for the supporters.

All the best,
Kevin Ball

Friday, March 10, 2006

Just what we wanted Podcasts instead of players!

As we go into the Championship please feel proud that SAFC are one of the clubs in England that are leading the way in technology with the introduction of podcasts for your Ipod or MP3 player.
As for the comment "what has been a difficult week for the club" don't they mean a difficult season?
What would you prefer my faithful bloggers a podcast or another season in the Premiership ...... now with all players these days having Ipods I bet the players have gone for podcasts.

Message from SAFC reads:-

SAFC podcasts launched

An exciting new way to get exclusive access to SAFC has been launched on safc.com

Sunderland are one of the first football clubs in the country to introduce a regular podcast.

The downloadable audio files, which can be easily transferred to MP3 players, are becoming hugely popular on the internet.

And Black Cats fans can now listen to exclusive safc.com podcast news at their own leisure – whether that’s on their way to work, in the car, on the bus or on their way to the match!

In the very first safc.com podcast, we hear from new caretaker manager Kevin Ball, captain-for-the-day Steve Caldwell and also goalkeeper Kelvin Davis on what has been a difficult week at the club.

Also, find out about Zipping the Light fantastic and check out betting odds for tomorrow’s game – as well as all the latest SAFC ticket news.

So don’t miss out – get your safc.com podcast today to keep up-to-date with everything that’s Sunderland AFC.


Goalscorer and match

Go to the website and see if you can name the scorer and the match

http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/cm_goals/goal1.swf
http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/cm_goals/goal2.swf
http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/cm_goals/goal3.swf
http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/cm_goals/goal4.swf
http://www.eidosinteractive.co.uk/cm_goals/goal5.swf

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Jim's mate Donny Dog banned from game

Police ban Donny the Dog

Police have come under fire after banning a football club mascot from a match because of his "unsuitable" costume.Grandad Andy Liney, 58, was stopped by police as he tried to get into Doncaster Rovers' match at Huddersfield Town.Mr Liney, who's been Rovers' mascot Donny the Dog for five years, had received written permission to appear at the Galpharm Stadium.But he told the Yorkshire Post: "I got within 50 yards of the stadium when I was stopped by a Huddersfield official and told I was not going to be allowed in because of police intelligence."Then I said I would take my Donny Dog head off and sit in the stands with the rest of our fans, but they said I could only do that if I got changed."The costume is an all-in-one double-lined fur suit so I don't wear anything underneath it, and I hadn't brought a change of clothes. The club offered to find me some but I didn't much want to wear someone else's clothes so I spent the game on the supporters' coach."A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The situation was risk-assessed, and based on the intelligence available a decision was taken not to allow the mascot on to the pitch before the match."
Rovers' chairman John Ryan said: "I think it is an absolute scandal. I feel like reporting West Yorkshire police to the RSPCA."

Monday, March 06, 2006

The Official Club Line

Click the title for the link.

Caller on Radi0 5 Live. " Mick McCarthy is the best manager we ever had"

Message from the Huyton Hoofer

Goodbye Michael McCarthy.

It wasn't fun while it lasted.

Does that now mean I have to fall on my sword and return?

Message from Mick ....... a little more luck and more quality infront of goal Mick and get rid of Breen!

Dear Coxhoe Branch,

I feel like the needle has stuck. I'm sick of talking about it because throughout the season I think we've been better than the 10 points we've got.
But in vital areas, whether we've given a goal away at a vital stage of the game or whatever, it seems to have cost us.
We've had long spells [today] where we've created chances and we haven't scored. After that second half we should have had something out of it. I'm sick of talking things up and taking positives out of it, it gets a bit wearing.
I was concerned when we conceded two [goals] so quickly. They just had a little spell when they were rampaging all over us, but I made a change and we stemmed the tide. Rory went into the centre of midfield and we went a bit narrower.
Once we got the ball down and passed it, we proved we were a match for Manchester City.
[On two-goal Samaras] He stuck the ball in the net twice and that's what you pay six million quid for.
[On Breen's red card] It was a stupid thing to do, especially when he has had a yellow card. It cost us and it means he won't play in the next game.
It was an open game; it was end-to-end for a real long spell in the second half.
Kelvin has kept us in it and then when we get a chance after that, we should take it. We should have got a point.
[Kelvin's challenge on Wright-Phillips] It was a stone-wall penalty. It was a bad decision by the ref but I'm delighted he made it. But then he made another one when Deano [Whitehead] got clumped in the middle of the park.
[On Kyle's first Premiership goal] It's brilliant for him but we should have built on it. We didn't manage to do it.
I'm thrilled for Kyler, he'll be happy - it's a monkey off his back but it should have been cause for more celebration because we had chances.
I don't want any sympathy. I'd like some points to give people a smile, not sympathy.

All the best,

Mick

Friday, March 03, 2006

Manchester City v SAFC

Don't know who is going but Sedgefield coach is picking up at:-

7.30am - Kelloe Greyhound
7.35am - Coxhoe (my house!!!)

Here's for a good day - early stop at Bury for a drink.

Next one I have signed up for is Bolton then Man.U as it's Good Friday and bus is elaving about 12.00 for a good sup before the match.

And then the "BILLYS AWAY DAY TO ASTON VILLA VIA LEICESTER" chin up for this one!

Yes I think we will need the drink before the games.


Jim Gilling
FTM