Bah Humbug

A Merry Christmas to all bloggers, now that its over.

Message from Roy as we escape with a point.

Dear Coxhoe Branch,
The performance was disappointing but we keep climbing mountains, credit to the players.
We were hoping that if we got a goal back, we could make a game of it.
Dave Connolly's been on fire in training this week, in fact he's been sharp in the last few weeks, and he scored a great goal. We started slowly and I knew we were in for a hard day.
In terms of getting a result when we didn't play well, it was pleasing. We keep giving ourselves mountains to climb but to be fair to the players, we keep climbing them.
I think I had every emotion today. Fifteen minutes before the end it was anger and frustration, but I'm delighted with the players again.
Steve Caldwell made a great tackle when it could have been 3-1. We gambled a bit, made changes and managed to get back in it, it was pleasing.
You can never give a game of football up, there's plenty of examples of teams coming back. You keep going until the end and we did today.
I'm sure their manager will be disappointed. We've scored last-minute goals this season and we've conceded them, against Southampton we did. It's disappointing when you do.
I think that Kav, Liam [Miller] and Toby [Hysen] when they came on had an influence on the game.
Grant [Leadbitter] also scored a good goal. He has got that in his locker, he scores with his left and right foot in training and I hope he gets more.
Even when it was 2-1 and we were pushing forward, they had some good chances, we left gaps at the back and it could have been 3-1. The goals we gave away annoyed me.
I would not hold Dwight [Yorke] responsible for the second [his back-header led to the second goal]. Players gave away the ball before that and it's a team game.
As much as people will remember Grant and Dave for the goals, I'll also remember two tackles by Steve Caldwell.
It was great for us to score in front of our fans. There were three or four thousand of them there today and it was great for them - it's all about the fans, and the players.
All the best,
Roy Keane
Burnley 2 Sunderland 2 Click here to visit the match centre.
Next match:Crystal Palace v Sunderland, Friday December 22 (8pm).
Next home match:Sunderland v Leeds, Boxing Day (3pm).
Click here to buy tickets online.

Message from Roy

Dear Coxhoe Branch,
We showed good character, the same as last week.
It was a difficult game. When you start slowly, like we did in the first four or five minutes, then it’s going to be a long afternoon.
We were slow out the blocks – but, again, we were digging deep, we’re grinding out results. Two great finishes, I’m grateful for that, and again we’ve just about edged it.
We didn’t play particularly well, even though we had chances to kill the game off when it was at 2-1.
They also had a great chance at 1-1, and had they scored that it could have been a different game. Marton (Fulop) came out and he probably did just enough to put him off.
We’ve a few players out – (Darren) Wardy and Toby (Hysen) – so we were down to the bare bones today. But two great finishes have been enough to win us the game.
I’ve always said, it’s going to take time, but we’re heading in the right direction, and we’re going to give ourselves a chance – that’s all I can ask from my players.
We’re going to be playing catch-up, probably until the last day of the season, but there’s still a long way to go and I’m sure there’ll be a few more ups and downs along the way, I’m sure of that.
We had over 30,000 fans here today and that’s fantastic – hopefully they’ll be happy with that.
All the best,
Roy Keane
Sunderland 2 Luton 1 Click here to visit the match centre.
Next match:Burnley v Sunderland, Saturday December 16 (3pm).
Next home match:Sunderland v Leeds, Tuesday December 26 (3pm)
Click here to buy tickets online.

Thomas Edward Mitton. 1919 - 2006

This morning saw the funeral take place at St Michaels Church, Bishop Middleham of Coxhoe Branches most senior member Tommy Mitton.

Standing room only was the order of the day for a man much loved and respected by all who knew him. In keeping with Tom’s love of life the hymns chosen were rousing and rarely have I heard “Praise My Soul The King of Heaven” sung with such gusto by a congregation. Adam Lamb, a native of Kelloe, and known to Tom through his Freemasonary connection, read a moving eulogy, which in a very few minutes encapsulated Tom’s life and loves. It was delivered with great care, respect and a little humour for a smashing fellow.

From a personal perspective it was only a few weeks ago that I sat and had a chat with Tommy in the café at Sedgefield Community Hospital, as usual his razor sharp wit was to the fore as he questioned me as to the reasons I should be sitting chatting to him at great expense to the British Taxpayer when I should be really getting on with my job. Of course my retort was to hell with the taxpayer when I could have the opportunity to spend a few minutes in the company of a great and wise man. Such opportunities rarely come along.

We all know what a solid Sunderland supporting man Tom was and put people like myself to shame with his endless devotion to the cause. It’s heartening in some respects that he did get to see great teams at Sunderland in the past but saddening that he witnessed our decline too.

Tom leaves a wife Jean, who will be closely supported and cared for by her son Brian and daughter Susan along with Julie and Keith and Brian’s lads Ross and Alex. We offer them all our deepest condolences at this sad and difficult time and they will be comforted in the knowledge that Tom left a great chest of treasure and joy in the memories he left behind.

Adam Lamb quoted Abraham Lincoln this morning, it sums up Tom very well.

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in those years.”