23rd and 30th March 2019 - a week to forget!

Mitre Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup Semi final: Newcastle Benfield (a) 

I was so full of anticipation. Three wins and a draw under New Boy Nathan, we were the form team...for once. After a challenging day with years 5 and 6, it was finally time for the Mitre Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup Semi final! What a name: runs off the tongue! 

Postman Neil picked me up at 7pm and it was soon obvious that me and Neil weren't the only ones excited by the prospect of this long-winded competition. Every piece of parking in Benfield school, sports centre and football club had been taken so we had to park just off the Benfield Road. 

We also had to wait for the mother who, having brought about five kids with her, hadn't realised she would have to pay for them all. The match was already underway when we entered and there did indeed seem to be a great crowd. Finding a spot behind the goal Whitley were attacking, we found Bob and Moira, who had vowed not to attend another game...once again. The excitement of the Long-winded-Cup and the current form had brought them all out tonight!

Without the Long-Winded-Cup-Tied Dan Lister, New-Boy-Nathan had signed Spendymoor's Christopher Elliott. A big gamble bringing in a newbie keeper for such a big game, we could only hope that it paid off. 

Unfortunately, Dennis Knight had decided to make things hard for the debutant with a thunderbolt goal after ten minutes.

However, before the Dementors could suck all the happiness from the Bay fans, Olly Martin pounced to level things.

We were excited! Even Bob was smiling!

Super-Olly almost gave the Bay the lead with a cracking bit of skill but his lobbed effort just dropped wide of the far post. 

With few chances, we were momentarily distracted by Benfield's new wood-panelled gym. From this facility, the good citizens of Walkergate are able to pump iron and watch the blue-striped Benfield batter their opposition. As it was, the Bay were creating the better chances. Unfortunately, the pesky Knight popped up with another goal and at half time, the Bay were unfortunate to be behind. 

The half time walk to the far end revealed another pitch-side gym, this time an open-air affair. Also there was, what appeared to be a four-person gallows next to a basketball hoop... nowt as queer as East End Folk!

Ex-trawler-fishing nets behind the goal,
complete with tiny ocean-formed barnacles.

The second half was virtually a write-off. Whitley were second to every ball and Benfield laid into the visiting defence. In the 77th minute, it was that pesky Knight who completed his hat-trick and it all looked over.

The crowd was thinning out as the final whistle drew nearer. But Super Andrei was on hand to help again in the 88th minute. It was Craig McFarlane who managed to pick up a loose clearance and his pass was seized upon by Andrei. Suddenly we had hope!

A large amount of hysteria had set in amongst the Bay fans behind the home goal and when Super Andrei let fly in the final seconds of the game, we thought all our Christmases had come at once. But no, our celebrations were cut short by Benfield's mountainous number five (compared to Kieran Brannen anyway) telling us it had gone wide. 

Surely, there would be a reaction the following Saturday against Guisborough! 

Guisborough Town (h)

New-Boy-Nathan would have the lads sorted. Poor Guisborough would be annihalated in a wave of Blue-striped attacks and goals! Wednesday would be forgotten about and excited hopes for next season raised again! The Spring sun that had warmed us up the day before would shine over a glorious Bay performance!

Courtesy of Whitley Bay Twitter

Alas no. It was cold. The sun had disappeared. The Boy Mark and I had enjoyable parkrun in a sunny Prudhoe but by the time the match arrived, le soleil had had enough, as had most of the Bay's support. 

Plenty of room to read the programme on a freezing Spring afternoon!

So it seemed had the Whitley defence. With 16 minutes gone, the lads were 2-0 down, despite creating and missing a number of chances. The result was not a fair reflection of the match but then that's football. "It's a funny old game!" one moustrachioed 80s commentator said often enough. 

Then it started raining! The Boy Mark, who hadn't brought a waterproof coat, disappeared with Kinnon, Gibbo, Claire and the rest under the cover of the new stand. Smithy and I bravely remained, to watch over the goalcam. 

At least we were rewarded with some sublime trickery from the Slippery Salmon, rounding the keeper to slot home from six yards. 

The equaliser almost arrived just before half time but first Salmon then Andrei failed to come up with the goods.

The lads had been unlucky but then you make your own luck in this game, somebody once said.

By the time half time arrived, I had been abandoned by even the hardy Smithy. Football was certainly not fun for me. 

Maybe a cream egg and a cup of tea would revive my hopes! No, it didn't. 

There were chances at the start of the second half but I wasn't feeling invigorated as they kept getting missed. Also the wind decided to join the rain in pounding us. Even David Hall's dad had to resort to his tent-like poncho that covered both himself and his electric chair!

Then Andrei was taken off along with Olly and Branners. What on Earth was NBN (New Boy Nathan) thinking of?

Guisborough scored to make it 3-1 to the visitors and that looked to be that! 

But no! Up stepped Jonjon Wright to launch an unstoppable shot home from the edge of the box. 

 With captain Luke Taylor putting in some great tackles There was unexpected hope of a happy ending. Would we finally manage a great escape?

No. 

Guisborough scored ten minutes later to make it 4-2.

 I went home, had pizza, watched Harry Potter and forgot about football.

23rd March 2019 - Consett (h)

For the first time in a long time, I sped up the hill. Although this was mainly thanks to Mrs Blogger giving me a lift on her way to do a spot of shopping at Silverlink, it was also thanks to that dangerous thing called optimism. Not something that I often have much time for: the sun was shining, I hadn't worn a coat (although I did have many other layers on) and the Bay had won two games on the trot. All good in the world?
In contrast to that, we were up against a Consett team that had found it difficult since 2019 had reared its head. Fourteen games with only two victories for our visitors may have been form that the PN Bay team (PN -pre-Nathan) may have thought reasonable but it was hardly acceptable for this new incarnation.
After my most popular blog for well over a year had been my biggest rant maybe ever, it had also had a response from one of the club's stalwarts. They contacted me, concerned for my mental health, to put my mind at rest. The club is thankfully not in as big trouble as I had feared and that there were still a great number of good people working tirelessly to provide the team and club that we crave.

Courtesy of Whitley Bay Twitter

The fact that the club don't own the ground may account for the fact that improving the buildings may not be a top priority. The way North Tyneside is up for selling off every available green space for housing means all sports clubs must be looking over their shoulder. Not that I am saying this is going to happen, dear reader, far from it, but these are tight times for everyone: including local councils.
For the time being, the team is on the up and New Man Nathan has brought optimism with him. The morning of the match, he took half an hour's training with the reserves and invited three of their number to join the first team warm up. If the Bay are going to run teams on a smaller budget then these talented youngsters must be given their chance. It is good to see that New Man Nathan has made it a priority to do this. Hopefully we will see some of them appearing before the end of the season.
For now, the lads on the pitch were doing quite well for themselves.
It was good to see Bob and Moira sauntering through the Spring heat with our friend Jane. Their insistence that they would not be back this season, after witnessing the shambles that was the Stockton game, hadn't thankfully lasted long. Also surprisingly, there was a certain amount of bonhomie coming from them too!
The crowd looked bigger than normal and it was great to see 378 had taken advantage of a lack of Premier or Championship games to see a good game of football: something we have been starved of recently!

I hadn't had time to set up my camera when visiting Kyle Hayes had to tip over a Luke Salmon screamer. Soon after, running Keith and then Woodie appeared with his daughter, for her first ever Bay game (mother was away for the weekend so couldn't stop him). She seemed to find the whole affair bewildering!
The yellow ball that flew our way certainly seemed to interest her as she keenly watched everything going on. Even the wandering Barry was studied closely!
The game was certainly lively at both ends and there actually seemed to be some very good football on offer!
For once, when the ball clanged into a random bit of yellow metal that appeared to be keeping the netting poles at the allotment end up, I managed to catch it and deliver it swiftly for the Bay corner-taker. No nerves: just instinct on my part!
Little Neil wasn't even phazed with the 'roar' that accompanied the Bay's opening goal from Andrei 'here to help' Ardelean. He was Johnny-on-the-Spot to slam home when a Consett clearance failed.

The half time chat was all about the quality of the football and Brexit wasn't mentioned once!
The Bay maintained the pressure in the second half but Little Neil was more interested in another little friend who was sitiing with her dad. She wasn't bothered that she missed...
Craig McFarlane hitting the crossbar...

A long-range effort that was dramatically tipped over by Kyle Hayes...

A Kyle Hayes foot that somehow saved a certain own-goal...

A leaping Salmon headed goal from a corner...

Another final Salmon leap that was flipped just wide!

Although Little Neil had long since gone home to get her tea at the final whistle, it was quite clearly her presence that had given an extra boost to the team, as if they had needed it! A superb team performance against a good team. Sitting in the Seahorse after the game, it was nice to see the Prof, recovered from his recent injury. It was even nicer to hear him say he hadn't enjoyed the game. Similarly it was great to say I had enjoyed it! Life was good again.
Roll on Wednesday and the big semi-final we have no idea how we have got to!
Haway the Bay: let's pack out Sam Smith's Park.

13th March 2019 - Whickham (h)

Courtesy of WBFC Twitter

The mood around the club had improved slightly after the 2-2 draw at Shildon. Recovering from 2-0 down had at least shown that the lads had the character to come back when the chips were down. New boss Nathan Haslam now needed to make sure his first home match in charge ended up with the Bay getting the points.
I still wasn't happy to be heading up the hill. It was cold, Storm Gareth (or was that Gary?) was blowing the brave few a merry dance and the Bay still hadn't proved to me that they could put two good results together. I could be at home, in the warm, marking 30 year 6 science books! It was a close call but the Bay won out. Judging by the crowd, I wasn't the only one to have had a dilemma as to whether to come today or not.
Most of the 203 decided to stay within the protection of the two stands. Even Gibbo, Claire Mac and co had sought shelter. In the interests of close-up goal action, I convinced Coventry Neil to brave the elements at the Allotment End.
There was plenty of space for us, that's for sure.

The two teams were wearing their traditional home strips of blue and white and black white stripes. I was certainly glad not to be watching in black and white as to anyone with a blue colour-blindness the strips would have looked identical.
It was Luke Salmon who tried his luck first of all, but his effort was tipped away by keeper Dimitrios Tsapalos.

Thankfully, the lighter of the striped teams made the trip worthwhile with barely ten minuts on the clock.
It was the skillful Brannen, back in the midfield in place of Peter 'the Raven', whose cross struck a defender and there was Luke Salmon leaping onto the chance to drill home from the edge of the box.

Things got better for the 203, as the Bay went further ahead. This time, the wind confused both Bay and Whickham players and a cross ended up at the feet of Olly Martin, who swooped to make no mistake with his volley.

The Bay were 2-0 up, which was nice!

The match looked done and dusted seconds into the second half when an attempted clearance rebonded off Luke Salmon and into the net.

However, the team that had dumped us out of the FA Vase and beaten us in the league was not going to lie down. The wind went against the Bay this time, as Dale Burrell launched a long-range effort from just inside his own half that sailed over Bay returnee Dan Lister and into the net.
Play immediately swung to the other end and we were immediately celebrating a fourth home goal. Olly Martin setting up Dan Wright to score his first goal for the club.

Neil and I were delighted! Unfortunately, back came the visitors with their second goal. The last 20 minutes swung backwards and forwards but with no addition to the scoreline, Nathan New Boss had secured a home win at the first attempt! 4-2 final score and so far so good for our new bald eagle!

23.2.19 - 9-0! Things need to change!

The performance and result against Stockton had been bad enough but today was far worse. I had been disappointed at the way a loyal servant of the club had felt that she could no longer give to the club any more. We were on the lookout for a Commercial Manager...and are still looking! Since the vase victory days one volunteer after another has left the club. Such a drain from the club is probably why we are in the position we are in now.
Not one manager has finished a season he has started since Ian Chandler left after winning three Fa Vase finals in a row. This club is in a downward spiral and manager after manager has been used as a scapegoat.
When Andy Gowen was appointed, it was almost as if he was doing the Bay a favour being here but where were all the applicants lining up to take the job of manager of one of the North-East's most famous non-league clubs?
Ian Chandler's Bishop Auckland are now second in the Northern League while other Bay reject Marc Nash's Shields are fourth. We, on the other hand, are third bottom. Only the fact that there aren't enough teams in the league will mean we are probably going to avoid relegation. We are four points above second bottom Whickham and they have two games in hand!
The players on the pitch have worked tirelessly but there needs to be a new approach from on high. Is McIlduff aware how bad the club has become? Rumours are, he missed out on Saturday's marvellously entertaining show because he was in Cardiff watching the rugby.
 It is time for him to go to let in someone new. Not for having a weekend off but letting the club sink to the depths we are in now! Half of the ground should be condemned: plastic sheeting to waterproof part of the 'hospitality lounge' and a metal pole holding up the roof of the DJ hut are an absolute disgrace... not to mention the pathetic size of the Vase legacy stand! Where is the camera that the stand was supposed to have on its gantry? No comment!
I may not know the whole financial picture but that is because we are never told it. Surely shareholders are given details of the financial situation, yet everything is shrouded in mystery. As a result, the Bay stumbles ever lower. If there is, as rumoured, a £750,000 debt then that needs to come out and, if necessary, the club declared bankrupt and start again with people committed to building a sustainable club. Look at what has been achieved at Consett!

On the pitch, the teams have sunk down the leagues year on year. Only Nash's team that finished so strongly and gave us hope bucked the trend. Yet the supporters still turn up in big numbers, buy season tickets, buy merchandise, use the burger van and cheer the team across the Northern League. There is no communication with the fans, Twitter comments from loyal servant Julian are the only source of club information. Where are the fans forums with members of the board? Managers down the years have shown honesty and bravery coming to meet with their public but have we seen hide no hair of our illustrious chairman? Not even an apology after poor performances. We now look up to the likes of Stockton, Shields, Hebburn, Sunderland RCA: clubs that would love to have the same fanbase as ourselves. We used to be on a par with Dunston, West Auckland, Consett... How the mighty have fallen.
I, and many others, no longer enjoy watching Whitley games. I bought a season ticket as usual but this year put on the proviso that if things didn't improve then I would not be renewing. The only enjoyment many get is from the comaradery from other supporters. It can only be a matter of time before they cut out the unneccessary defeat and meet elsewhere.

Now Mick Mulhern has been given the old heave-ho. I feel sorry for him, he has just become another scapegoat for the club's failings off the pitch!
This has been a hard blog to write but has been a long time in the making. I only hope it manages to change something at the Bay: something needs to, for the sake of the club!

Oh, by the way... that was Hebburn's first win in eight games. Farcical!

19th January 2019 - Consett (a)

The sad news of Robbie Livermore's death had a profound effect on many of the Whitley fans, staff and players. Today would be a poignant experience for many, who all held so many happy memories of the popular ex-Whitley player. Was this the best day for the league leaders to face an emotional Bay team?
The weekend had started with concerns that the first snow of the year might call the match off. However, as usual, the Chronicle's implication that we should all be stockpiling food in the face of this horrendous light dusting of snow proved unfounded. There was no sign of any white stuff in the Durham Hills as The Boy Mark and I introduced Wednesday Chris to the wonders of Northern League away days. the set-up at Consett is a good place to start. Although we didn't take advantage of the bar, there was a good selection of snacks on offer from the hatch including the tempting sausage and bacon sandwich. Chris convinced us to share in his abstinence after an unsettling encounter with a Blyth Spartans Cheeseburger. We shared his pain:

The after-effects of a Spartansburger?

The emergence of Consett's Big Red Tunnel gave me the perfect opportunity to test out my new gimbal. I'm not sure how necessary it is that we don't see the players coming onto the pitch but maybe it added to the mystery that is Consett generally!

Courtesy of Whitley Bay Twitter

A minute's silence was perfectly observed. This was my second moment of remembrance for Robbie after Whitley parkrun's tribute to the former Wallsend Harrier runner. A well-loved man.

 When the game settled down, it seemed Craig McFarlane was determined to win the game single-handedly for the former Bay legend. His runs down the wing were causing no end of problems and it was great to see him firing on all cylinders in a way we haven't see too often since his return. It is such a shame it was in such sad circumstances.
It was Maca's jinky run that gave the Bay a surprise lead. His shot simply rolling along the 4G pitch; almost curling around the struggling Kyle Hayes.

The defensive dynamo was back at it when he forced Hayes to dive full length to beat away another cracking effort. Consett had no answer to the veteran left back.

As the game rolled on so did the fog and the cold. As Baldy Bruce put it:
"Don't complain about it being cold at a Whitley parkrun until you've experienced Consett's tropical temperatures." It was guesswork what was happening at the other end of the pitch and when we heard the home fans cheering we knew it was 1-1. But the Bay did not give up.

They battled in defence and tore into the home defence with every breakaway. This was a transformed team. Unlucky to lose at West Auckland the previous week, there is at last hope that the consistency the team had been searching for might have been found: just behind Tommy's teahut in a box marked: "consistency".

Consett made it 2-1 but we had no way of knowing of what had happened.
We even had difficulty seeing the near goal, having stood at the side of the pitch in the hope of  seeing more of the game. When a corner was swung into the mists, either the bar or the keeper kept out a header but Olly Martin was on hand to score the rebound. I should have stuck to my usual spot behind the goal!

However, the Consett confusion obscured our view once again as the home side took the lead three minutes later. The Consett pooch had lost all interest and preferred to hastle its owner to throw its tennis ball to chase: she wasn't obliging, though.

With two minutes left, a Ravenhill screamer surprised and delighted us all. 3-3. The linesman on our side was perfectly placed to spot the ball hadn't completely crossed the line as Luke Salmon swam down the wing and eventually the ball found itself to The Raven to launch home.

A suspected injury time winner for Consett dampened our mood but we were delighted when the eagle-eyed Boy Mark spotted they hadn't restarted the game with a centre. We were similarly delighted to return to the warmth of the car and disappear into the fog. 45 minutes later we were home: sort of.
3-3 a great return from the home of the leaders.

5th January 2019 - Dunston (h)

There were few Whitley fans who gave the boys any chance against Dunston. The visitors had only lost one game in the league: a week earlier 1-0 at home to Bishop Auckland. In contrast our heroes had only won once in twelve. Arriving at the ground, the great and the good of Hillheads (Paul and Mr Hall) all agreed that avoiding humiliation would be a satisfactory result.
"2 or 3-0 would be a decent result"
The 8-0 scoreline in the return leg was still painful, as did the 3-0 Shields victory before Christmas. It was a real struggle to get up the hill. One of my running mates was making his first visit to Hillheads in 8 years. He said he had enjoyed his last visit: his season ticket for those Black and White people keeping him from visiting Hillheads. I told him that things had changed since those post-Vase-victory days. He should also not judge the team on one experience. My faith had been sorely dented by the season's progress. I remembered that I had started the season vowing not to renew my season ticket if things didn't improve and my return of five wins from 14 games was not inspiring, especially if four of those wins were from the first six fixtures attended.
Even receiving some new 'lucky' Bay socks couldn't give me any confidence about today's match. I had slumped to a new low in terms of supporting the Bay: and that was saying something. David Hall received my complete moans after I had wished him a happy new year: even though he had told me he was enjoying reading my first book (the 89th Minute: a Supporter's History of NUFC 1983-2000: available in Doug's Cabin or on amazon bit.ly/89thminute).

Courtesy of @WhitleyBayFC twitter

 I was delighted to see Chris and James Wednesday again and glad to say that despite some of the recent performances the former had had to endure, he was back yet again...camera in tow! Maybe I should ask him to provide some photos...there's an idea!
I was still trying to get my go-pro-thing to stay upright when a lofted cross was lobbed superbly home by Olly Martin. 1-0 to the Bay.

Wednesday Chris had just suggested resting my floppy camera stalk on the advertising hoarding when another cross-cum-shot was kindly sidefooted into the net by Dunston captain Daniel Halliday. We were mildly delighted and completely shocked!

In total shock! The Bay 2-0 lead shock!

Dunston were completely shocked too but that didn't last nearly long enough, as the Flynnster and his defence were called upon to leap left, right and centre as Dunston turned up the heat. There were still odd occasions when Whitley managed to break clear but they were few and far between. Our hope was that the lads could hold onto their two-goal lead until half time. The pesky ex Bay-boy Liam Brooks spoilt that with a corking strike that had Flynn beaten all ends up as it flashed into Flynn's right hand top corner. Suddenly things were looking bleak.
The second half arrived and the Bay still held the lead. The lads battled on and began to look more dangerous on the break. Andrei was there to help but his curling effort just wouldn't curl enough.

 The inevitable finally happened when Dunston pulled level. It had to come, we all felt, and it did in the 62nd minute. The ball had been cleared off Whitley's line too many times and so finally Dunston got what their second half assault deserved. To most in the stadium, the logical next step would be a Dunston goal but no matter how hard they tried there was always a Whitley boot, head or Flynn in the way. Even so, in the 72nd minute there was the most unexpected of twists. The ball ended up at Olly Martin's feet. He twisted. He turned. Then he rolled the ball into the far corner of Karl Dryden's net.

The whole team run to celebrate with the fans behind the goal as Hillheads erupted...in its own little way. Dunston grew even angrier! Their renewed assault on the Whitley goal was more ferocious. It only seemed a matter of time before they scored to spoil the victory-starved home fans. Thoughts were full of the last few minutes against Benfield and Guisborough.
But those missed opportunities were not to be repeated.
Today was to be Whitley's day! The lads held on and rightly milked the applause at the final whistle. For Dunston, there was the ignominy of an embarrassing on-pitch inquisition. For now, the memory of 8-0 had been put to one side.
This amazing result, a real smash and grab, now needs to be the start of a new run of form. The same ethic has to be on show in all the games the team plays this year. It won't be easy, with trips to West Auckland and Consett coming up next, but the lads need to dig deep again each week. There is still the League Cup to fight for and relegation to be avoided. There is also the club's pride to be restored. The Bay faithful will be hoping that 2019 is the year the Bay's rose again: It's in their hands!

15th December 2018 - North Shields (h)

THE ONLY BITS OF GOOD NEWS:

Well done all the fans who contributed to the Whitley Bay Food Bank collection. The response phenomenal! Well done the organisers for taking the time to do it. What a great bunch of supporters we have at both clubs!
Thanks Paul Miller...love my new Bay Oddballs hat!


The last time we won a league cup tie we lost the following game and at the back of my mind was the big fear that our nearest and dearest were going to trump us for the season. Having beaten Hebburn 4-1 in their last game, they would be up for today's game. On top of that was the fear that we had only managed to win two concecutive games once all season and that was at the end of August / beginning of September. So far this season the Bay have won 11 games out of 27 played. The trouble is that 7 of those wins were before September 8th.
The final score of Whitley 0 Shields 3 didn't even flatter the visitors. They were just better all over the pitch...yet again!
We need something new! 
Changing Managers all the time does not work!
The team have managed the odd win since but it is no wonder that Andy Gowens became frustrated and felt he had nothing left to offer. Add in the fact that your star striker, who had been banging goals in for fun left and wasn't replaced, when can we see our managers feel like they are being supported properly? The sad fact is that since Ian Chandler left in 2014, we have had 5 managers and the longest any of them has stayed has been 16 months. Also, not one of the managers that have started a season since 2014 has finished their new season. A combination of resignations and sackings have contributed to this sorry mess. Each time, new players have arrived at the start of the new season and been left in limbo when the manager that has brought them in has moved on. Nashie's sixth place position is now a distant memory as his team was slowly ripped apart. The team that Andy and Mick inherited was a young team that was lacking in form and confidence so it was no wonder they found it hard to turn things around.

Just for the record:

Manager:	Appointed:	Left:
Ian Chandler	Jan 2004	Feb 2014
Leon Ryan	Feb 2014	Jan 2015
Paddy Atkinson	Jan 2015	Feb 2016
Ian Chandler	Feb 2016	Oct 2016
Marc Nash	Oct 2016	Feb 2018
Andy Gowens	Feb 2018	Nov 2018
Mick Mulhern	Nov 2018	------------

The fact that always annoys me is that we have the second best home attendances in the league, second only to an extremely well organised Consett yet we are being beaten regularly by teams that don't have half our fans (and therefore gate money).  What is happening to all the gate money that comes in? the club needs to look at more ways to make money. When we had the pie shop under the main stand, I assume the club ran it and therefore took any profits. Is that the same for the burger trailer? So many clubs make a heap from their food outlets, if we aren't then maybe it is time we did. Other grounds are brimming with advertising yet our perimeter fences are mostly bare or filled with adverts that have been there for years in some cases. Do we really get any money from them?

The reason why I am ranting on like this is because in the last five years, the club has sunk down the standings and on current form will sink further. The one thing that is enjoyable is the companionship of so many like-minded people but how long will people put up with the regular beatings that are becoming common place? My friends are definitely picking and choosing their matches and I don't think they are the only ones.
The team needs investment.
The ground needs investment.
When will see an improvement on either front?
My Shields-supporting friend, yes I do have one, moans about their team and ground yet they are now sitting fourth in the league. Today's match was not much to write about so I won't. But we need a turn around at Whitley. Yet again there was plenty of effort but there were once too many misplaced passes and mistakes all over the pitch. At times Flynn had to pull out the stops but even he couldn't prevent the goals that came in. Wednesday Chris and I were not amused.
Here are the only video highlights of Whitley attacks:

This will probably be my last blog of the year as I am away on the 29th December for my eldest's 21st. So thank you to all my regular readers, have a relaxing Christmas and New Year. See you on the 5th for an easy game against...Dunston. Grrreat!