21st July 2018 - Sunderland U23s (h)

The day started off in cracking style as I returned a pleasing 23:21 mins at the Whitley Bay parkrun under the watchful gaze of the recently finished Spanish City. Although wearing the colours of my French favourites, for a change, I am immensely proud of the town once again. The parkrun has been attracting average crowds of nearly 400 over the last few weeks for a 5km course that includes the amazing 'new' prom. A free weekly event that is run by local volunteers, it is an amazing tribute to the running and walking community of Whitley Bay.
Then there is the Spanish City that had been an eyesore for so long. Even when I was a kid I remember there were very few people frequenting the funfair and on my occasional trips to the Ghost-train we usually had the train to ourselves. This weekend there was a buzz about the place after its renovation to a splendour that has been missing since...Newcastle last won something. Yes: that long!
After that, it was a trip to support our youngest as she marched for Newcastle Pride. There was a record attendance and great crowds on the route (not so good when Mrs Blogger needed to fight, not literally, her way through to have a wee in M and S). The region has come such a long way in this respect. It just shows that we are a region that, as a whole, can respect everybody regardless of religion, race and sexual orientation. That made me a proud citizen. As one sign said: we don't always have a choice in what we are!

The other proud institution we have is Whitley Bay FC. Today's visit of Sunderland attracted 382 fans and showed that people want the team to do well. Unfortunately, at the moment this club needs TLC. Yet again Mrs Triallist's sons were in evidence. The most significant of those was in goal: Triallist A. Things looked to be going ok for 'A' in the first 30 minutes. The defence managed to keep the visitors at bay with 'A' capably dealing with anything that came his way. Unfortunately, three quick goals flashed past him and that, was effectively, that. Aagainst a fitter, progfessional outfit, the lads battled on. They looked more potent in the second half, however the Sunderland defence and keepers (2 of them...but not at the same time) managed to keep them at arm's length. There was the battle and enthusiasm that we have come to expect from Bay teams of late, as well as the desire to play football but the final ball was still missing and when the keeper did make a rare mistake, the Bay were unable to take advantage. In the end, it was another defeat, 5-0, for the lads.
The calibre of opponents has been high in the last couple of games and on Tuesday night at Blyth, they will be put to the test again. The hope is that they will come out of this a stronger team, taking the experience with them into the league season. Only time will tell but the effort was there until the final whistle.


For the first time ever, I stayed behind after the match to hear what Andy Gowens and Mick Mulhern had to say for themselves.
A decent crowd turned up for the talk-in and whatever fans might think of the duo, they were both there and (mostly Andy) answered all the questions that were presented to them clearly and directly. In many ways, Andy and Mick have been on a hiding to nothing following on from that night in February when Hillheads resembled Newcastle Airport on the first morning of the schools summer holiday. Events that night have dominated the club since and as Andy reiterated over the course of the evening, it was time to move on. He emphasised the point that we needed to go forward with everybody pulling in the same direction. He is definitely wary of social media and I feel that he spoke from experience of having fallen foul of the 'keyboard warriors': but who hasn't? Social media doesn't have to be a bad thing, I would say... but that is just my opinion!
He said that he would like to invent a bluetooth device to allow the players to communicate with each other on the pitch. I wonder if this is what he had in mind:

The Bay first team equipped with new bluetooth communication headsets?

He spoke a lot of sense about the state of the club and the League. He has been around the Northern League to know that there are teams that are living with much bigger budgets than ours but he said that money didn't make great teams, although it helped. His vision was that those teams who wanted to pay big budgets would get promoted and leave the Northern League with 'manageably budgeted teams' left playing on a more even playing field. His priorities are a goalkeeper and striker but thought that the team squad and spirit was better than when he first arrived: this was backed up by some of the players at the back.

The worrying part of the evening was Andy's regular offers to sing: hopefully he is a better singer than I give him credit for!
Thanks Andy and Mick...Here's hoping you can find the way forward!

Are the repairs to the pitch a tribute to New Order's 'best of' album?
Well spotted Tinnon! 

16th July 2018 - Morpeth (h)

The post season continued where the 2017-18 season finished, with more bad news for bay fans. More players leaving and rumours of player dissatisfaction failed to improve things. My intended end of season review never arrived because I just felt too depressed after the hope that had existed before Christmas. For me, the season had effectively ended with the defeat to West Auckland in the FA Vase. There were the league performances away from Hillheads to enjoy: the 2-1 win in Shields being my own personal triumph. Even the ensuing flag-gate had a happy ending but that was the first game after New Year and about as good as it got. The team began to break up... then there was Nash-gate...and volunteer-exit-gate. However thoughout all this, amazingly, the crowds only dipped slightly: the fans were still there!

I still renewed my season ticket, more in hope than anything else and there was great excitement when I opened my envelope...the season ticket design had changed!!!!!!

Bay in season ticket change shocker!

On the pitch we could only hope that Andy Gowens and Mick Mulhern had just been unlucky last season and would find a way to make their new set of players gel together. With so many players wanting to leave, the management duo would have a clean slate. Sure enough, the players have started coming. The first two friendlies away to Bedlington (won 7-2) and Seaton Delaval (won 4-2) were greeted with a mixed reaction. Come along, Andy called to the fans, you might be surprised! The never-ending Triallist family have come to our rescue with one of the sons scoring twice alongside his brother 'B'. Tonight was no different, as sons 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' AND 'F' were named in the line-up. Hopefully this football-factory of a family (Mrs Triallist must be a shadow of her former self) has produced the required standard of players for the Bay. 

It was good to see the hot weather had brought out the Bay's Cafe culture once again with the lovely Ann enjoying her Cappuccino Frotheramo alongside Chris and the delightful Jean, new owner of the Tommy's Tea Hut franchise. She was enjoying a Super-Whipperama Froth-magic while Chris was having a can of diet Coke! You've got class, there, son!

Don't forget to ask for the above drinks next time you visit your favourite Hillheads Emporium!

The team was a complete mystery to Bay fans: not just because of the influx of the Triallist boys!

Apart from Peter 'the Raven', Call A and Michael Bell, the rest were new to the recent team. Unfortunately goalkeeping looks to be a tricky position to fill, I was informed. Tom Kindley's return to the field after a lengthy period of absence ended prematurely. In goal tonight we had youngster Andrew Gibson from the reserves. Unfortunately in the reserves he played as a defender: a fact that was quickly found out by the experienced Morpeth forwards. After 24 minutes, the Bay were 4-0 down and certain negative soothsayers behind the goal were declaring a 12-0 defeat would be the result. 

Myself and the boy Mark still held some hope as we sat swinging our feet. 

I was delighted, just three minutes later when the lads scored their first goal of the season, or rather it was scored for them; courtesy of a morpeth defender who stretched in front of an unknown (by us anyway) Whitley attacker.

A slim chance of restored pride looked on the cards and the lads began to assert themselves more: for a couple of minutes anyway. Unfortunately, the four-goal difference was quickly restored. The lads certainly didn't deserve to be so far adrift at half time but the stark facts were staring them in the face. Pride was very much at stake! 

I had found a new spot to attach my camera by the time the second half started, however switching it to record proved beyond me as new boy Jack Foalle scored to begin the fightback. The lads suddenly had more impetus and confidence and Morpeth seemed to have lost theirs as the lads were quicker to everything. I had started recording by the time, the second eldest Triallist brother, B, Headed home and the lads were certainly flying. 

The Bay pressed forward with enthusiasm and purpose but eight minutes later, the result was sealed. Morpeth scored: 6-3. Although the boys continued to create chances and the visiting substitute keeper had to be on his metal to turn away a number of shots, there were no more goals. The second half had been a remarkable improvement and there was no shame in defeat. 

Saturday's visit of Sunderland U23s will need an improvement, especially in goal and defence (perhaps we could get a dedicated goalkeeper?). It will also be interesting to hear what plans Andy and Mick have for the team at the talk-in after the game...and whether they have been able to sign the players they wanted. This club deserves to have a top half team. At the moment, I don't think we are there yet. 

If the wantaway three players can get themselves new clubs then maybe we will be able to bring in new talent to significantly boost the team...at the moment though it is a big if!

Haway the Bay!