24.7.19 Blyth (a)

Before this latest blog, I would like to pay my own tribute to the loss of our dear friend, Tommy Moody:

RIP Tommy

Picture courtesy of WBFC Twitter

One of my favourite Hillheads memories was the day the legend that is Tommy was rewarded for his services to the club by the naming of his beloved Tea hut after him. The man was a fantastic figure both around Hillheads and the Whitley Bay running circuit. Many a Saturday morning started with a Parkrun on the Links, where he often marshalled, and a discussion of the Bay's chances that day. His enthusiasm for both sports was boundless. It was a lovely gesture to see the Teahut, from which he always served the Boy Mark and I enormous Cola bottles, with it's sign erected. Long may it remain so named because he was a fantastic character with a great sense of humour. I will never forget his favourite way of addressing us "What sweets would the children like today?"

My thoughts are with his family, who I know have been bowled over by the response from his Hillheadian friends. 

Gone but not forgotten.

The school summer holidays have arrived and I was delighted, not only by the kind words from parents and children, but also the cards and presents from the children in my NE29-based school. My favourite has to be the one from the young man who has now moved on to high school and would always take great delight in celebrating next to me whenever Shields scored. The thought was definitely there but I'm not quite sure on the labelling!

The fun of a goal spree against Ellington was followed up by a similar festival against West Auckland Tams. The Wearside League outfit had stepped into the breach, at the last minute, replacing Marske United who were unable to raise a team. This, in itself, must have been a disappointment and concern for the ex-Northern Leaguers but it was also a disappointment for the home fans hoping for a cracking battle with old rivals: Nathan's former club. Played in an almost non-stop deluge, there was nothing for it but to don the wbayblogger poncho of camouflage. This action was likened to my audition for the Grim Reaper in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. My audition for which was disappointing as I felt I had it nailed only to lost out to William Sadler. Thanks Jeremy, for capturing my reprise of the role.

Grim Reaper aka wbayblogger: courtesy of WBFC's Jeremy Twitterbod

The following Tuesday it was back to Hillheads against Northern League Div 2's Ryton and Crawcrook that was played out under a beautiful evening sky. From the ridiculous to the sublime. Unfortunately the atmospheric pleasantness didn't suit the lads and they had to recover from a 2-goal first half deficit. Even so, only a Ryton equaliser robbed the Bay of the win.
Worryingly, the lads had looked second best at home to a team in a league below us and this was repeated when Sunderland West End snatched a 2-1 win. Once again, the unpredictability of the Northeast's weather systems had seen the match played out during torrential downpours. This had not been to the liking of my holidaying Mexican buddy Ned Kelly who tried his hand, unsuccessfully, at upstaging my Reaper performance. The two toughest tests so far and they lads had come up short on both occasions.
It was almost a full complement of wbayblogger buddies that set off for Croft Park the following Wednesday, with The Boy Mark driving Running Neil and I to an extremely sunny Blyth Spartans. Memories of mine and Neil's first footie 'date-night' were jogged by the sight of the stands: a real footie ground with roofed stand on all sides. There were even home fans with their team's shirts on! A rare treat to see! It felt like an actual occasion! There were over 400 fans there for a friendly... and not all of them were Bay fans!

The Three Amigos thoughtful under Blyth's roofed terrace!

To add even more excitement to the occasion, the teamshirt I managed to photograph had been printed on a computer... none of this Bic biro nonsense for these posh Blyth boys! And it was only a friendly. Crazy days!
Jeff Smith was back and it looked like his absence from the team sheet had been down to a rather nice continental excursion, judging by his tan.

A proper ground with stands and that.

After all the excitement, the match was a real battle and both teams looked to be desperate to please their managers. Although Blyth dominated possession, the lads looked good on the break and Ramsay almost succeeded in robbing Blyth's Mark Foden in goal on two separate occasions but lacked the support to make anything of the opportunities. It showed the fight that had been missing during large chunks of the previous two games and must have boosted the lads confidence. 

Unfortunately, Blyth showed just why they were three leagues higher than the Bay with two clinical finishes that flattered the home team at the break. The second goal was scored seconds before the half time whistle. 

Wandering around at half time it was interesting to note a now possible holiday destination. 

The Boys are thinking who could they get to take a holiday in North Korea? The list could surely grow!
 Is there a charter plane leaving from Blyth's International Airport?

Into the second half and the lads managed to pull themselves back into the game and it was Mrs Triallist's dear little Sammy D (Dinsley) who was set up perfectly by a superbly worked freekick to head home. That one had definitely been worked out on the training ground. The Bay's Anderson creating the space for SDT! Nice.

Despite some fantastic battling and effort, there was to be no equaliser but the lads had won the second half and restored some pride. The jury is still out on how they will fair when the competitions start in ernest but tonight's signs were promising.

9.7.19 Ellington (h)

It was raining but I was still in good spirits. Complete with camouflaged poncho, I set off for Hillheads. The only people I passed on the way were the hockey players leaving the ice rink, would Hillhead's great and good turn out to see its latest episode?
They were there and they shared my quiet optimism. My newly-designed season ticket had gone down well and I must admit I was rather pleased the result.
Talking to people around the ground, it really did seem like there was a new drive about the place.
Sky Blue Neil remarked that the pitch looked the best it had been in years, even though tonight was its first test. The fans who had given up their time to paint the ground, apologies I failed to show up yet again, had performed miracles.
A fund had also been started to repair the main stand's roof. This club has one amazing resource and it is its fans! They are the one thing that have remained constant. Turning up home and away during these downward spiralling seasons. Now, two of those fans are amongst the board members, bringing new verve and enthusiasm to an already hard-working set of individuals. Only a madperson would fail to make use of them!

Mmmmmm, nice pitch!

There was also a good turnout behind the goal... I was no longer Billy-No-Mates!

The teambuilding has been ongoing at a great pace and it looks like we have a talented team. Tonight's team included Jeff Smith, who apparently arrived with Nathan. Right from the off, he was pulling the strings in midfield.
A silver-haired (mostly) empressario, his prodding passes were gratefully received by the likes of Salmon, Brannon and Parnaby. With Lee Kerr joining in the prodding of the visiting defence, the home fans lapped it all up. By half time, the lads were 4-0 up. Salmon scored twice, we think Smith launched in the third one and Mickey C added a skillfully opportunistic fourth.

The second half continued in the same vein. Whitley pressed, Ellington defended, swore at each other then ocasionally managed a breakaway effort. The bay defence, looked in control and so for once, most of the attacking took place in the visiting half.
Goals five to seven were to follow in this half, in quick succession. At some point, the old war-horses: the tiring Kerr and Smith gave way to the young upstarts of Kieran Brannen and Max Emerson. It was these youngsters who tore at the visitors like starving dogs desperate for raw meat. Add in Mickey, who just toyed with Ellington all game, it was a pleasure to watch.
Number five featured Kieran surging towards goal before unleashing a sublimely placed shot.

Number six was a one Mr and Mrs Triallist may well be proud of but I can't be sure as the teamsheet didn't match the players on the pitch, IMHO. Whatever, it was another cracking strike. 

Finally number seven was another from the edge of the box. A real treat for the Bay fans!

It's been a while since we dared dream of anything more than poor mediocrity. I so hope that my excitement hasn't been pre-empted. I WOULD LOVE IT, if we had a decent team! 

6.7.19 Durham United (a) Friendly

I love this time of the footballing year. The weather is warm (it actually was) even in the Northeast, the pains of the previous year (s) have been nailed shut in a darkened box at the back of my mind, the teambuilding has been continuing at great pace, the right noises are coming out of the club with regards the hopes and expectations for the year...
What more could you want?
The Boy Mark and running Keith were involved in a stupidly-long Chevy Chase 20 mile trail run so couldn't make the game. I put out a request for a car share on the club's Twitter feed and Paul the Miller answered my call.
Picked up outside the little Sainsbury's, by him and his great children, in an extremely comfortable Mercedes was the perfect way to start the season. Conversation opened with the Women's World Cup and England's defeat in the semi-final (as well as their appearance on bottles of Lucozade sport) and eventually ended with today's game.
Optimism was the order of the day. We had Mr H2O bathrooms, Martin, to knock some business sense into the board along with Duncan Howell as the new commercial manager. Knowing both to be popular figures around the ground, the hope is that we can advance as a club commercially, building on the great work started by Ann Barkas. There is so much potential here, as long as it can be realised. All together we seemed to be heading?
There was a delay and a diversion to avoid a traffic jam at Testo's roundabout. Fancy closing off the A19 knowing that there would be hordes of Bay fans streaming towards Durham!

Possibly the only team sheet for the Big Match
1st half and 2nd half team.
Courtesy of Julian

To be honest (TBH for the kids), I was expecting at least five goals for the Bay but it soon became clear that the home team were no mugs. A young side that had been promoted to the Wearside League looked solid and the strange mix of players for the Bay's two teams meant there were so many introductions to be made.
As per usual, I hadn't much idea who anybody was, except for Lee Kerr, whose bald head shone like a halo in the afternoon sun.
The lads played some great stuff at times but there was a distinct lack of sharpness in front of goal.

A breakaway effort was saved well by the keeper and then another effort was expertly turned onto his own post by a Durham defender. There was, as usual, a lot of really good approach play few goalscoring opportunities.

Another great save followed but that pessimistic part of me was wondering when we would be made to pay. Sure enough, Ball, trialling in goal, made a bit of a balls-up of a clearance and there was Durham's ex-Doctor Who Matt(hew) Smith to slot into the empty net.
Little Gibbo and I were not impressed!

Another chance for the Bay was dramtatically turned away by Durham's keeper before half time called an end to a slightly underwhelming first half that reminded me that Rome wasn't built in a day.

I promptly set off around the pitch to get my place for the second half (before the crowds stole all the best spots) then had to re-trace my steps when I came up against the big sign that had been staring at me on the even bigger fence that was blocking my way. The sun had obviously got to me!

In the second, it was a completely different, and more experienced, Bay team. Right from the off, there seemed to be more purpose about them. Peter the Raven looked twice as fierce with his new 'Sparky' hair cut. Unfortunately, his difficult efforts on goal were generally wayward. In true fashion, however he kept running and was always in the right place, if not on target.

There was a great deal of fight in this new team and a determination not to give up and to show the 'young'uns' who were the bosses. New boy Michael Annang-Colquhoun, from South Shields, kept battering impressively away, collecting balls he had no right to win and shielding them so well with his body.

Max Emerson, promoted from the reserves also looked promising as he too caused problems for the United defence.

Despite a couple of freekicks that were well-saved, Durham, and their keeper were still holding the Bay at bay.
With time running out, it was Michael who was the 'fox-in-the-box', scoring in added time. There was still time for another of the Raven's efforts to sail wide but we had to be happy with a draw and some great football played.
Did I enjoy that moment though?

Courtesy of Whitley Bay FC Twitter