23rd September 2017 Billingham Synthonia (a) FAV 2nd QR

The Satnav said 49 minutes but still we went for it...I placed my faith in The Boy Mark's driving and not in modern technology. If he said we could do it in 45 minutes then I believed him. The roundabout by Tynemouth Pool, the inevitable Silverlink roadworks and the lack of signage near the ground proved to be our undoing as we arrived in Norton, Synner's temporary home, 15 seconds after the 45 minutes deadline...were we turning into a parody of ourselves? Driving more than 45 minutes to get to an away game was our no-no! You, my dear readers must be the judges!


I love coming away to Northern League grounds as they are always full of odd stands and portacabins. Norton was no exception.

Great view of the goal from this stand....

....it's really a house for spare, rusting goals. Should have known!

Is this the potting shed? Might find Tom in here!

It was a repeat of the team on Tuesday, which was great news and I was buzzing about today's game. However at the start of the game there seemed a distinct lack of any sort of noise: especially the woeful PA system. The expanse of fields on nearly three sides probably contributed to this as all sounds quickly disappeared into the ether. There was even a lack of people watching the big Vase game from the houses that overlooked the ground one touchline. Bizarre! They did, kindly, leave their gates open so that fans could retrieve balls that had cleared the perimeter fences. How nice. Maybe the clubs returned the favour by putting out washing for them and mowing their lawns. I'd like to think so!

No-one was watching from their bedroom windows!

There was a worrying moment when a Bay fan had a Mexican stand-off with a Billingham one but that was quickly dispelled when they began sniffing each other. It was a touch inappropriate though.

Billingham v Whitley clash #1
First confrontation of the afternoon:
helping it all ended amicably.

Clash #2 occurred soon after when the ball bounced off a lady's head and her male friend commented that she should have "Just opened her mouth next time" to catch it. That didn't go down well and we had to leave before it turned nasty.

The players certainly weren't being stand-offish and the tackles were soon sliding in. Jasper performed two forward rolls and earned himself a 3.2 and 4.7 before Jack Walker tricked his way into the box, after a neat series of short passes, but couldn't come up with the final product. The ref seemed to be letting a lot go, especially from the home side (IMHO) despite a clear ability to signal goal kicks with a particularly forceful finger and knees-bent action. 

Finally there was joy amongst the mostly pro-Bay crowd as Scott 'The Wasp' Jasper struck!

The wing wizard, Potter once again beat his defender before his cross was met by Jasper's downward header. He certainly was buzzing after that goal! However, after that, Billingham took up the attack and it was Flynn's turn to be called into action, sliding in at the feet of a home attacker. Next it was Cap'n Call's turn to come up with a timely tackle. Tom Potter managed to come up with a storming shot that had to be tipped over and then Josh Nearney showed the sort of determination Die Hard's John MacClean would have been proud of to get into the home penalty area. His effort was saved.

Disappointment at half time for Mr Twitter as Hungerbusters is shut!
It got worse they had run out of chips at the cafe by the time he got to the front of the queue.
Had to make do with a chicken caesar salad.....

Get me an Ultra Cool Synners polo, please!
As seen in the clubhouse.

Cracking read.

Handy-sized rail for half time
'hard-lad' drinks!

The second half started with the home team getting irate with the ref and began to brand some of his decisions as the "worst decisions ever" which was a bit harsh i thought. However Billingham had had a flea in their ears at half time and were putting everything into each pass, tackle and appeal. The Bay lads were still on top and looked the most likely scorers. Of course this is football and just when looks like you are going to win, it comes along and pulls the pitch out from under your feet. Synners levelled with a lob that looked to have comfortably cleared Flynn's crossbar only to dip over the hapless Thomas and under the bar. There then followed a passage of play when the Bay lads allowed themselves to be hustled into mistakes and there looked like there would be only one winner. 

The normally unflappable Flynn came out to clear a ball, only to find it bounce up and onto his head before it was hacked clear then the otherwise-superb Nearney looped a ball back to the stranded Flynn who managed to hack it clear. He then gave both barrels to his hassled defender. Next it was Jack Walker's turn to put his goalkeeper in trouble: his pass intercepted. Luckily the Bay survived.

Despite all this, Nearney nearly earned the Bay the win when he, once again, wriggled into the box with more intricate passes but his touch was lacking and the Synners keeper managed to collect the ball as well as a piece of Josh's boot which earned the young defender a booking.

I had been praying that we didn't have extra time, so typically we had an extra thirty minutes. This was a shame since I had promised to get back in time for a family meal in the big, bad Toon. There was radio silence from Mrs Blogger when I texted her to let her know of my late return.

The Boy Mark and I decided to take the opportunity to watch the first half of extra time where we were and give Thomas Flynn our support. He was not happy and told us that he needed to try to wake up. Maybe his head juggling had given him sort of concussion. 

The Bay went straight for the jugular, Cornish having replaced Thibault. They pressed Synners back so much that for the first 12 minutes of extra time Flynn hardly touched the ball. The Gods of football once again turned away from us and it was the home team who went ahead: much to the delight of the group of local lads who had snuck into the ground at 90 minutes. The ball flashed across the visiting keeper and into the far corner. This was turning into a nightmare trip. 

On came Liam Brooks for Josh Nearney as the brave Whitley management went to three at the back. The bold move came up trumps. With the moaning home team complaining about a Brooks foul on the keeper, the Prof scored one of his classic cup-poacher goals; stabbing home with the keeper on the floor. We were well pleased with that. 

Both Kempster, with a spectacular overhead effort, and Jasper, with a miles over effort, could have earned the win but it was not to be and a 2-2 draw was the final result. 

Although a number of the Bay faithful had been disappointed with the draw we were still in the cup and the lads had survived another important and painful lesson in physical play. Sub Kyle P, especially, who claimed to have been studded as the final whistle blew.

The Boy Mark and I even managed to make it home with two minutes of the 45 left - thus avoiding grief from Mrs Blogger by being able to make the family trip to the Toon. 

Easy! Easy!

See you Tuesday!

Tuesday 19th September - Penrith (h)

Thanks Mr Twitter

Pile-on programme!

There certainly had been a dearth of home fixtures so this was my first chance to see the revitalised Bay team since the defeat against Benfield in the FA Cup. Thibault was back from his holiday to celebrate his dad's birthday and the Robertasaurus was back for his first start of the season. He joined Scott 'the Wasp' Jasper up front. Apologies for my rubbish attempts at finding nicknames but we always used to call Wasps 'Jaspers' and if he sets off on a run of scoring, stinging the opposition then I will be justified! The two could provide a bit of strength up front, feeding off the skill of Kempo, Potto, younger Patty et al. It was also great to see Professor Wilko with Callumity Anderson (cause he's injury-prone? I'll get me coat) back together again. Also joining the Bay was former player Jack Walker completing what was looking to be an awesome defence with Josh Nearney finishing off the back four.
The Bay bug seemed to have caught hold of Running Keith as he returned to Hillheads for his third or fourth game of the season. He brought with him his twin (they both wore glasses) to swell the growing ranks of fans behind the away goal...there were 15 of us!

Robo! 2-0!

Penrith arrived late because of traffic delays and I was in the middle of attaching the flag to the fence when Thibault stooped to head home. Kempo's pinpoint cross had followed great wizardry on the wing from Tommy P.
83 seconds...1-0.
Top banana!
I blinked.
 I missed it.
Seven minutes later...the Robovator was back! More brilliance from Kempo to cross for Robo to dive like a bird of prey to snaffle his first senior goal of the season.

Management look to be on the
same wavelength

 "Cricket score! Cricket score!" We cried but that was it for the goal count. Penrith had their first shot in the 19th minute and probably wished they had taken an earlier bus but the Bay dominated without making it count. Thibault's scuff/lob was easily caught but Thom O'Flynn, Cap'n Call and the lads had closed the back door: Penrith couldn't find a way through. In fact, apart from the Bay's ground staff's attempts at crop circles on the pitch, the conversation tended to revolve around the opposition #4's monkish hair style which featured a Zidane-esque bald spot. Thankfully, his play didn't resemble Zidane's.
The second half saw Penrith roar back but the lads coped well with it. Aidan Haley was looking accomplished in midfield and, although it was a great shame we haven't seen anything from Callum Patton so far this season, his presence wasn't missed. When a tired Saint Aidan was finally replaced by Matty Cornish Pasty (so sorry - just can't help myself) the Bay looked energised (according to wise sage and Bay fanatic Running Keith). A bit of skill from supersub Blondie Patton with a Cruyff turn almost presented a third goal but Flynn stole the final honours with a great save, diving low to his right to palm away a Penrith screamer.
2-0 the final score and the Bay had acquired another fan as Running Keith's mate asked where he could buy his shirt! #morefans

Engrossed!

2nd September 2017 - Newcastle Benfield (h) FAC 1st QR

Cold? In the Bay? No way! Today was a glorious September day. The Sun was out and the wind gentle. There were shirt sleeves galore, and shorts, on offer as we entered the ground. A healthy crowd gathered in anticipation; later numbered 608. The Bay was actually excited about the cup. The previous round's fightback against Penrith had been a cracker and the hope was that we were in for another belter. The only disappointment about the crowd was that it numbered the injured Professor Wilkinson, 'Robo' Robertson and Callum Anderson: all resplendent in their fine Bay tracksuits. Each claimed it would be a 'couple of weeks' before they were back. Today was going to be a tough one so the lads who were fit would have to be on their metal today. 

Whitley is excited for
the big FA Cup game!

 Although the Town didn't appear to share my enthusiasm, I was buzzing about the FA Cup tie. With £3 000 on offer to the club, if they won, there was certainly a great incentive to qualify. The club had already received prize money of over £3 400 from the previous two victories and victory today would mean a near doubling of that. Making it through to the next round would certainly allow building the extension to the Tommy Tea Emporium (it always be more than a hut to me) Cafe. The measly one table and lack of an Eiffel Tower in the background is probably all that is stopping the Bay public from fully embracing the cafe culture that Tommy probably has no intention of encouraging. That and the cold weather of course.

The Emirates FA Cup
Season 2017-18
Payments made from The FA's prize fund

Extra preliminary round winners	(185)	£1,500
Preliminary round winners	(160)	£1,925
First round qualifying winners	(116)	£3,000
Second Round Qualifying winners	(80)	£4,500
Third Round Qualifying winners	(40)	£7,500
Fourth Round Qualifying winners	(32)	£12,500
First Round Proper winners	(40)	£18,000
Second Round Proper winners	(20)	£27,000
Third Round Proper winners	(32)	£67,500
Fourth Round Proper winners	(16)	£90,000
Fifth Round Proper winners	(8)	£180,000
Quarter-Final winners	(4)	£360,000
Semi-Final winners	(2)	£900,000
Semi-Final losers	(2)	£450,000
Final runners-up	(1)	£900,000
Final winners	(1)	£1,800,000

Benfield and West Allotment fan Long-Haired Andrew was in attendance along with his son, who had obviously been sitting in compost as he had shot up in height since our last meeting. Who knew children grew? They joined us behind the Benfield goal and had a wonderful view of old timer Brayson's over-the-shoulder-hook-cum-volley-looping-lob that sailed over the helpless Flynn in the Whitley goal in the 3rd minute. If ever there was a bad omen, it was that. An incredible shot, it summed up how the afternoon was going to pan out for the Bay. The lads tried to impose their style of play onto the match but there were too many passes astray and any crosses were far too close to keeper Grainger and the confident keeper was in no mood to let anything go. Both sides huffed and puffed and it was Flynn who had to be on his metal to save the Bay against danger-man Brayson. In fact the highlight of the first half from a Whitley point of view was when the referee told Benfield's one man wall that he could either "protect his balls or face depending which he valued most". He needn't have worried as Whitley's freekick sailed high and wide.
It looked like a half time rollocking and second half fightback would be on the cards until the otherwise reliable Haley back flicked the ball high towards the disbelieving Flynn, who was in no-man's land. Benfield's Mccarthy got there before Flynn so, in first half injury time, the Bay were 2-0 down and in need of a miracle. Even the sun disappeared as Running Keith, who had joined us once again, regretted not bringing a duvet.

Dominant Grainger ....

Things improved slightly for the Bay in the second half but the best chance fell to substitute Jasper who latched onto a ball in the penalty area. However, his half volley drifted wide. This was not our day. No matter how hard the lads battled, they just couldn't find that killer pass and in the absence of Callum Patton and the still-on-holiday Thibault didn't look like clawing back one, never mind two goals.
The game finished with a whimper and my dreams of a double Wembley trip were over for another year.
Despite the obvious effort the lads put in, the creativity was lacking. This is still a very young side and they will learn from this experience, I'm sure Nash and Woody will make sure of it. It only goes to show how important the missing players are to the Bay. The sooner they come back, the better!
Benfield deserved their win and looked tight, compact with the evergreen Brayson up front. Good luck to them in the next round!

The Bay recovers from the shock of exiting the FA Cup!

22nd August 2017 - Penrith (h) FAC QR

A late equaliser from a Potter-transformed Bay in Cumbria meant one aspect of football went my way after a disastrous trip to France. My beloved Lens had lost their fourth league game out of four to keep them joint bottom of Ligue 2. To add to the club's misery a section of the fans had  invaded the pitch during the game and demanded the coach's resignation. (For more see northernlensois.blogspot.co.uk
Tonight I was joined by Silly Andrew. Waiting outside the Seahorse for The Boy Mark to arrive, after dropping my wife off at the pub (long story but suffice to see Mark is a very kind man!), we leaned against the railings. At this point a fan-lady drove her car onto the pavement to park and promptly berated us for not  instantly moving out of the way of her car: pardon me good lady but last time I checked the pavements were for the walky-people and the roads for the wheelie-people. Silly and I were not impressed! Not wishing harm to anyone, karma may have struck, however, as we think we spotted a Penrith clearance rebound off one of the terrace roofs onto her head.
Hope she was okay: honest.
It was great to be joined by the effervescent Bob and Moira who, predictably, were going on about the shirt numbers and wondered whether the number 8 had been put on upside down...he's never happy. I don't think it has been but if anyone is an expert on the comic sans font and can help out, let me know. Also joining us was Running Keith who kept saying how exciting the game was: hopefully he'll be back soon.
There was no Thibault as he was enjoying himself in Southern France so Matty Cornish was given his first start while magic-man Potter replaced PGR (Peter Glen-Ravenhill). A fit-again Josh Nearney came back in for Reay.
Right from the off, the Bay were on the attack, keeping possession with some great football. Fears that we might miss the Call-ault duo ( Callum and Thibault) in the middle of the pitch were instantly eased. Cornish and Haley (Halish? Corney?) were everywhere, tackling, driving, prompting. For long periods of the game, Penrith hardly had a touch and when they did HallByerWilliNear (okay I'll stop this..sorry) showed similar amounts of skill, grit and determination. Surely we were on for a cricket score?

No! In one of Penrith's only serious threats on goal they scored: Jonny Murray scoring after a long throw. But back came the Bay with Potter continuing where he left off the previous Saturday. There was consternation in the visiting penalty area when keeper Stuart Dixon went down under a terrible challenge. A succession of corners saw the visitors fully stretched and their keeper was performing extremely well. However, they were clearly rattled. Their defenders argued with the ref that the Whitley players were being weally weally mean! The Allotment Enders behind the goal begged to differ...but then we would.

Everyone agreed that this had been one of the best halves from a Bay team, regardless of the fact that there were a lot of first team regulars missing.
The big fear in the second half was that the Bay would run out of steam, after the hard-pressing start so feared the worst when Penrith crept back into the game. Mistakes were being made by the home team and when a shot pinged against the crossbar, it looked only a question of time before they fluked the decisive second goal.
However the arrival of PGR and Glenn Reay, on for the hard-running and unlucky Blondie Patton and Michael Hall, energised the team. The attacks on Dixon's goal began again and with nine minutes to go the Bay were level.

All of Cornish's hard work was rewarded as he scored a curling wonder-goal. He was rather pleased.

Moments later the noise level from most of the 358 fans rose up a notch as Scott Jasper saw the ball bouncing agonisingly around his feet. Thankfully he managed to slot it past Dixon before he could snatch it. He celebrated with a repeat game of pile on.

It was all the Bay to the next round when Cornish ran onto a pass from supersub Liam Brooks and slammed the ball home. Cue pandemonium at Hillheads. 3-1 and the Bay were through to play Newcastle Benfield. Penrith had played an extremely hard and strong game but in the end the lads had managed to outwork and out muscle them. Every player was a credit to the Bay.
Morpeth? Never happened.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12th August 2017 - Stockton Town (h)

Team sheet courtesy of Mr Twitter!

I'd missed the fantastic FA cup games against Seaham and the team's progression through to the FA Cup Preliminary Qualifying Round from the Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round (surely has to be a catchier name for these August rounds) due to a family holiday near Barcelona. Some supporter! I hung my head in respectful shame, of course. However the chance to watch the highlights thanks to the lovely people at WBFC was very welcome.
For the first time in quite a few seasons, I was back in time from my holiday to see the first league game of the season. This time we were up against the team that had unceremoniously dumped us out of the FA Vase the previous year: Stockton Town (That's Stockton with a K,  programme editor!) We were expecting a hard game against a strong set of visitors and that is exactly what we got.
New boy Scott Jasper, signed from North Shields Athletic, was leading the forward line and looked ready to bring the fight to the visiting defence. The top scorer in the the previous year's Northern Alliance, the debate still raged at the Allotment End about whether he was indeed one of Mr and Mrs Triallist's offspring. We decided he was and he certainly was doing them proud. Beating players with both strength and determination he was able to find space to fire just wide. This prompted the comment:

"Well done!"

"I got there first...."

"He ghosted in there like Jasper the friendly ghost!"
After stunned silence the penny dropped:
"That was Casper!" The search for Jasper's nickname continues.
Stockton were certainly not lying down and they dominated a first half that lacked any real quality. The best chance fell to Stockton but was cleared off the line.
The Bay looked sharper in the second half and when Jack Bryerley zipped down Whitley's right wing, there was Casper  sorry Jasper, ghosting in to slot home from a couple of yards. He certainly looked delighted unlike the bullet-blond-haired Kyle Patton who was just behind him.

There was concern soon after as the divot-watchers were alarmed to see a great hedgehog-shaped piece of turf appear, without being replaced by the green-clad Liam Jordan in the Town goal. Up until that point the money, time and effort spent re-laying the pitch had meant a perfect playing surface. We just hoped it wouldn't prove costly!

Back came Town and it was decided by the wise wizards behind the Stockton net that another goal would a good idea. So it was that great work from the Thibster saw the ball trickle through a multitude of bodies before Potter conjured up the final touch. 2-0 to the Bay and the crowd went wild!

Wild boys! Wild boys! Even Jeremy!

They liked it too! Jasper...the new Hulk?

The final word almost belonged to Kempsto but his shot rolled millimetres wide.
The team had been handed a difficult first game and dug deep to come up with the goods. By the end of the game, the Stockton players resorted to constantly berating and verbally abusing the referee, Helen Conley from Bishop Auckland, who looked, at one point, to have lost control of the game. It was disappointing to see them resort to this and in the end the Bay were comfortable 2-0 winners. What a great start!

29th July 2017 - Hartlepool (h)

Photo courtesy: Julian and Whitley Bay FC

Mmmmmm....
embroidered logo.
Nice.

More embroidery.....oh yes!

It has finally happened. For the first time since the Bay's adventures in the FA Vase reinvigorated my love for football, the Bay has a strip to be proud of. The embroidered club badge and Joma maker's logo was enough to sell it to me but added to that the big blue square on the back so that Bob and Moira can stop whingeing about not being able to make out the numbers...it all adds up to near perfection...without getting anywhere near personal fantasies.
The shirts that were produced for the FA Vase victories 2009-11 in their tens of thousands and lingered around longer than was hygienically sensible were screen-printed throughout, as were the ones that replaced them two years, or so, ago. I'm not talking about a desire for a new shirt every season or two, rather a good shirt that fans would be proud to wear. For me, an entirely printed shirt doesn't have that impact. So thanks Ann and all at H20 bathrooms for providing us with a shirt to be admired! Look forward to wearing this far and near (as long as the journeys are less than 45 minutes...ish).
NB it is also stylish enough to be worn in many of the establishments on Grand Parade!
Also exciting is the arrival of the cafe culture once again to the Bay. After witnessing other clubs efforts at the beginning of the previous season (Willington et al), some of the Bay fanatics have taken the official renaming of Tommy's Hut a step further and in conjunction with Charmey's Construction Club have gone for a themed approach. I'm sure it will catch on, shame they had to knock down the Aldi but I think it is an innovative and original design. Thibault likes it...

A forgotten corner of the Car Park Terrace no more!

For the final home friendly, it was another toughie. After destroying Toon United in the previous 0-0 draw, I had a feeling that today might be a match too soon. After all, these were a National League team, that had only last season been in League 2 so they weren't going to be pushovers. The size of them was marked from the outset as some were a good few inches taller than our tallest boys and they certainly looked strong! Having said that, the likes of Tom Potter, Peter Ravenhill and Callum Anderson look as if they have been visiting the fitness shop on Whitley Road as well as the gym at Waves Leisure Centre. They aren't going to be knocked over easily. Callum certainly looks to have turned a corner from the determined but sleight figure who couldn't decide whether he wanted to play or not a few years ago. He and Prof Wilkinson were up against it but with Flynn on top form, the defence only conceded once.
The goal that equalised Hartlepool's sixth minute lead came from more determined play from Potter, who had the confidence to take on his man and was brought down in the penalty area (an act confirmed by Julian's eagle-eyed camera work).

The man that is the heartbeat of the Bay team, Callum Patton, hit the resulting penalty with accuracy and confidence and the Bay seemed to grow in stature. Tom. Kyle and Peter chased forward at every opportunity and could have in fact earned the Bay a win but a 1-1 draw was nothing to be sniffed at. A 2-1 win away to Bedlington Terriers meant the Bay were unbeaten throughout the pre-season.For the first time in a long while, we were looking forward to the following week's FA Cup game at Seaham with some confidence. Fingers crossed! #htb

25th July 2017 - Newcastle United U23s (h)

The Bay team courtesy of Mr Twitter

Newcastle teamsheet courtesy of @whitleybayfc

The lads had played well against lesser opposition and won but it was time to measure themselves up against the boys (albeit younger boys) from the big town. For the first time this season The Boy Mark and I were there before kickoff: although strictly speaking we didn't see kickoff: a buildup of traffic at Morrison's roundabout. There was a big queue to get in which we managed to stay calm about thanks to a spot of controlled breathing and recital of thrash metal classics. 

Relative peace and quiet of the far end of the ground...
the rest of the 861 crowd preferred the other sections. 

The first half was a quiet affair generally. We managed to stay far from the madding crowd but for the second half we had to shoe-horn ourselves into the Car Park End terrace.

A big crowd is always good for the club but for us regular old gits they also cause problems.

1. Queues at turnstyles, tea huts, bars etc

2. Removal from favourite spot.

3. Greater chance of being recognised by kids taught and therefore slight restraint needing to be shown whilst hurling abuse at...whoever.

4. Disturbance of moments of personal contemplation (not all footballing) by constant chatter of slightly disinterested and not total devotees of comparable team tactics during a 0-0 draw or the latest happenings on Game of Thrones.

5. Kids making noise, charging about during aforementioned 0-0 draw, fetching errant balls, playing hide and seek whilst failing to applaud my volleyed back-heeled flick to return a ball into the hands of United's waiting keeper: the impressive Harker.

Yes my membership of the grumpy old men's club was certainly renewed last night but it was great to see a big crowd at Hillheads. The game, in my opinion was entertaining with a lot of desire on both sides. Mrs Twitter in Tommy's Tea Hut was certainly running around like a blue-arsed fly, although at no point, I must add, did she look like a BAF. Another great evening of dedication from Mrs T: both to marriage and club: well done Julie! It certainly was a shock to the old system!

Nashie had the lads working hard and they controlled the centre of the park, making United rely on crosses which were dealt with superbly by Professor Wilko and co. In the absence of any Trialists, we had a team of named players who, when brought on, performed exceptionally well. Towards the end of the game it was the blue and whites who nearly tipped the balance but a 0-0 draw was a fair result and a great one for the home fans. Despite this scoreline, there were plenty of chances and both the Mighty Flynn and Harker in the Newcastle goal looked solid, coming up with crucial saves on a number of occasions. Potter, Ravenhill and Charmey were amongst most of the Bay's forward play while Haley never stopped running and was a constant thorn in Newcastle's side. 

Here's to another super result and big crowd on Saturday. I promise that I won't complain if we get another big crowd for the home game against Harlepool! #htb