I went to a soccer match and was sat next to a makem.

How friggin typical that on the other side of the world from the north east of England that a lad wearing a NUFC shirt would buy a seat next to a makem wearing a Sunderland shirt. AAArgghh.

Well the discussion between myself and the SAFC supporter turned out to be far more interesting than the football (if that's what it's to be called !@#*!) match ever was.

O.K. to the game. I watched the first one on telly, there was no sight of our Diego so I figured he might have been on the bench as I missed the team sheets at the beginning of the game.

Well as I learned at the Gabba, this must have been Paraguay's Team B as they didn't have any of their overseas players, well at least Diego and that Santa Cruz kid were both missing. Let down number one.

Let down number two, the price of the tickets, $28 for students (thankfully this was for all students, even Uni people) $38 the cheap seats (down the front, which puzzled me, and in the top tier) $45, then $60.

Let down number three. Don't ever buy the cheap tickets at ground level when a soccer game is played on a Aussie rule pitch. The put these advertising hoardings around the pitch, so subsequently between 1/3 and 1/2 the pitch is obscurred from sight.

Thankfully only about 3000 people went, so I just up and moved, as did every single other person in the stadium, and found somewhere better to sit. Next to a makem!?! (and a WHam supporter).

Let down number four. The game was utter crap. Australia did not start one person who would even make our World cup qualifying squad. They introduced 2 with ten minutes to go, and was the class difference obvious. One of them Brett Emerton is a 21 year old right winger who is headed to Feynord next season, this lads going to be gooood. Anyway the coach (Frank Farina) decided he'd play as many Queensland born players as possible. As mentioned if this was the Paraguan team from the last world cup, well they could'nt even break down our lot once. Man Australia just simply has to make it to the next world cup.

The game doesn't need any commentary. There were no goals. Paraguay had three long range attempts, Australia had about 20. Half hit the last player in defence, 5 sailed clear over the bar, the other five were directly at Chilavert.

From watching the first game on T.V. NUFC sign Stan Lazaridis. Some of you may have heard of him, he used to play for West Ham, before being sold to Birmingham. He can play anywhere down the left, he's big, is absolutely fast as a whippet and puts in brialiant crosses.

In one move he beat his man one on one down the left wing with the ball at his feet. He was playing left back so this was the left winger, and he started in his half. Two defenders then tried close him down. He flicked the ball over the left shoulder of the first, and ran around the players right side, and brought the ball back under control and then skipped past the second defender with the ball still at his feet. The two defenders both gave chase, the second wasn't really shook off from the initially move and managed to hang onto Lazaridis right shirt sleeve, keeping him pinned to the left touch line. Lazaridis had about a yard of space when he ran out of pitch at the corner flag. He managed to cross the ball into the penalty area, remember this was done while running at full pelt with a paraguan hanging off his right shoulder. Chilavert didn't even bother trying to come off his line as the ball was swinging away from him and towards half the players on the field who were all rushing headlong into the penalty area. Two Australian players were coming in from different angles to head the ball, while about half the paraguan team were jostling between them trying to stop them. In the end the ball looped over the cross bar and the whole cround broke out into a thunderous appluase. Move of the match.

I watched this on tv, new the game finished in a nil all draw and was still screaming for a player to head into the back of the net.

Oh well, back to the makem supporter. He was in Brisbane attending some educational conference on special education. He's a school principle in Bury. We had a great time talking about many things and these are some of the things he had to say; Gullit a twat who held us back; Keegan, a brilliant manager who should never have left, and should be given six years in charge of the national squad; Shearer a brilliant player, was best player on the pitch when England played Belgium at the stadium of Light; Philipps good EPL scorer, who shouldn't be in the england squad, looked lost alongside Shearer against Belgium; the 1000 or so Makems who boo'ed Shearer at the SOL, absolute twats; SJP, is going to be a brilliant stadium when construction starts; The bond holders situation, a disgrace; Peter Reid, a tight arse who won't spend the money necessary for the EPL.

Well he was the first Makem I have ever met and he was a very nice person. He laments that his sons are manu supporters, and doesn't go in for all the physical abuse between the northeast fans form the three clubs.

He has offered me a place to stay on my travels through England when I head over, and reckons he'll get me to a Bury match as he doesn't get to sunderland games to often.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Answers

You never learn do ya? People want to read things straight and to the point. Non of this waffle!!!

Did you not see my Glory match report. How clear was that? ;o)

Go for the Bury match you will see better football than at the makems (unless they are playing us) That is unlikely as by the time you get there you might be watching them play Bury anyway!!!

BTW the most expensive seats at Subi were $33 thats about 10 quid, not bad for the Cup Final.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I just like to hear myself talk. Well you know what I mean.

;-)

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Are you planning a trip to the UK then Tre?(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

In about 18 months or so after my first year of teaching.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Brilliant! I expect there are plenty people who will be happy to give you accommodation - us included, of course, though we`re not very convenient for St.James`s! (:o)

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I'll bite back some witty yet shitty replies at this point....

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I would of thought you would have at LEAST asked if he claimed to be so young because each of his years seem to be 18 months long Gav!!!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Gus,

I'm teaching at the moment, on prac, which means I'm in my last year of Uni and being exploited by the education department, as I can teach for the next three months and not get paid for it, have to work 28 hours a week on top of teaching so that I can survive, while all the flammin QLD teachers go on rolling strikes so that they can get some pay rises, less working hours, smaller classes etc.

That said, next year I'll being teaching having finished my degree and benifit from this years strikes. Which means Christmas next year I'm off to England to spend all the money I'll have saved up, and freeze my arse off to boot.

I might just base myself at Gallaxy's place as it's in the south of England and should a damn sight warmer than the rest of the nation.

That should annoy one particular person as I'll be a lot closer to Yelli than he will. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

And here`s me thinking you were coming to see me! Oh well, if we`re getting company, I`d better start baking now.........!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Oh don't worry about cooking, I don't eat much, I tend to find that smoking excessive amounts of ciggarettes kill my appetite, keep me thin, and provide me with a nice shade of yellow that I convince everyone is a tan from our golden beaches. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Oops it's Galaxy, not Gallaxy. Sorry ma-I mean Galaxy, what's for dinner?

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

No, I insist, you must eat - I do a nice line in speciality meat pies. And the fake tan? Must be the same one I cultivated in the airport `smoking` rooms in the States! It is indeed and interesting shade of yellow!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Would you like me to bring over a couple of kilo's of meat over. No disrespect or anything, but with your mad cows, the price of meat over there and everyone knowing that some dodjy parts of the body are used in meat pies over there.

;-)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Don`t panic - I`m not married to Sweeny Todd you know! Thank you for the kind offer though, much appreciated, but you`re OK, I buy in bulk so it`s cheaper!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Just a quick question Galaxy, What time does Yelli get out of bed when she doesn't have to get up for work etc.?

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Also interesting that no one has made anything of my comments as to talking to a makem etc. ie in the original posting. Is everyone letting go of their prejudices?

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Tre,

It`s 8.30 am here. Yelli has to be at work at nine, therefore, with the same precision timing as her father, and after I have repeatedly poked her with a long stick, she will finally scramble at approximately 8.40 am. Ten minutes for ablutions, followed by a whirlwind appearance in the kitchen, quick dash to the computer, and then, scowling, a hasty exit at 8.55am - slice of toast in one hand, ciggie in the other, wheels of her little Golf laying black lines down the drive whilst being steered erratically with her knees! Thankfully, her office is only minutes from home, so assuming everyone keeps out of her way (and they do tend to) she should arrive safely on the dot of nine! How can I put this? Err....Yelli is not a morning person!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

That's far too much information for him!!! :((

Why do I get the impression that I'm being pushed out here.....

Tre....you have some of my respect for trying but for the sake of your own ego I advise you to give up gracefully at some point...

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Gav go back and read the thread and notice I've been offered somewhere to sleep and dinner (albiet meet pies), by Galaxy, while you haven't recieved any such invitation.

;-)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Oi Prisoner Cell Block H....

Ken and I received the same polite invite many moons ago, I was kind of hoping that it was an open invitation...Galaxy's only invited you over cos it's such a long time from now and she's already overstocked with her famed meat pies and needs to get rid of them...

I'm certain Yelli can and will make the right choice....she'd better!! ;))

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000