I am a physical wreck following yesterday's sublime display of footballing prowess, with a few bruises to boot (thanks Sting ;-) ).

Nevertheless, I thought it the right thing to do to say a big thank you to all the lads (and the delayed Dougal) for turning up from al' ower the place for the game. Personally, I thought it was a triumph of will and determination over lack of talent, fitness (both on my part) and the elements (nice 1/2 time shower, mind).

Player ratings are:

MOTM = True. Showed plenty of skill on the ball, Beardsleyesque at times and ran all day. Mssr Nutmeg!
Screacher = 6 goal man and goalkeeper extraordinaire!
Cockney Exile = actually could play a bit of football and wasn't gasping for breath after 5 mins. Cross of the game to produce the goal of the game too.
ITK = worried us all by turning a deep shade of purple within 2 mins of running, but came through a trooper!
Scratchy = "Shearer" header for goal of the game, and great midfield interplay.
Bobby = just about turned up for the game.
Jonno = committed play and genteel touch
Sting = should have been sent off for a dreadful late challenge on Bobby, who bravely limped on without complaint ;-) Full blooded and full of running
Tim = brave effort and all in a pair of jeans! Shamefully nutmegged by the old fella in the Toon Top :-)
Craig = burly challenger always hungry for the ball and committed in the challenge
Rob = scared everyone by turning up in a pair of shin-pads! Another lad who could actually play a bit...skinned most of us throughout
Min = impressively came from behind (being sick in a bin en route to the game) to mastermind 2 OGs and 2 goals.

Great day out and next time we'll have a trophy awarded!

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Answers

Sounds like fun.....

Sting, I would've had your legs if I'd been there.....think yourself lucky young man!!

Any toilet encounters? ;)

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Come on Bobby, lots more info needed.

Teams, score, Who else turned up to support.

Post match celebrations etc.

Get well then get typing :o))

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Well.what a day.

11.10: Walking the dog when Screacher rings from Birmingham for a weather update. Told him we were likely to play so he set off down the M40.

11.30: Met Bobby, True and Scratchy at Hillingdon Station to make our way to Baker Street

12.15: Arrived at the Globe pub opposite Baker Street.

12.30  1.15: Various others arrived, Jonno, Grant, Cockney Exile, a couple of Bobbys mates and then, having parked his car at Hotel Dougal, Screacher made show. Grant then rang min to find out where he was, and was just in time to hear him throwing up in the bog at home (two for one on Friday night!)

2.15ish: Made our way to Regents Park, mistakenly following two of the group who seemed to know where they were going, but the passing the Open Air Theatre twice, they patently didnt have a clue where they were.

We then managed to find a map to check the bearings, and as well as finding the correct route, we all thought it was very clever of the Royal Parks to put a picture of Min chucking up into a bin on it as well. (Screachers pictures will reveal all)

3.00: THE BIG KICK-OFF  The Black and whites were Bobby, Scratchy, True, Screacher and Cockney Exile and methe non-black and whites were Jonno, Grant and Bobbys mates. Playing on a less than full size pitch it was typical of park football - bags, coats and the spare shirts for posts.

3.05: I turned a funny shade of purple, had to sit out for five minutes but made a blistering recovery.

The first half was definitely one for the non-black and whites as they slid in goal after goal with little or no coherent reply.

3.50ish: we called a halt to the first half, and those that did made a straight dive into their bags for a fag.

4.05ish: Start the game again and having played for a bout five minutes, Min made his appearance of the afternoon and joined the non- B&W side as one of their number had had go home. The heavens then opened (reminiscent of SJP on the night we played the Makems) and we all made a mad dash for the shelter of the trees.not that we were soft or anything, but the goalpost were getting wet, and we had to wear them in the evening.

4.20ish: Rain stopped, posts replaced and the game restarted the B&Ws made a staggering comeback hitting goal after goal after goal. Screacher got six, I got four (should have been five of that glorious glancing header hadnt bounced over the post) Bobby got several, Scratchy got a few, Bill hove in with a number as well as did Cockney Exile.

4.55ish: with the score level on about 25-25, someone suggested that the next side to score two goals should be the winner, and up popped Min with a couple in five minutes for the non-B&Ws to end the match. This possibly made up for the three or four he put through his own goal earlier in the second half.

5.15ish: After the regulation team photo (Screacher will post them later no doubt) we all got changed, much to the chagrin of a passing young lady who took one look at Grant and laughed her socks off!

Then its down to the Marylebone Road and into the Green Man beside the Great Portland Street station. After a few recharging pints, and waiting over an hour for Dougal to join us, those that were left made their way down Great Portland Street in search of food.

A most agreeable Thai restaurant was located called Silks and Spice in Foley Street (recommendable if you are in the area) and a nice meal was had by all, accompanied by a couple of beers and a bottle of fizz courtesy of Dougal.

After leaving the restaurant, Jonno and Cockney Exile went off to catch tubes, which left Bobby, Scratchy Dougal Screacher and me to finish off a most fun and agreeable day with another couple of beers in the nearby pub, the Yorkshire Grey.

After closing time, Screacher and Dougal went off to Hotel Dougal while Bobby, Scratchy and I went off to look for a taxi. We made it back to Great Portland Street and I decided to go for the tube, leaving Bobby and Scratchy looking for a taxi.

As I said, a most agreeable and fun afternoon and evening.

Can I finish off this posting by asking for everyone can check to make sure they have got the right legs..I think Ive got the wrong ones cos these old things dont want to move too much today!

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Thanks ITK. I'd like to echo your comments, and to add my own thanking Bobby for the idea and for organising (?) it all. I definitely agree that we should do this more and hereby suggest we make ita regular fixture to mark the Millennium. See you in 1000 years then.

I'll send the photos to Scratchy tomorrow unless I can get them up on the Tunnel End website tonight. Mind, I think we'll have trouble with the censor but I'll do what I can.

All in all, a cracking day out. There might only have been 6 of us wearing B&W but I'm sure wor combined ages came to more than the whole of YBR's squad, especially if we include Jonno and Grant as well. BTW - I thought that tackle was disgusting and I was ver surprised to see Bobby get up alive after it. You'd never catch me tackling like that (ahem).

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been sitting by the phone all day waiting for the call from YBR. I think his phone must be out of order.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Ello there Screacher amigo,

Mr El Robbo leave a message with me for you.

He think you make great sweeper and want to see you at Santa James Park.

He say breeng your own brush!

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

For those of you who don't believe it, here's the evidence.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Damn - got my HTML muxed ip.

T ry again:

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the day oot, I had a great time with a good bunch of lads. I could hardly move yesterday. My motorbike was not delivered (I think this as a good thing because I could have never gotten my leg over it and ridden it - Ill ring the garage today and give them some Geordie aggro coz Im still smarting from our defeat).

Still good to see you all, Grant Ill try and make some of these games with you if you let me know when your travelling back to Gods country.

Good luck Bobby, all the best and enjoy the honeymoon hopefully the lads will do the business against Man Ure for you.

See you all later.

(The NUFC reserve squad is looking in damm good shape, a bet at the bookies is in order I think). I think the rumours of Bobby diving like Totti are a little harsh.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Steve,

Be careful if travelling with Grant......he's a raving Hom and will certainly be trying to get you to drop the soap.....just a friendly word of warning mate ;)))

Grant, my biggest regret of this fantastic weekend I've just had is that I wasn't there to kick you :)))never mind eh, I'll see you soon and there's no need for a football match for me to kick you :)))

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Apologies for my non-appearance but I didn't get back from Snowdon until 5pm and I was a tad weary!

Sounds like I mised a gudun.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Great day - thanks Rob for setting it up. Especially good to meet for the first time Sting (dorty b*st*rd), Jonno (silky skills), Min (cheesy chips post puking!) and Cockney Exile.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Steve

Who suggested I dived??????!!!!!!!!!??????? It was a bit tricky to stay on me feet when me legs were on the far side of Regent's park!

To be fair, I did linger on the ball and although hard it was a fair challenge (note the particularly sporting attitude ;-) )

Pleased you could make it and shout at us unfit lot :-) A rematch after the Summer I reckon?

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Ill be there mate, well up for it.

Grant, you said Gav was gay. Whats going on here, lovers tiff?

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Hahaha you're fitting in quiet well it would seem Steve ;))

Looks like I'll have to take the two of you out of the next game ;))

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Has anyone found my legs among their belongings yet.....these one's I've got still don't want to work properly!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Not found your legs yet ITK, but I think I might have your heed. This one's not working at all. BTW - has anybody found a spare stomach? I think Min's still looking for his - or least the contents thereof.

Rematch - wasn't there some discussion about Leazes Park day before/after a Toon match?

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

>>>>>Barely Walking Wounded Reporting

If you're barely walking you're better off than I am then!

Anyway it was a magic day and great to meet some new and old (and rapidly getting older) BBS friends. I found that my football skills had not deserted me - I never had any in the first place. I think one or two of the younger lads were impressed by my ability to slow the game down, put a foot on the ball, look up, calmly assess the situation before putting through an unerring pass to a member of the opposition. You pick these things up if you've spent many years watching Newcastle. (-;

YBR should have been there - he'd have looked good amongst us lot.

I will let you know if I'm available for the rematch as soon as I get out of intensive care.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

True sent me the pictures he took in the morning, some gruesome shots of flesh in there (well actually here).
Ken's lost his legs - I've lost half the skin off my right leg (perhaps should have waited until the rain before slide tackling).

Good to meet up and defo up for a game on Leazes some time (if Screach can come from Manchester to London).
Jonno, I'm going to try to export the database we were talking in the Globe about into access when I can get up from my seat (wounds are still a bit sticky).
He shoots, he misses, he's JDT.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

bugger, the Screacher HTML problems hit me too - website has http in it.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Howay, Scratchy man! Fix the pix mate! Then again...maybes not! :-)

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Lots of pictures of First Aid boxes...sounds like they were needed!

Only missing a few - might be my work browser, I'll have another go from hyem. Looks like a great day out...I'm jealous. I can do my Uriah Rennie impression for the rematch if you'd like: I have a whistle and a preconceived notion on just about everything :-)

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Bloody case sensitivity....should be okay now...

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Idjust like to say before i get even more castigated ( is that possible ? ) that the challenge in question although slightly late was : a) From the side and not behind ( as Gav would like to think ; - ) ) b) Turtely unintentional ;- ) c) Accentuated by the wet conditions d) In no way a reflection of how i played the rest of the game e) I was only tring to emulate my hero Mick Martin . It was a great afternoon , and for all of those who witnessed my ' under the thumb dilemma ' .. were yers all watching me try to hail a bliddy taxi ? It took 20 minutes and made the excuses a little bit harder , and i wa told that id been drinking and was in an argumenttitve frame of mind , can a man do owt right ? ; - )) Well to the game , Bobby great idea and i hope i wished you well for the forthcoming event before i left in hurry , if not all the best mate .... for your guide ill be holding off on that commitment for a while yet ! Actually i thought Bobby had a good holding game in the middle of the park , and i only felt he needed to be rattled so we could regain the upper hand ( am i making excuses again ? ). Min was my man of the match .. he had a really solid match , true clas ; - )) , joking apart the player on the pitch was Bill ( True ) .. quite obviously had been a canny player in his day , time on the ball , poise , balance etc .... And Screach surprised me with a hat trick in each half , even if he did have the most gripless pair of trainers on .. reminded me a bit of Totti actually ... faalin aal ower the shop , but distribution and finishing of a demi-god : - ). What do i say aboot the moocher .... he was a la george Reilly , and the number of ouls commited and dirty off the ball incidents that went unnoticed would surely have changed the face of the game ... backing in , elbows everywhere , ITK youll get your come uppance bonnie lad ! Jonno seems to be the left sided midfielder Toon are looking for , but i would personally sign him up as the third keeper .. dark horse , and he had a helluva tan by the end of the game ; - ) Andy , great header and twinned with Steve ( cockney exile ) stroked the ball around the park with aplomb , which made it very difficult even for a nubile young lad like me to make an impression on : - ). Gav , ill book Washington today , and you too Min , if you get your act together for the flight ; - )) Steve ill be back with details of trains etc nearer the time . ; - )

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Yer fooling nobody, Sting ;-) Like I said, I thought it was a hard but fair challenge. As for holding game, I think was a reference to my occasional shoulder-to-shoulder efforts, for which I can sport a handsome bruise...one of several :-)

I deffo fancy a rematch after I get back from Oz. This time, I'll have shin pads on

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Came through an hour of 5 a side tonight with no ill effects (2 games in 3 days I must be England material). Up for a rematch this Saturday (well alright Sunday if you must) without having as many pints beforehand :-)
THAT tackle Sting - it wasn't that bad, didn't hear any of the crowd wincing (even if they 2 of them were wearing Satans clothing).

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000