OK, there have been several references lately to wives/girlfriends, getting a bit miffed about the number of games you lads are attending. I have a question:

Would you prefer it if your significant other was interested enough in football to want to go to the matches with you, thus avoiding the hassle when you get home and possible being able to attend even more matches. Or, do you actually prefer going on your own (as in without your partner), and would rather suffer the consequences and possible go to less matches?

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Answers

Gal i think i may have precipitated this one .. i have to say ive never been in quite so much doo - doo in 4.5 years as i am at the moment , I wouldnt have minded if id been a naughty boy but all i did was not call , sufficed to say ill be watching the lads on me own for a canny while . ooops : - ((

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

You`re right Sting, it was something you said that got me thinking. But I have heard similar comments from others on here. Sorry you`re in the dog house with the girlfriend - flowers perhaps? And I said you should have phoned her, didn`t I!

So, would you prefer it if she was interested and wanted to go to all the matches with you?(:o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

I usually take my girlfriend to the matches I go to. She is now a member of the Official Newcastle United Midlands Supporters Club as I am, to her surprise when I told her!

If I want to go on my own I can and she won't grumble in fact she would get pissed off because she's missing out!

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Ive got to think of something fast man .. mebbes a trip to SJP would be rubbing salt in the wound . Diamonds perhaps ; - )) I think its quite funny but if i telt her that she'd rip me head off

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

DeBuilder - sounds like a good arrangement you`ve got there!

Sting - Diamonds! Set in what? (:o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

My missus just doesn't GET the football thing.

She thought it was great before the kids came, getting shot of me for an afternoon/evening but now we've got two kids I'm made to suffer for each and every game I attend. It seems she arranges days out, in-law visits etc. on match days just to make me squirm even though I always put games I'm going to on the calendar weeks in advance. Its always "oh, I've arranged to visit so and so, won't it be nice" and there's a few seconds where time stands still until "errrrrr, Charlton at home" starts a bout of the old silent treatment.

The guilt card is one women play to perfection.

And don't any female posters argue otherwise. You KNOW you do........

:o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

If only it were so easy as taking my wife along to games..:-(. It's the kids (3 and 1) that are the problem.

However, having just dragged them all up to the North East for a thoroughly enjoyable week despite variable weather and petrol crisis etc., my master plan is started to take shape.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

baader mienhoff (Kev?) - Does your wife have any hobbies/interests of her own that have been `curtailed` by the arrival of the children? Maybe you could curry favour along those lines.

Windy - sounds like you`re looking to the future - get them all interested - is that the plan? You may have to choose between school fees and season tickets though!

Actually that`s not a joke - I could imagine if you were a family of four living within striking distance of St. James`s, it could be murder. I doubt many families could run to the expense of four seasontickets.(:o|

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

I would love me missus to come to the match .. its meeting you lot id be worried about ; - ))

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

The majority of hobbies/pastimes that don't involve spectator sports have the advantage that they can be done whenever the person wants. Its not like I can arrange for a convenient time to watch Newcastle United. As for my wife, she likes things like gardening, home decoration, soaps etc. all the girlie favourites. :o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Got it in one Galaxy ;-) Also keeping the options open about actually moving up there...I think I did a fairly good sales job, although to be honest I think the area sells itself, both town and countryside. She's definitely keen to visit again, just the two of us, so we can catch more of the..um.. Geordie hospitality. Only big problem is she really liked the look of the Malmaison..gulp. I nice authentic B&B sounds much more enticing, don't you think?

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Windy if you want to complete the job , then id get a room in the Mal Maison , make sure its one looking over the Tyne and Tyne bridge , and if you havent sealed the deal by then ill be very surprised ... 100 quid for peace of mind , easy man .

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Going back to the original train of the thread, there is a difference between actually going to the game and the pre/post match activities. My wife enjoys live football (although I'm not sure she'd keep the interest going for a whole season), but would be a bit of a dampener on the other activities. Still, it's all about weighing up the pro's and cons.

As an aside, she was actually really into going down to Chester-Le-Street to see them train. Shame the plc did their usual shite job and despite phoning beforehand and being told they would be there, we turned up (Wednesday) to be told they were training away from Newcastle. Did they go down to So'ton early, anybody know?

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

The wife is happy for me to do my own thing seeing the lads. She likes her own company 'cos her work (deputy head teacher) means she's hassled all day, so appreciates the time to be alone and enjoy herself from time to time.

Works a treat, especially with the occasional unexpectedly extended away trip. So long as she know I'm safe she doesn't mind.

She does take an interest in the result, mainly as it determines my mood! However, she'd not be impressed with all you football ruffians and your drunken bravado at games ;-))

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

I`m with you all the way on that one Sting ....... Windy, you shouldn`t have any trouble at all after that!

Ermm - Sting....perhaps you should have taken a bit of your own advice, and taken your good lady up there for the weekend? As for worrying about her meeting `us` lot - what are you saying? Are they not always as charming as they were this weekend?(;o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

How old are your kids Kev?(:o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Sting - we've discussed this and you knaa my view. Get her up to N'cl and all will be sweetness and light after that. If you're worried about her meeting the BBS crowd, surely you could arrange it on a day Gav can't make?? The other Unusual Suspects would charm the pants off her - er, no, that's not quite what I meant to say, but you get my drift.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

I'd have to secure a couple of tickets for St James' as well, otherwise the spell would be incomplete ;-)

There is something very reassuring, though, when someone with no rose-tinted connections with the area like my wife still finds sites like the Tyne Bridge moving. I suspect it's not just her either - LR probably blubs uncontrollably each time he visits Newcastle but's too ashamed to admit it ;-)))

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Windy i think you've hit the nail on the head .. its the drinking and festivities that cause the damage . The match is fine but not turning up home when you were due at 7.30 is a heinous crime apparently . Thats the kind of sh1te im in .. their is no way out of this one . Did i tell anyone ive given up football drinking , eating pie and smoking ? Thats just for starters .. ill also be going out for romantic meals twice a week and eating picnics in the park by the bandstand on a sturday afternoon , and doing late night shopping on a Thursday night instaed of drinking with me brokers . Trips home to see the parents for Sunday lunch and mebbes even the odd Auntie and Uncle visit are high on the agenda . Anyone need a season ticket as i have no use for it at all , dont know what the hell i was thinking of .

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Is she reading this thread then Sting?!;-)

Windy, the lads quite often have Wednesday off from training. They usually travel to away games the day before the match.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Sting - what a predicament. Surely she knows what you are like (ref back to the "do" after Bobby's stag footie match or Washington) and she surely knows you aren't going to change - well, you're not, are you? So, something has to give.

I think the best is to find an alternative interest for her, plus (most of) the other good things you are already trying. A trip to N'cl will certainly help, plus either (a) a limo to the Metro Centre on a match-day afternoon while you are otherwise busy or (b) helth-spa or whatever in the Mal Maison, followed by a night out without the lads 'n' lasses from the BBS. Mind you, I'm not sure it would work, but at least you could say you tried!

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

I`m thinking you are going to have to find a `middle path` here Sting! Being suitable apologetic is one thing, but throwing the towel in completely is ..... well, it`s just not on! Especially if there is any sort of lifelong commitment involved. Hmm.....best stand well back folks......Sting is about to enter a minefield!!!!(;o)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Both of wer Season Tickets are in wor Lass's name. So I have the opposite problem. Garden Centres, B and Q, putting up shelves, putting netty seats doon.... the list is endless - but what can I do??

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Galaxy I told him to ring more than once before we got to yours....If you ask me he's a wimp who can't stand up to his lass....it's not as if there's a football match every day is there ;))))

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

No wife - no problem.

Women have tried to come between me and football in the past, with varying degrees of success.

You have to be philosophical - if you find yourself uttering the words "It's only football," then it's okay to marry her, because she'd have to be something a bit classy.
If she retorts "What do you mean, it's only football?" then you MUST marry her.

Hope this doesn't come across in a sexist light.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

My other half would love to come to the match with me but I always seem to find some excuse not to take her. I don't know why. Do I need an excuse?

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2000

Mrs Beardo fell asleep at the first match I ever took her too. Mind you, it was a mind-numbingly dull Wimbledon 0 Newcastle O affair about 3 years ago.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

I cannot see the problem in taking spouses to the match, look at it this way how many goals have you missed queuing 5 mins before half time for a pint and now there are a load of kids sitting around you, you have to curb your swearing anyway. The downside is they know what time the game finishes so strolling in at 11pm on a Saturday blaming extra time will not wash.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

I was surprised at the recent Cov match when my girlfriend questioned where Helder was! She had seen him play against Villa when he had a storming game.

She will not listen to the football phone ins after the match though, no way, music on or its grump time!

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

DeBuilder - do you take your girlfriend along to any post-match festivities too?(:o)

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

It was the walking in on Sunday morning blaming the trains and police escort that got me in bother ; - )

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Oops! So neither of those excuses worked then!(;o)

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

I have a cunning plan around spouse trouble re post match festivities. Go to the match with the husband of one of her friends. Doesn't need to necessarily support Newcastle, but needs to be footy mad with a long suffering wife. Any wingeing by your own wife would then seem churlish. Well, worked for me anyway..once...almost...well would have done for sure had I not forgotten my keys and had to wake her up at some unearthly hour, somewhat worse for wear.

Yours,

Baldrick

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

The problem with my plan is that the husband/friend in this scenario is GAV , the rest as they say is history ; - ))

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

So are you saying you haven`t managed to repair the situation at all yet Sting?(:o)

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Made it wose man , take the foot off the gas is the next tactic . I could be going to SJP on saturday yet

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Carry on Sting, if you yield now it'll be one slippery slope down the the pit whereby you only see the lads on Sky on a Sunday afternoon. Get up to the toon!

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Thats how all this started man , by a certain gentlemen convincing me a trip to New Milton would be good for the soul .. mind you saying that why change a lifetime of habit , it takes two to tango etc ... Ill prolly be there if there has been no talks at the planned peace summit . The leader of the opposition currently will not agree to some mutual territory for initial talks . Expensive restaraunt is the angle we're heading towards here away from the prying eyes of the media .

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Oh the joys of having a lass who knows the off side rule, wants to go to matches, can drink and enjoy post match festivities and drags me off trains to New Milton :-)

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Exactly she knew what she was doing !

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Sting - if things aren't looking too good by Saturday, I suggest we convene a meeting of The War Cabinet. I'm sure we can find a suitable location. Have you thought of diversionary tactics?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Sting, I suggest getting away from it for a little while....leave her to contemplate the error of her ways whilst you take a short break to Newcastle this weekend ;))

Hahahaha....sorry man, it's not funny and I hope you aren't in as much trouble as you're making out....still it needs to be sorted now rather than later.....

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Cheers lads , the sort it now / leave it later advice Gav is really top drawer mate ; -)) Believe me it is that bad , and as usual as women always do , every little thing ive done wrong in the past 6 months ( make that 6 years ) has been chunked into the pot and stirred round , and hey presto your own magical TOTAL INCONSIDERATE B@ST@RD , ahh happy days : - ( .

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

I can imagine this looks hilarious from the o/s , id be killing meself . Never floundered so much in me life : - ))

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Oh dear Sting - it does sound serious.(:o| Could you fake having the `flu or something - you know, go for the sympathy vote! On second thoughts - don`t take my advice...... I suggested the trains running out of fuel, and the riot police! How about I send you a little thank you note, from a white haired old lady in New Milton. You know the sort of thing...... `How nice of you to take the time to come and take tea with me. It just isn`t true what they say about the youth of to-day! You must visit me again, just as soon as I`m up to it`......No? Hmm! Sounds like a bit of a tough cookie to crack, this girlie of yours! (:o|

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Sting, you need to show her that you'll make sacrifices for her. That's she's more important than some silly old football team. Pick a game that you know you wouldn't mind missing anyway. Build it up out of all proportion (she's not into footie hopefully) as the most vital fixture of the decade, then tell her that you'll skip it...just for her. On second thoughts, if she's that stupid you wouldn't be bothered either way ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Nahh d'you think i haven't thought of all that .. ive just had the bugger of all e mails ... her words .. ' the sacrifice that you'd have to make for all this to be ok is just way away from what you would be able to give up not just now but for the rest of your life ' .... i have a feeling i know what that means and its a bit of a pearler eh ?! Hmmm now im well and truly f'd ;- )) Fancy a few jars tonight anyone ?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

OOOOh Nasty - and I thought I was cruel taking Bentley to the vets tomorrow to have his wobbly bits removed! As a woman, my interpretation of this behaviour is that your good lady intends to make you sweat it out for a while! Hang in their Sting, I`m sure she loves you really - it would be bothering her so much otherwise.(:o|

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

See my problem on Sunday morning (that's in daylight) is that she was nice as pie. Any time now I'm expecting something...probably when I mention taking half day off for Leyton O away and meeting up with the other buggers from Saturday.
I normally just forget about it, why can't she?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000