This board is an absolute wonder of the modern world. Not only do we solve all of YBR's problems at a stroke, we also are party to some of the most stimulating non footie discussions I've ever read on the net (this probably means I lead a sheltered life but there you go!)

You may remember Clarky's wonderful piece about his visit to the First World War battlefields. I gave his essay to my Year 10 GCSE historians to read for homework this week. The response was astonishing - I've now been talked into trying to arrange a visit for them all next Easter! They were really enthused by what they'd read.

Twelve months ago it emerged during one of our many discussions that Softie was born and spent his early years in South Africa. As we do the struggle against apartheid as our GCSE courswork topic I got some of my little dears to send him a number of questions to which he very kindly responded in great and fascinating detail. You may be interested to know at this point that their coursework marks were brilliant and 6 out of 25 students got grade A* - unheard of before!

Now why don't those clever tabloid journalist who think football supporters are just a bunch of moronic air heads get themselves on here and see the way ordinary fans talk to each other (LR excepted!).

Many thanks to Clarky and Softie. Not only have they made my job easier, they have also done an immense amount of good in this little corner of the Midlands to raise the profile of the Geordie footie fan - there's more than a big belly and a bottle of broon there after all!!

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2000