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

Answers

>>> there's more than a big belly and a bottle of broon there after all!!

So you have never met Softie anc Clarky then Jacko, eh?

I agree with your sentiments. This BBS (and it's predecessor on the good old HMS Communicata) are different from any other "footie forum" I have come across or ever heard of. The format isn't as sexy as many others, but we all still love it. Why? Because of the reasons you have mentioned - it's more than just a slagging forum for so called "fans" (who I suspect are actually spotty faced, foul-mouthed pre-pubecents) on the other boards again, LR excepted - and I have met him!

Oh, one final thing. PLease don't mention YBR and stroke in the same sentence. It makes Gav go all wobbly!

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2000

This bbs is like one of those brilliant holiday places that hardly anybody knows about and I'd be inclined to keep it like that, cos I'd hate it to end up like a 'latest fashionable holiday destination' where we'd get the equivalent of the 'all day full English'.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

Excellent stuff Jacko! I love football, but I am just as enthralled with the non-footie content. Clarky`s piece was a cut above though - stunning stuff! And if Softies replies were to the standard of some of his postings, I can quite see why they would have been so valuable to your students! Keep up the good work folks!(:o)

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

"Normal fans" Jacko?...ya mean normal fans of the same team!!!!!!!1

What team is it this week?

:-)

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

Hey, screacher we're not all artic clever blokes like wot you are, Some of us are actually spotty faced, foul-mouthed pre-pubecents and proud of it. It takes all kinds to make a bbs like this and I think that other than a token maKem, It's got the lot.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

oops thick Rik left the Italics on.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

Don't anybody forget that it takes a good teacher to ask the questions and an enthusiastic one to get the information across in an inspiring way. AS the advert says: everybody remembers a good teacher.

Incidentally, before I get hunted down as a fascist, I was born and bred in England and my family moved to South Africa when I was seven.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

"AS the advert says: everybody remembers a good teacher." Except LR that is, who's never been to school in his life. ;-)

Sorry I got that bit wrong about your birthplace Softie - it was 12 months ago remember! How's the little 'un by the way?

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

He's wonderful Jacko. He's added chuckling to his repetoire now; I simply don't understand how someone who does so little can be so utterly enthralling (mind you, people said that when Mrs Softie fell in love with me ;-))

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2000

B@gger,

I thought this thread was about me!!

Very good points Jacko, why can't we edumacated sorts follow football as well? I suppose it does not make great headlines does it?

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2000