The usual Riverside weather, cold, grey and drizzly. Kevin Gallacher was first to arrive and waited patiently while I got the camera to work! Next, Rob Lee and Alan Shearer. “How’s the knee Alan?” “It’s OK, getting there slowly”. “Well don’t come back too soon we’ll need you next season; there’s not much left of this one.” “We’ll have to see about that.”

The next arrival was completely unexpected but it was lovely to see Peter Beardsley again. A number of players drove straight in, the problem is that by the time you recognise them they’ve gone past! Warren Barton stopped (he always does) and Steve Harper. I asked Kieron Dyer about his leg. He said it was OK and he was doing some swimming. Cristian Bassedas stopped. He’s such a nice guy, it’s a shame he isn’t doing so well on the pitch. I told Carl Cort it was good to see him back scoring goals and I liked his new hairstyle. Nobby was driven in in a car with foreign number plates but waved on the way in.

Over to the training pitches where the keepers were already practising. The juniors were having a game on the far pitch. The rest of the first team came out including Shearer and Dyer. They didn’t come onto the pitch but stood chatting to Rob Lee, then went back inside while the rest went for a jog down to the end of the playing field. They then started stretching and warming up out on the playing field – apparently this is to save wear on the pitches which are in poor condition after all the rain. Bobby was having a rare day off so Mick Wadsworth was running training. The first team came back onto the pitch and started passing practice – bring the ball out from your own goal area, pass it, just one or two touches, use the full width of the pitch, pass to the forwards and shoot. A lot of good movement, but the finishing needs more work. All the first team seemed to be there apart from Shearer and LKD. My first sight of Andy O’Brien who looked OK, tall and skinny with dark hair.

They split into teams for a practice game, using what they had been working on. This lasted for about 10-15 minutes, then they stopped and went across for some fitness work, running in short bursts, stopping, changing direction etc. Back onto the pitch, a couple of players swapped sides and another practice game with a few nice goals being scored. Back to the fitness work then another game. They did this for a third time then went into the stretching and warming down before lining up for some shooting practice. A much longer session than usual. Whether this is because they haven’t played for so long or Wadsworth decided they needed the practice I have no idea. Just hope it pays off at the weekend.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001

Answers

What - no new injuries to report?

Great report (as usual) Steph. They'll be taking you on the backroom staff soon ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001

Great report Steph - I nearly came down today but it was too damned cold.

I was wondering, is YKD walking OK? Without any aids?

I read that YBR was at the Ipswich v Liverpool game the other night and is staying at home until Saturday.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001

Were NObby's foreign plates from Spain or Italy? ;-)

Thanks for braving the elements for another great report, Steph!

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001

Much appreciated Steph. Thanks again

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

Respect due for trying to get the message through Shearer's thick head. To no avail, by the sound of it.:@)

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

Thanks folks!

Clarky, LKD was on the far side of the pitch so I couldn't see if he was limping, but he definitely didn't have crutches.

Dan, I did my best. Not sure if his reply referred to when he would be back or whether or not the season was over!

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001