I arrived at the Riverside early but not early enough to catch Alan Shearer who was in before everybody. Next was Bobby Robson, happy to stop for a cuddle and a photo. Warren Barton’s stalker arrived. She keeps turning up and asking him for items of clothing! This time she wanted a pair of shorts. Preferably with him still in them or else round his ankles! ;-)

I spoke to Kevin Gallacher saying I was sorry to see him go and wishing him good luck for the future. I congratulated Steve Caldwell on his Scotland cap – he’s another really nice lad. Nobby was driven in with the triallist Martin Hidalgo in the back. I went to take a photo of Steve Harper: “another one – you must have a house full!”. Wayne Quinn drove round to the other gate, found it was shut and had to come back again – trying to avoid me? what have the others told him?? Spoke to Andy O’Brien who thinks it’s great up here. Dabizas and LuaLua were late and drove straight in without stopping.

I walked over to the training ground arriving at the same time as the keepers. Bobby came out and was watching them closely – maybe thinking of giving Harper a go tomorrow? I spotted some dubious characters lurking by the fence – press? spies? agents? No, it turned out to be those well known reprobates Screacher, Jonno and Softie! The academy were training on the far pitch with Peter Beardsley – good to have him back at the Toon.

The team came out and jogged over to the far pitch for some stretching and warming up. They came back and started kicking the ball around. There was a definite yell of “Screacher!” from the pitch but no idea who it was. The lads started one-touch passing around the pitch while Jonno was fielding the balls that came over the fence. They split into teams for the practice game, including the Peruvian triallist who seemed to be playing on the left wing. Glass was switching from wide to the middle throughout the game. Dabizas disappeared, apparently he had picked up a knock and it was hopefully just a precaution. They weren’t playing as well as on Tuesday, perhaps they need good opposition to raise their game. Bobby had a go at Shola who he felt wasn’t making enough effort – “are you going to play like that tomorrow?”.

After the game they went into a complicated routine which involved passing wide to a player on the touchline and then back. I wasn’t quite sure what they were doing and neither were a lot of the players! They has just got the hang of it when it was time to finish. Had a chat with the security guy to try and get a bit of inside info. He reckons there has been talk about Nicky Barmby – hmm! Also training will be held somewhere else next season, they don’t yet know where.

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Answers

Thanks again Steph. New training facilities - Croft Park?

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

...... either Tynemouth Long Sands or Leazes Park would be my guesses.

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Great Steph! Cant you go out to the training ground every day? =)

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001