Major transfer story - more than a rumour

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The Strawberry Clique, the oldest (well it's members are) and finest (?????) of the BBS cliques, whose members are variously responsible for publishing The Corinthian league, Robert's weekly translation, The Training Ground Reports, Reserve Reports, Stars in their cars feature, in depth assessments of our treatment of tendonitis and Shearer's "deranged knee", plus attempting to start every single match thread whether there's one already there or not (sorry about that bit) plus numbering amongst it's membership no fewer thsn four of the "old contemptibles" who witnessed the Fairs Cup Victory in 1969, one of whom, all these years later is now the ace pilot of the Stealth Astra which has landed so many Geordies in enemy territory over the past season, this fine and august clique is contemplating the unthinkable - a move from it's spiritual home of The Strawberry.

When Jonno(104), the clique's founding father started returning to Geordieland and began watching the Toon again, he felt he had found Paradise on discovering that the pub right outside St James Park served Old Peculier. "Let me die here" he said after becoming over excited and downing 6 pints of the stuff before the match. Jonno has long been of the opinion that Old Peculier was withdrawn from service around the time of the arrival of TSM, a darker omen could not have been afforded us.

But the talk is that this wonderful establishment no longer ideally suits our purpose. Gone is The Old Peculier for reasons we know not, but worse, the after match atmosphere is being ruined by loud music and an inabilty to hear each other speak as we expound our wisdom on the match we have just seen and the talk of flat back fours, holding midfielders, the benefits of lucky pairs of socks, or my attempts to chat to The Belgian Lass are drowned out by the jukebox blaring away.

So what is it to be my fellow cliquettes, do we move on from this hallowed institution or do we tough it out there and demand a change from the management? Having given the matter some thought my own reaction is to stick with the Strawberry for the pre-match bevvy but perhaps a change is necessary after the game. Fitzgeralds was good, and we were able to chat, with the music a background feature. Perhaps we should try a few places out and some reconnaisance missions could be mounted during the summer to check out the ambience of suitable watering holes. Anyone volunteering for such missions will obviously be mentioned in dispatches. Fitzgeralds seems to have the added advantage that the likes of Screacher and Pit Bill could earn a little extra pin money by turning up dressed as firemen - it would certainly clear a space for us at the bar anyway....



-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Answers

Alternative Pub?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

I wouldn't mind a change of venue for post match. It is so difficult to get into the Strawbeery and to get to the bar once in, particularly for the short and klutzy such as myself. ;-)

Prematch is ok, though. And proximity to the ground is rather convenient. I'll trust the good judgement of the Toon recon squad.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002


Do you win a prize for 6 lines of text and no full stops? :-)

The complaint that you can't hear each other talk 'cos of the loud music is a sure sign of decrepitness (is that a word?). I hear Trent House is deathly quiet suitable for your needs these days ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


I nominate the pub behind the civic centre the one with the outside heaters in the beer garden, its got loads of space and you can have music inside and non outside. I can never get into the strawberry its too packed hence ive only ever met a few of you Jonno, Steph , Rik and mrs rik and a couple of others...

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Well I certainly won't defend myself against a charge of decrepitness. I've just taken my morning medication and am feeling far too fragile to enter into an argument on that one. :-)

As for not being able to hear others speak amidst loud music, well if that is a sympton of decrepitness, then I'm afraid I have been decrepit since I was 16 or so!

I don't see the point, having just bawled my lungs out for the lads for the preceding 90 minutes, of having to scream at Screacher "THAT WAS A FANTASTIC BALL FROM ROBERT!" to which he replies "VERY KIND OF YOU JONNO I'LL HAVE A JOHN SMITH'S THANKS". :-)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


..... don't worry Jonno - he gives that same reply to any observation, salutation or greeting!

;o{)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


I'd rather stick with the Strawbeery as it's one of the few pubs that does decent cider! The service is no worse than most busy places and a lot better than some. Also folk know where to find us!

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

I'm all for moving. Too many folk in there before the match now with less room due to that bottle-bar. The prices are too high, the air vents are usually off, the lavs are a disgrace and we have too many people to conduct any sort of conversation until it thins out which is when they whack the volume up. Tough break: it was great when Bev and Janis and the rest were there but not much cop now (despite the land lady being so aesthetically pleasing). Let's find somewhere less smoky and with more room, eh?

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Seconded Softie, though I'm the first to admit I'm only a casual visitor - I hope that will change next season - as long as I can find a job in the North East, which is quite a challenge.

As I said on another thread I'm quite a fan of the Leazes on Barrack Road, but that's mainly 'cos compared to the Strawberry it's brilliant, and I can park there. Anywhere that we can have a decent conversation and maybe watch the Sky preview will do for me.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


>>"I don't see the point, having just bawled my lungs out for the lads for the preceding 90 minutes, of having to scream at Screacher "THAT WAS A FANTASTIC BALL FROM ROBERT!" to which he replies "VERY KIND OF YOU JONNO I'LL HAVE A JOHN SMITH'S THANKS". :-)

So it's really a cunning plan to get out of buying your round?! ;-)

Actually, I've started to succomb to the desire for a chair and table whenever I go to the pub. Any room on the mobility bus, Jonno?

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002



We could demonstrate to the world the workings of English democracy (ie compromise at any cost) by staying with the Strawberry before, and somewhere else after.

Even at it's busiest, Fitzgerald's is never anywhere near as painful as the Strawberry.

It ended up as Fitzgerald's only because it was the first one Clarky and I came to that we knew about, that wasn't stowed off.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


Availability of chairs or stools is a wonderful thing! :-)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

As an infrequent visitor, the Strawberry is perfect for pre-game drinkies. No changes required for travel plans, easy to find folk there, part of the match experience in fact.

The fact that it's a smoky doss-house has nowt to do with it!

Obviously the regulars have to put up with it every other week so they must decide. However, even if you change the after-game venue, I'd like to raise my hand in favour of the Strawb. for the 'warm-ups'.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


I could live with an arrangement along those lines, and it doesn't have to be Fitzgeralds for the afters, no matter how absolutely perfectly it fills the bill. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

I've been drinking in the Forth Bridge, Pink Lane, pre-match. Good Toon crowd, but no bouncers, and getting served no problem. Plus seats, and Workie Ticket. Background music, but not too loud.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002


The sheer logistics of the situation give The Strawberry a massive advantage. Unless you live in the environs of Barrack Road and have a seat in The Leazes End, then you are almost certain to be coming past The Strawberry on your way to the match. You can arrive late and still meet the clique as there is no need to leave the pub till about 15 mins before kick off. So in the interests of meeting as many of the ex pats and out of Toonies on their less frequent visits, The Strawberry is surely the place for the prematch pint. As regards "afters" this could be a moving feast with a choice being made before the game and we all congregate there as arranged, or we might find a place we like and want to stay at.

So assuming I'm still there next season, I cast my vote for remaining at The Strawberry for the prematch drinks and am open about the post mortem venue. I'm all for the Status Quo (I can remember their first single you know) which I'm sure is what you would expect of the revolutionary Jonno.



-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

You will keep me informed, that`s a request.

-- Anonymous, May 04, 2002

Buff - are you "back", or what?

-- Anonymous, May 04, 2002

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