Wednesday 21 September 2016

One Day Cup Surrey V Warwickshire Lords 17th September 2016


I miscalculated what the weather was going to be like on Saturday morning deciding against the blazer, grey fleece and waterproof for the suit and waterproof which proved inadequate against a nasty biting wind coming face on when sitting at Lords. I had a good start making my way to get to Victoria station by 8 to the Wetherspoons not appreciating there is another in the street across from the bus stops at the side, to be explored on another visit to see if the prices are any less. The charge for coffee is £1.99 and breakfast something like £4.50/53/57. I had a good bench seat inside and did not have to wait long for the food to be cooked which I enjoyed and three cups of the coffee which was also hottish. Bought a travel card at £8 compared 2 X 4.05 for separate singles to London stations avoiding queuing when back at Victoria after the game).

Had to wait a while for the 82 bus looked as if I had just missed on but by the side entrance from which I spotted the second Wetherspoons across the way. Because of the one-way system the bus takes a different route from Oxford Street and I alighted at the entrance to the park the stop before the usual where are some shops on the way, not needed this time but worth noting for the future and then walked along to the entrance which leads directly to the Mound Stand when I was immediately to discovered the cold wind and also that I had not got the seats  from last year having reversed the tow and seat number to I was still at the aisle  but the second row from the walkway and  the other side of the aisle. Had a good  chat with someone support Surrey sitting a few rows behind and then solitary individual sitting next seat who appears out posted Surrey supporter but thrilled to be at Lords seemed first time and a casual supporter as still working in management mentioned job  not disclosed  here.

Surrey won the toss and elected to bat which was unusual and where decision appeared to have been taken because it was an old wicket which had been glued and was not expected to last the 100 overs in the day. Surrey started very well with Ray and Davies who is going to Somerset to keep wicket as Surrey now have several who can do this role. With the run rate at over 7 I predicted a score   closer to 350 than 300 but the reality proved so different with Surrey all out 136 in 40 overs.  Sangakkara looked  set as he was playing anchor role when out seven wickets then fell for 30 runs with no one staying with Burns who made a creditable 40 but 4 of the last 7 made 0, one 4 one 7 and the other Sam Curran who did the damage at the Riverside 13.  I had a poor coffee at the interval and made the decision that unless 5 wickets were down when Warwickshire reached100 I would leave. 
The problem was he required run rate and with Bell and Trott in the side quick wickets were unlikely. The runs required were gained in 30 overs thus we were short changed 30 overs of cricket in the day but the Warwickshire supporters did not care about that.  Trott made an unbeaten 82 and I left when the s core was 100 for 2.

Did not have to wait long for the bus which stopped in the bus station by Victoria station. Train back to East Croydon became very crowded people standing and entrances   exits  blocked. Was  very  happy to reach the warmth of the room with  no inclination  to go out for   meal and anything else  so settled on picnic in and TV.

Sunday 8 December 2013

Newcastle win at Old Trafford England Cricket humiliated again December 2013

Having gone to bed at midnight and woken alert and raring to write at 5am I did so for five hours and then returned to bed for another two setting the alarm just before midday, coming down stairs to cook my first plate of battered and bread crumbed sprats since last summer hoping it would be part of a celebratory visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford after their disastrous visit to Swansea on Wednesday when the stayed back and allowed the home side to take control of the game.

Manchester United manager having lost against West Bromwich Albion at home midweek and below Newcastle were under greater pressure especially as Wayne Rooney is suspended and Van Persie playing but in first game from injury far from match fitness. David Moyes with all the riches of players still available has rung the changes match after match to find a team able and willing play his style of football match after match, and this time there were seven changes from the mid week defeat.

Alan Pardew awarded manager of the Month along with Goal keeper Krull as Player of the month decided to stick his team apart from change with one forward Remy and a strong midfield with Tiotte very impressive but all three taking early command. The approach was hold the ball and to contain home side who lacked confidence and everyone in the stadium apart from Newcastle fans who could be heard above the silent tension. There was only an occasion confident urging from the home side fans and it was Newcastle who looked more likely to get the ball into the net. Newcastle had a bit of luck as a defender failed to clear the ball heading it on to a Newcastle player on the wing to regained control and passed to Debuchy who hit a strong ball into one corner and despite a little deflection which only took pace off the ball the keeper was beaten into his right hand corner.

Man U did get the ball into the net but the female linesman was spot on to rule offside and there was an arm away on the goal line which some referees might have given a penalty if they had seen. Pardew instead of being defensive as Man U attempted to come into the game and had several good raids on the goalmouth, brought on Ben Arfa to threaten but also to keep the ball. The most pleasing aspect which he identified t the end of the match is that the plan worked better than anticipated and he now has two potential match wining plans home or away which poses even great problems for the other teams in term of the which side do they bring on to start a game if the squad opposite can play one of two different but equally effective ways.

While as the first game of the weekend the table at the top could change, if Sunderland who play Spurs at home can won or draw Newcastle will stay in 6th place on 25 points as below them are Southampton losing to Man City 1 but claimed a point and Stoke also came back to beat Chelsea so while Arsenal are striding ahead on their own the gap between Newcastle and other side at the top closes and the gap below them widens. Alas Sunderland lost a good contested game through silly avoidable mistakes

Newcastle play Southampton next Saturday and I have purchased a premium ticket by an aisle close to the centre circle in the main stand at £39 to be there whatever the weather. They are then away to Palace and home to Stoke when i am away and home to Arsenal just before the New Year which should be a cracking game and where I have also purchased the same seat for slightly more money even though the game is on Sky TV. By then I shall know if the good feeling about this season is justified similar to that which quickly developed about Durham where they went on to win th County Champions for the third time in six years against the odds and where all the commentators had declared they were a relegation bet

England had another humiliating bad day not making 200 runs and Australia batted on creating a huge lead with two days to go and the game likely to end tomorrow. Cook England captains has lost his head and clearly has gone to pieces out for 1 starting what looked to be another humiliating collapse. However Root and Pietersen held firm for a time and at close England were 267 for six with one day and 280 runs to avoid defeat. Only persistent rain will save them, and the Ashes, as England has not won at the next Test ground for decades

Thursday 5 December 2013

Sporting reviews early December 2013

As Winter deepens with the promise of severe and prolonged cold with snow I was delighted to receive the County fixtures for 2014 although this only added to my uncertainty about my priorities for next year. I had already decided on a balance between the cricket and wanting to celebrate my 75th birthday throughout the year rather than have one a big celebration and family get together.

I have already arranged to make my first visit to the Royal Opera House in January, I am not proceedings with the plan to an Oval Test day to mark the occasion in 1948 when an older first cousin took me to watch Don Bradman play his last Test in England, second ball which was a great disappointment for the thousands who had queued from early morning and sat jam packed a dozen deep on the grass to the boundary rope.

As i have also written I have not enjoyed most of my visits to Surrey until last year when Durham won at the Oval for the first time in the County Championship and I came away feeling the County were going to have a good season which quickly became a great one winning the County Championship for the third season in six. With no championship visit to Surrey next season as they have been relegated I applied for Test Tickets and was successful with the offer of up to four which had to be take before Monday and then changed my mind.

I have booked for Durham at Nottingham including accommodation although I shall miss the first day attending the one day International at Emirates Riverside on the Sunday and I left open staying until the 20 20 game on Friday. There are more games 20 20 competition from 10 to 14 games and then the quarter finals and finals day a possible 16 games in the competition, however the new 50 over game appears to have been reduced from 12 games plus semi final and final to 7 single games home or away pus a quarter, semi and final and maximum of 10 instead of 14 making the potential total of cricket days the same as this season.

I will be surprised if Durham fares as well and anticipate that the competition will become greater with uncertainty about who will be relegated continuing until the of the season and with more teams than usual potentially involved. With so many younger players in the squad I also anticipate Durham making a major effort to win a one day competition or at least reach the final so I will make a decision whether to book for the two finals at lords and Edgbaston soon after the New Year commences. I will leave open still a visit to Hove for Cricket although I will go back to South coast during the year possibly Worthing rather than Brighton if I could be assured of the front view. I also leave open the Lords County Championship visit and also wait to see what trips are organised by the Travel Club

I have submitted application for Wimbledon Tickets and this year I will go even if the tickets are for the Mens Finals day number 1 court as I do not anticipate Andy Murray making the final and I have another cousin who played good level tennis also celebrating her 75th birthday so I will go.

I would like to make one more visit to Gibraltar and also one visit to th homeland of my father, Malta as long as I can resist the temptation to try and seek out relative descendents.

The sporting highlight for me of the past couple of weeks has not been the continuing success of Newcastle in the premier division but the Froch Groves fight which I listened on the radio in bed and only saw the TV recording at the weekend. According to the radio broadcast Groves started exceptionally well and had Froch on the floor early on who was said to look groggy and this was borne out by the TV as was the Froch boast that he was too strong to be knocked out and indeed he did come back as the fight progressed but both listening and on screen it was evident he was never in control and Groves was a constant threat and appeared to have amassed the points to make it unlikely Froch would win on points and needed a knock out. The controversy was when he appeared to have got his man and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight with Groves groggy but on his feet. Froch argued the referee had made the right decision as he would have had a free and dangerous hit while Groves and the commentators posed the question that the referee should have allowed the fight to continue at least to a knock down if this was to b the situation. On seeing rather than listening I believe the referee the right decision. Groves became overconfident It was a great great and memorable fight if both men want to do it again I for one might pay the premium price to watch live.

I found the time to create my first events dairy for 1022 an concentrated on football as well as the cricket and the live relays notified until next autumn so far. I am staying away from Sunderland although may go to the League Cup quarterfinal if it is not on TV although the weather is likely to be the deciding factor. Membership of Newcastle has been renewed belatedly too late for my first visit this season for the visit of Norwich previously reported and where I had managed to secure the best viewing seat over the past forty years.

Membership costs £30 but includes a savings card Impari would have costs £30 and provides a 25% discount for the Magpie dining room for Sunday lunch where I had partaken, albeit some ten to twenty years distant on several occasions, but it will be good to return at least once more, I watched the latest game against West Brom on Saturday evening on Sky TV at home which they won 2.1 and for a time were a heady 5th in the table. The game was marked by two great goals the first from the visitors to equalise and the Sissoko‘s sizzler which reminded of his fabulous entrance from France last season. While Remy up front 8 goals, Buffron 5 and Ben Arfa 2 with the latter in bench for the recent games, Shola Ameobi has performed well as the target man and shown some good touches and lay offs.

Even after the rest of the top teams played on Sunday Newcastle are 6th the best spot since the end of the 2012 season and only a point behind Everton on 24 and 2 being Man City in third.

When I discovered that their game away to Swansea was showing tonight on BT TV and away to Man U on Saturday lunchtime time I booked my subscription and was impressed that I was on line before the Crystal Palace game against West Ham which they won 1.0 before their new manager at Selhurst Park where I first went with the family at Christmas and then on my own as a young man through to my teens and leaving home for good in the early 1960’s. I have back over the years to watch Sunderland and Newcastle with the away supporters taking over most of the ground and witnessed he changes to ground over the decades as well as the club’s Kevin Kegan era under Fedora wearing Malcolm Allinson. I also found that the Sunderland home game on Saturday evening is on SKY and who play Chelsea is also at home tonight and found themselves back at the bottom of the table the Crystal Palace win.

I have nothing about the humiliating defeat of England in the first Test in Aussiland and where the second commences. The new Impari card also includes an offer in relation to Gateshead Thunder the only professional Rugby League club in he North east which has just about recovered from the decision of the former club to merge with the Hull Sharks followed by several attempts to ain he sport at this level floundering because. The first game next season on my birthday. The standard OAP ticket is £5. The Impari card offer £5 off although I assume this is h standard ticket at £10. Now for the game

Alas Newcastle lost 3.0 at Swansea and Sunderland 3. Chelsea 4 in a great game which I listened to on headphone watching the Newcastle game on BT TV in silence.



 

 

 

 

Monday 11 November 2013

November 2013 Newcastle and Sunderland win back to back gamesTV aganst the odds.

Yesterday was a remarkable day for the two North East Football clubs with their matches, Newcastle away to Spurs shown at 12 and then Sunderland at home to Champions of two years ago Manchester City at 2pm. I was not aware that SKY was showing these two games back to back as well as the Manchester United versus Arsenal game, Last years, champions but struggling against current in form Premiership leaders Arsenal, in what looked a must win game for David Moyes with Alex Ferguson watching on in the stands.



Not realising that all three games were being televised I assume the 11.30 Sky start meant the match commenced at 12.30 and switched on to find that Newcastle had a 1.0 lead with a goal by Remy after a significant pass from Gouffran as play maker with Ben Arfa left on the bench likely to give away the ball in the wrong place and time in away games against the better teams. The main feature of the rest of the game, and I understand also a feature of the first third of the game which I missed was the goal keeping saves of Tim Krull who is said to have made 14 good to great saves although the total included one where he did not manage to hit the ball away far enough and he had to save the shot back from the opposition. In another incident his great block from close range looked as if the momentum would take it into the net but another defender scramble it away. I have watched this kind of game at Newcastle many times where the home side dominate but cannot score and usually it is the away side that sneaks a goal and then hangs on.



Newcastle had been able to relay on just three goalkeepers of proven ability over the past two and have decades which must some kind of record commencing with Northern Ireland International Shay Given supported by his team mate Steve Harper who was with the club until recently for 20 years, taking over as number 1 when Shay went to man City and staying on as reserve to Krull when he demonstrated his class.



Usually it is the goal scorers who get all the attention but rightly the day belonged to Krull although his after the match comments and bottle of champagne getting had to be viewed on Sky Sports news such was the pace of the switching between games yesterday.



The losing of the Derby game against Sunderland appears to have kick started the Newcastle season as the win took them to ninth in the table just below the rest of the big boys with only Southampton among the eight above them and with eighth the most likely position for the club at the end of the season unless one or more of the others falter. I have booked a ticket to see Newcastle play Norwich, a game on paper which they should win, in two weeks time, getting the single aisle seat available in the stand opposite e main one although not at the centre where I once had my season.



Despite the win against Newcastle at home and the win in the League Cup against Southampton no one in the wildest dream expected Sunderland to do other than lose against Man City, a team that ahs scored 14 goals in their last two games. However the omens were good in two respects. City had lost to Sunderland on their last three visits to the ground 1.0 and City had also lost two of their three defeats in the season so far when they played on the Sunday after an important game in the European Championship Cup where they are desperate to reach the knock out stages for the first time in their history..



Defender Phil Bardsly looked to me as if he pushed away a City defender but which the referee ignored and then steadied and sent a shot curling past the goalkeeper from almost the goal line on the left side to score the only goal of the game as City, much like Spurs poured on the pressure, especially throughout the second half without success.



There were also replays of an over the top tackle which should have sent a Sunderland player to the dressing room which the referee failed to see but to add much salt into the player victim who was caught leaving his foot into a Sunderland play he was given the yellow card. It was not going to be City’s day who had a chance of going third as Chelsea with 22 points alongside Southampton as Chelsea had failed to win their game at home, only getting a draw with a fake penalty dive as the game came to an end. It was one of the worst refereeing decisions of modern times and one must assume that his sight went blank for some reason as it was evident to everyone else watching that the Chelsea player had dived after pushing himself into the defender who attempted to get out of the way having seen it coming. Jose has talked about getting rid of the dive and anything less than fining his player and making a public apology to West Brom will reveal him as a hypocrite and lacking genuine sportsmanship, he is yet to find his best side in a Chelsea showing frailty at the back, as is Man City. Southampton demonstrated that they have become a very good side by beating Hull at home 4.1. Hull have had a good start in their return to the premiership.



Returning to Sunderland their win against the odds takes them off the bottom whey languished for the early season with only 1 point, they now have 7 as my boyhood club, and also looking doomed as they will appoint yet another manager later this week managed a 0.0 draw against good start of he season we can manage without you Everton. Pace now only have four points, With three clubs on 10 points and one on 11 and two on 12, Sunderland now have a fighting chance as their next game is away to Stoke and with a chance of a draw. Later Manchester United won also by the single goal from former Arsenal hero van Persie in a game which commentators said was something of anti climax although I decided I could not cope with a third game in succession and went to exercise.



 

 

Friday 11 October 2013

Durham's Champtionship win from the perspetive of a supporter.


Usually by the second week of October I am fully engaged in my ongoing contemporary artwork project, the autumn party political season and my other cultural interests with the start of the Newcastle University open lectures and concerts season, the Opera and Theatre cinema live relays as well as the start of the showing of films in theatres for Christmas and the subsequent awards season and in terms of sport having switched fully back into the latest crisis at Sunderland and Newcastle football clubs and the USA AFL.

This was to have been a quick report on Durham winning the County Championship 2013, my visit to the 40 over Final at Lords and to Hove for the last game of season against Sussex, who have also won the County Championship three times, in the last decade. Because of speculation about the future of individual players and the club generally, a new format of one day competition games for next season and various award ceremonies, I have decided to begin with the future although I still continue to bask in that warm glow of the third First division County championship within six years when Durham beat Nottinghamshire for the second time this season and with one game to spare.

Having watched Surrey win seven successive championships in my youth and having experienced the humiliating defeats of Durham at the Oval in those first seasons, I never expected the club win the championship once in my lifetime with the icing the win at Surrey I was also fortunate to witness. My concerns are about aspects of the club’s present approach should be understood in the context of having been able to watch Durham at home and away as much if not more than most other supporters throughout the past 21 years. I have seen them play at Surrey, Middlesex, Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Derby, Northants, Nottinghamshire Leicestershire, Worcester, Warwickshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire grounds and plan to visit the remaining first class counties over the next three years whether Durham is playing or not.

Despite the win I believe the team could struggle next year in the LV Championship, as happened to Sussex and Lancashire recently, unless the same spirit and application is continued and which in my judgement is dependent on the captaincy of Paul Collingwood.

(Other teams are strengthening although with the departure of Surrey back to the second Division the former big four clubs of my youth, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Surrey and Middlesex have not been together in the top division for perhaps a decade, but the other great Test playing grounds of Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire remain, leaving only newly promoted Northants and the changing fortunes Somerset as the two most likely teams to struggle in 2014, but having said this I do not anticipate Northants will perform as badly as Derby who have immediately gone back down and which suggests that Durham could struggle if they do not match this year’s consistent performances after their unpromising start this season.


I anticipate Surrey, Derby, new Test ground Hampshire and Essex will challenge for promotion with Leicestershire, Kent, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire playing for the love of the game.


My main theme is that on and off the field Durham is a team in transition.

It is extraordinary that of those first two championship winning sides only the Colonel, Graham Onions and Mark Stonman remain as certain members of the first team squad as Paul Collingwood only played 2 Championship games in that first season win and none in the second. He looked embarrassed at the photo shoot Trophy presentation at the Riverside for that first win and was overheard to say that he had been told to be present. Given his record of five wins from seven games last season since taking over as captain with the narrow loss at Arundel and the draw at the awful Aigburth ground in Liverpool, that he has followed up with ten wins this season, demonstrates the extent of his influence and the need for him to captain throughout next season and beyond if he can be persuaded.

At the moment Dale Benkenstein, who played such a vital part in both championship wins also remains in the squad but not his partner in getting over 1000 every season, the opening batsman Michael Di Venuto. Dale has returned to South Africa for a shoulder operation and recovery after his wife had returned with the children because of the reported illness of her mother. Interestingly while we were told that he was expected to be fit to play at the start of next season, the speaker did not confirm that this would be with Durham although he is said to have a year on his contract. Ian Blackwell also departed retired..

In fairness to Steve Harmison whose retirement has been announced he contributed to the previous championship wins but he has rarely appeared in any form of the game in the last three years and his brother, now with Kent, also participated. It is also ironic and that Mitch Claydon was crucial to the win at Yorkshire having been called back from his loan at Kent with a 2 year contract there from next season. Mark Davies whose injuries cost him England potential was also at Kent but again injured.

Will Smith now also has three Championship medals and one of these from when he was captain for the second win where the club remained undefeated. It was said authoritatively that he, Breeze and Muchall were told they were in competition to stay on at the club and Martin Emerson did comment that he thought Will had played his last innings at Hove although the announcement has only been made this week by the club that he has not been offered a new contract. However according to the BBC he is going to Hants to strengthen their top order

Who will replace him unless Dale Beckenstein is to return at fourth in the order Borthwick moving up to three?

It has also been confirmed that Callum Thorp has not been offered a new contract but Gordon Muchall and Gareth Breeze, players who have made important contributions to Durham over many seasons, are to continue for one or two seasons more despite being told at the Forum that both were taking jobs in cricket in the Durham area although a source did tell me that both were also staying on to participate in the one day competitions when needed.

Liam Plunkett appears to have established himself at Yorkshire playing regularly for the first team something he was not doing in recent seasons at Durham.

Some indication of the way the club is planning and thinking was revealed in the belated interview of the Chief Executive broadcast on Five Live Extra on the second day of the game against Notts. Because Five Live were covering the game. The Chief Executive was supposed to be interviewed at lunchtime on the first day and where he did not appear he was looked for but no explanation was subsequently given and was followed with what I assumed was a recorded in advance interview on the second day.

The Chief Executive explained that his role had changed to that of Group Chief Executive with the appointment of Richard Dowson as Chief Operating Manger. The Chief Executive had taken up the opportunity of buying into a business which interested him and led to his changed role at the Club. I hope I have understood this accurately. I also hope this will work although given the challenges ahead there is need for a strong individual with financial acumen to keep the club soundly based and progressing as the world of International and Domestic cricket attempts to make rapid progress in terms of widening involvements and matching commercial success.

Certainly Durham as a club got off to a very bad start what is now last season with the fiasco of dividing the members lounge creating a doorway which was dangerous in terms of health and safety and then cramming the main area with tables which prevented those with disabilities, especially in wheel chairs from gaining access. The next attempt was to provide a waiter sit down service at 1pm which angered those used to eating around noon. I advised the Front of House manager about the health and safety risk and the threat of legal action by Disabled members and the extra tables and partition was immediately removed. I did not object to the wipe clean green table cloths but some seasoned members did and these were also changed.

The next interesting development at the club appears to be wanting to change its relationship with ordinary members and our facilities, banishing us twice to the first floor facility and balcony of the new extension to the pavilion with the bribe of free coffee although this was limited to one hour on the second occasion when the club provided space for a dinner for the Bunbury’s who were playing at Durham, University Racecourse ground. This was great PR for the club but again angered some seasoned members. In the other instance there was a school Prom. Why in both instances this could not have organised when the team was playing away is surprising! I missed the opportunity to have a full explore of the upper level of the new extension but assuming I will not win the Euro lottery to pay for a new Members Pavilion such as Lords, the Oval or Nottingham and the club do not proceed with their plan for the development of the Lumley end there is a case for turning the new extension fully over to members and converting the present member’s lounge and dining area into a conference and event facility for private hire.

The ground floor of the extension would become the dinning room for breakfasts, lunches and sit down tea with the bar opened only at lunch times. The first floor facility would be the all day bar, sandwiches, snacks and for eat in with viewing facilities for the disabled behind glass. I assume there is a facility at the top behind the seating which could also be used for eat in. There would then be two levels of balcony viewing for members increasing the number of seats available as well as providing overhead cover as of now with though first level.

The main statement by the Chief Executive which interested was his reference to the continuity achieved by the so called Liverpool boot room and this brings me to the future position of Cricket Coach Geoff Cooke who suffered a heart attack during the season. Geoff has been the backbone of the club throughout its existence and unless he had been medically recommended to immediately step down I hope he will continue in his present role for at least another season, if only to see how he goes.

Acting Chief coach Jonathan Lewis appears to have undertake the role well and leaving aside the gossip about the position of Dale Beckenstein, there is only one man who should take over the role when Geoff steps down and that is Paul Collingwood, who is said to have another year to go on his contract and in a broadcast interview he said he was willing to continue for at least another year after this but in the context of talking about the success of the younger players he said he would not be present to witness their full potential. This is worrying. I was therefore delighted to read that he had become an assistant Coach with the Scotland’s one day teams for their important Winter programme of involvement in International competitions. Understandably if Durham do not seize on his managerial coaching potential other quickly will.

The disappointment of the season has been to get close to the latter stages of the two one day games and then fall at the final hurdles. I witnessed two of these games under floodlights at Northants and Derby and while Northants were an excellent team going on to win the Final of the 20 over competition and gaining promotion to Division one, I remain convinced that defeats could in part be put down to inexperience of floodlighting conditions following the fiasco of getting the money from the ECB for the lights, building the substation and then failing to get local planning position and having to give up the opportunity to host the lucrative 20 20 Finals Day.

Before the Members Forum also held on the second day of the Notts I was reliable informed that the decision to put up permanent floodlights, which I assumed were the retractable like those at Lords, had been taken. So after justifiably praising the wonderfully passionate and cricket knowledgeable efforts of the BBC Durham’s ball by ball commentator Martin Emmerson, who chaired the Forum I asked Jonathan Lewis if the players believed that the absence of floodlighting at home had hindered performances at other grounds. I was dumbfounded by his answer which was that he was opposed in principle to use of floodlighting because of the way it altered the game, later correcting the impression by adding that given the changing format next season the issue required to be looked at. Richard Dowson referred to the extra cost of the retractable £1m to 1.75m and to decision having to be based on commercial soundness. Public attendance at home 20 20 games has not been as good as one might have expected at Durham over the past five years with the exception of the 2013, in part because 20 20 games were included in the membership plus some excellent weather. The expense of an overseas played has not been justified for this competition although again a Euro lottery win would be used to tempt Chris Gayle to come for a season to Durham! I noted with interest that although the club opened its internet audio account of the Forum with the issue of floodlighting it omitted my introduction and more significantly the opening comments of Mr Lewis. Floodlighting here we come.

Both the Chief Executive and Mr Dowson rightly spoke of the success of Ashes Test Match and the one the two 20 20 games although reading between the lines the icing would have been the income from the fifth day of the Test. Financial success was essential but this should overshadow the universal praise heaped on Durham from all sides at the arrangements provided by the Team Durham, the Club.

I have watched International cricket beginning with the Oval in 1948 and usually at least one day for the past thirty years, with the Botham‘s Test series the most memorable. I have found the increasing cost questionable given the risks of bad weather and a slow day lacking close interest and been horrified by the drunkenness and its encouragement, notably at Headingley. The Stewarding has generally been good and I have successfully parked on Street at Nottingham, Headingley and Edgbaston. and used the Trafford centre in Manchester. The food for spectators has increased in cost in disproportion to its quality.

The worst experiences however have been at the 20 20 Finals day where at the Rosebowl I was body frisked and a steward wanted to confiscate my flask of cold water which did not last long in the sun and where I was then charged £4 for a bottle of warm water. My worst complaint was against the stewarding within the ground who did nothing to prevent people walking around during play. My 20 20 experience at Edgbaston was little better with only a rough indication from stewards at the Car park of how to get to the ground and then difficulty in working out the best way given that the closest entrance was blocked by building works and which led to the couple walking with me, both long standing Warwickshire members, complementing on their experience at Durham in general and the sign posting to and from the car parks. They then found a steward at the gate they knew and complained of the local situation.

In my area opposite the wicket and main pavilion Stewards who appeared to have no idea about seat numbering allowed spectators to enter and moved continuously about throughout first semi final which meant I missed lots of play as spectators from teams not involved in the match arrived throughout the morning. I paid £6 for a burnt burger when they had run out of the advertised relish. I was not tempted to try the £10.50 Jamie Oliver burger at Lords or his special at £24, but a i did get a well filled baguette from one of the bars for £4 something which was excellent value. While the stewards in the Lord’s Pavilion have aristocratic propriety and evident contempt for Northerners, their dress and accent, (not shared by MCC members I would add) the stewarding and general approach to crowd control and management is otherwise excellent. From the perspective of such experience Durham was outstanding by a distance.

My only constant gripe is the lack of over the wicket viewing available at Durham and except for Martin Emmerson and visiting BBC commentators together with newsmen in the media centre or when occupying the middle and upper tier of the west corner of the Durham stand when the wicket is on the east side of the Square The top row of the green seats provided some behind the wicket viewing but one had the wind howling at one’s neck but the provision now of hoardings at the back of the blue seats makes a difference and these are now fought for by arriving at the ground an hour early.

The best viewing ground is Nottingham where anyone can enter the middle tier of the stand overlooking the wicket and also enjoy good meals in the restaurant bar which also does the best and cheapest cream tea. The way Surrey are using their entire Pavilion for the benefit of Members is also commendable and I was able to cause some merriment around the grounds by mentioning that one main course on daily menu is always a Surrey Stuffed Yorkshire (pudding). Derby also take top marks for their greasy spoon cafe where I saw Geoff Cooke sitting having a chat with spectator. I did not partake of the £20 special offer main dish at the Champagne and Cocktail bar headlined club serving Indian fine dining at the Days Inn adjacent to the ground and where I would guess a full meal with wine for two would come close to £200.

Everything is relative to pocket except that unlike the new stand at Headingley or the Media Centre seats at Hove there are no over wicket seats even to buy at Durham. I did tempt the eagle eyes of the stewards by sneaking into the temporary hospitality unit alongside the media centre for a couple of sessions during the county game between the Test and the One Day International and had the best sheltered viewing experience since the Riverside ground was created. Alas the opportunity was short lived although I did note a photographer breaking the security tape subsequently.

There was a more general defiance of the temporary barriers to prevent spectators from entering the West stand because the surround surface was removed to prepare for the taking down of the ten back rows to the brick pathway. The blue seat East Stand has grown in popularity especially by the hardened West Terrace spectators who stay on despite the loss of sun .I would be disappointed if as at Leeds, Headingley, Lords and on one day at the Oval parts of the ground were closed during championship games.

But putting to one side the limitations of good cricket viewing at Durham it has been a wonderfully extraordinary season. Mark Stoneman one of the few Durham players to hold all three championship winning medals along with Beckenstein, Mustard and Onions achieved 1000 championship runs in the game at Hove and so did the remarkably transformed Scott Borthwick who the Members voted their Player of Year. Scott from Sunderland continues to have few opportunities to perform his slow arm bowling at the Emirates Riverside and it was admitted that despite his scoring good runs in the lower order, putting him in at number four was an experiment. Whoever took that decision is a genius as he also achieved 1000 championship runs during the Hove game and I still remember his vital wicket taking in the second innings at the Oval.

I continue to have an open mind about young Keaton Jennings who has shown that he has application as he did in the final innings at Hove with 127 off 327 balls having stayed 428 minutes and with his departure the second innings quickly fell apart. I look forward to his second full season in 2014.

I am also delighted that Graham Onions, and who without his bowling Durham would not have won several matches was awarded at the PFA dinner but this is poor consolation for not getting a contract to go to Australia where the second eleven is regarded as part of the Performance squad full of young players making their way but also includes older men such as Nick Compton aged 30 and Panasaar. I am outraged that he has not been selected so how must he be feeling? I have only spoken to Graham once when he came over when I was sitting early one year at the boundary on my own at Long Off on a miserable weather morning with few other spectators and he exclaimed to me about the great atmosphere is his bowling. Within a matter of weeks he had been called into the England Team and his future along with Mark Davies, Liam Plunket and Steve Harmison looked golden. Just when everything was great he was injured and in fairness to the ECB his contract was maintained and after woking hard to regain his fitness he was recalled but there always appeared to be reasons why he has not been selected for the first eleven. Geoffrey Boycott who rarely praises unconditionally wanted Yorkshire to sign Graham because of his ability to bowl wicket to wicket consistently and has continued to press his corner. I hope Durham will continue to treat Graham as one of the great bowlers in the UK.

I have also had high hopes of Ben Stokes, the all rounder who has made some stunning catches this year where one at the Oval looked as if it might end his career. He has all the potential of Ian Botham with bat and ball with the major hand injury setting him back. His potential has now been recognised by Engand including him in the full Test touring side this winter. It will be Durham’s loss next season and which needs to be planned for. This is where to my mind Yorkshire reject Usman Arshad has the potential to replace him. Arshad stunned opposing teams when first brought into the side late season on by taking two wickets in two balls in a series of successive innings, was it four and at one point? and he had taken 13 wickets for 130 runs, ending with an average of under 16 for sixteen wickets. However from the outset I also thought he looked a proper batsman and at the Hove game he showed his potential to also bat like Stokes hitting 83 from 86 balls with 3 sixes and 16 fours. On championship winning day someone who looked as if they originated from the Indian sub continent standing on his own toasted the team with a glass of champagne from the walkway above the lower terrace and afterwards I regretted not asking if he was related to the young man who I foresee having a great future. Mind you I said that about young Peng when I saw him hit that brilliant first team appearance 100.

Another new arrival in the regular first team squad is wicket keeper batsman Michael Richardson . But with the Colonel demonstrating his value with that brilliant match winning innings at Norttingham his role as wicket keeper remain secondary making over 500 runs an average of over 33, not outstanding but his two centuries were a joy to witness, with that at Scarborough crucial for the win. Clearly he is considered to have done sufficient to hold the place next year as the club has brought in young Poynter from Warwickshire, a move I first heard during Five Live’s coverage of the game which relegated Derby.

My unsung bowler of the season has been Chris Rushworth, whose dad travelled by the supporters coach on the two 20 20 games I attended and who can be seen perambulating around grounds, and with his grandchild and or dog when at the Emirates Riverside. His consistent performances alongside Graham Onions have sometimes gone unmentioned because he is not always taken the wickets, the bowling justified. Durham once again have a quintet of pace bowlers with Mark Wood and Jamie Harrison who I met with his dad several seasons ago when still a school boy and dad told me about the effort being made to bring him from Cumbria to give him his chance. The unsung heroes behind many young players are the relatives who sacrifice chunks of their lives and money to give “their chance.” Jamie has a first team squad contract for next year. Both young men have had outstanding first seasons as change pace bowlers and with Mark Wood being included in the Ashes Performance squad for Australia although it is said he will not travel spending the time at home building up his strength after injury. Another addition to Durham already announced is MCC Development player Graham Clark.
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Next season the format of championship games and of the two one day competitions will change with the majority of the County Championship games commencing on Sunday

There is to be a new 50 over competition with membership of two 9 team divisions announced during the 40 over Final at Lords. Durham will play Surrey, Kent, Middlesex, Notts and Warwickshire, Glamorgan, Sussex, and Somerset so no Yorks or Lancs visits. Four of the teams will be played at home one year with the others played away, followed by quarter and semi finals so there will be four opportunities to progress in each division instead of having to win a division with only the best making the other semi final place.

At the 40 over Final I missed hearing on Five Live Extra what was said about the 20 20 competition which is to be mainly played on Friday evenings subject to what Sky TV wants. I understood from the end piece that the approach was that there would seven games at home and away but that with 9 team divisions, presumably different from those in 50 over competitions, and will includes some of the others teams such as Ireland Scotland, and Holland with only the closest teams playing at home and away and the furtherest only in alternate years. I suspect that representations made when the clubs met at Lords to discuss the proposed draft fixture list as the season together with the into from Sky is why there has been no detailed announcement about who is playing who in the competition.

Turning back to the events of that last two weeks of the season according to Martin Emmerson’s twitter and text feed there was great expectation among Yorkshire supporters that Durham would be docked more championship points to those at the beginning of the season when wickets tumbled on rhe first day. I sat next to a man who revealed his home was near Lords and when asked by another which team he supported his reply met with the quip, I expect you vote for Nick Clegg. Afterwards I wondered if the visitor was one of the ECB wicket inspectors who was reported to be at the game. Although someone said an individual was travelling up and that the decision would not be made until following morning. In the event Yorkshires hopes were dashed in every sense

The cause of the concern was the dismissal of Notts for 78 and on paper with Durham 74 for 6 the concern did appear justified but so much for the early early start at 10.15, designed to enable the game to finish early on the Friday when Notts were due to Fly to London and Lords for the 40 over final. Given their flight booking was not until mid evening the early early start did not appear justified and bad light prevented the additional overs on that first day. Onions, Harrison and Rushworth all took 3 wickets. It was Collingwood 78 with the Colonel 77 who asked what was the fuss all about and Durham ended their first innings at 256

I moved from the Lumley end Blue seats to the end of first row of the balcony on the second morning because the regulars had been held up by the same serious road accident at the junction roundabout to the ground. Surrounded by those with their ears more closely to the club I was able to gain their take on behind the scene going on although the Interview with the Chief Executive and what was not said as much as what was said at the Forum was also interesting.

Set nearly over 170 runs to avoid an innings defeat Notts did a better job second time around mainly because of an excellent innings by Mullaney 72 and swan song David Hussey, the great Notts servant batsman from Australia. but with Onions, Rushworth and Stokes ensuring that their colleagues only needed 70 odds runs to win on the third day.

The forecast was rain and more rain but the expectation was it would clear for the afternoon. The uncertainty may have been responsible for keeping some devoted Members away but I remain surprised how many of those I had seen regularly over the season did not appear to be at the ground or if they were, went before the presentation of the trophy at the end of the game.

My best memory of that day is the mind boggling rhythmic pounding that went on and on before the players let out a roar and came on the pitch to toss champagne and hold the trophy. My hope is that most of the youngsters present will want to experience that feeling time and time again as well as win a trophy or two at the Home of Cricket.

I was delighted with the three win because I was off to my birth town of Croydon on the Friday before going to the 40 Oval Final on the morrow. I took the car as I was then going down to Sunday lunching was more family and the going to Worthing for the last game of season against Sussex at Hove ( reported 2493-2495).

Restricting my comments to the cricket, have decided to support Notts at the 40 over final and selecting an aisle seat over the wicket I found myself surrounded by Welsh lads and a few lassies. I therefore hoped Glamorgan would do well especially when I saw that Notts had produced their best possible line up with England players Lumb, and stand on the line (I was standing on the terrace walkway just behind you). Hales, Taylor Swann and (only walk if you are given out Broad) with one of the PFA players of the season Patel, Mullaney, Chris Read and David Hussey making this on paper unbeatable team.

At first it looked as if Glamorgan were going to hold Notts to a gettable total but the threat of rain always presented and Notts scored quickly despite losing wickets on a regular basis, the exception was stand on the line Hales who like his one time team mate Scratcher Smith looked uncomfortable throughout the 33 balls for 18 runs compared Lumb 28 from 27 Hussey 42 from 46, Read 53 from 53, Swann not out 29 from 19 and Mullaney 21 from 12. The greatest cheer however was for never walk, just wait till you get to Australia Broad who was bowled first ball for a duck.

Glamorgan never looked they would win after Rees 29 from 36 Cooke 46 from 45 and Allenby 34 from 40 departed. In fairness Broad 3 for 27 from 7 Shahzad 3 for 33 from 6 and Patel 3 for 21 from 7 were uncompromising. It was good to see Simon Jones who 2 for 26 from 8 get the end of career ovation from everybody his contribution to the game merited.

The main activity purpose of my arranged visit to Worthing was to watch Durham play Sussex at Hove in the final match of the 2013 Championship season. It will be remembered that I had booked the trip in error when Sussex were playing at Durham and I had decided to stay home for this game, giving up the five night accommodation at the Brighton Travel lodge at £20 night and the train fare at £30 return. When I had tried to book the correct date it was the Labour Conference time with rooms at £165 a night, a problem which the Durham supporters club also encountered when they tried to book their usual accommodation in December and discovered that there were only a few rooms available and they had to go to Eastbourne some distance away involving about an hours travel each way from the hotel to the ground.

In the event the game proved something of after the Lords Mayor show although it was good to sit on a park bench again under a laden apple tree and in one of the blue stripped deck chairs close to overlooking the wicket. I was deprived of a seat above the media stand because to gain entrance you have to cough up £1000 up front payable in four instalments but you only keep the seat by paying the top membership rate of some £250. I met one seasoned Sussex Member at the top of the adjacent open stand who defiantly refused to pay the required sums to return to his favourite area while a long standing Steward confided that the uptake had not been a great one. Another active working business member proudly showed me his transferable premiership badge without photo which meant that his son would pop in later taking an early leave from his work. It was also good to see so many Durham known faces and I had a good chat with the organiser of the supporters bus who later had to agree to staying until the last ball was bowled when he and the majority of travelling fans would have preferred to have left for the long haul home when the result of the match was not in doubt after the tea break.

On my last visit to Hove before their relegation I listened to the presentation by the Chief Executive on how they intended to spend their riches from the three championship wins and it was therefore good to see how the money had been spent with the inside of the Member’s Pavilion gutted while the facade had to be kept with the new separate sit down dining room although the main meals were also available in the bar and snack lounge area. Given that Sussex is the oldest of the County cricket clubs I was pleased to view their new and growing museum to which I overheard some Members offering additional items. The idea of combining reception, box office with the shop reminds of the position at Worcestershire this time located at the back of the high new stand an where I feared for the Italian style bar restaurant when the season ended given its location away from the main street with a thousand restaurants and bars, well about a hundred if you walk from one end into Brighton.

The best and most knowledgeable company was as usual behind the wicket although the gentleman at Derby who knew the names of those who played for England when aged 40 years or more after World War II beginning with Gubby Allan and ending with Stewart of Surrey took the first prize. However the personal life of my self selected companion in the next deck chair on the last day proved of greater interest than the cricket. he was a comparatively young internal flying business man into his third wife (this time from Thailand half his age) and who arrived with a six pack two of which I covered from sun while he went off for a pub lunch) and where later we had something of a heated discussion as I tried to convince that the English women’s football team were better organised and skilled than their male counterparts and had a greater chance of winning the next world cup, and with things getting better for them as more professional teams were created. I believe his latest marriage is unlikely to last the year given the misogynist comments made about his beloved much to the amusement of Durham and Sussex supporters around.

And the cricket? Durham won the toss on what proved the best morning for bowling an struggled to 164 with Chris Jordan 4 for 50 off 18 and James Anyon 5 for 44 from 10 effectively winning the game on that first day. When Chris Nash and Michael Yardy were out to Graham Onions for 6 the locals were as confident about winning as they had been previously about going down.

It was fog rather than cricket which dominated the second day where only one session of play proved possible. Luke Wright was impressive with 87 from 78 16 fours and 1 six and with the total 328 I was not the only Durham fan fearing a humiliating innings defeat. Because of the threat of defeat as much as the continuing fog I parked my car at Shoreham Lifeboat station and decided to walk rather than take the bus and explored the sea promenade with its brightly coloured beach huts until turning towards the Southern region GMB HQ and the ground.

However as I reached the ground and midday approached the Durham second innings wickets tumbled so I continued walking the length of restaurant land reminding of the 100 places to eat and drink within a mile of my home, and then catching the bus all the way back to Worthing where I selected a good lunch of Olives Feta cheese, spicy chicken wings and a consolation bag of chocolate covered peanuts from the sea Front M and S returning then to my room overlooking the pebbles, sand and sea and recovering from the three hour walking, later tool the bus to collect the car and back for another M and S mini feast where the after putting in £1.50 for a bottle of Diet Pepsi the machine insisted on also giving me back £3.20. This compared favourably with the machine in the Chester Le Street sport centre adjacent to the 50p coffee machine which yielded a gold looking Bank of England 1694 1994 £2 coin which was jammed in the machine and which if real and unmarked, which would be worth over £750, Anyway I will hand over to the centre when I next visit.

Overnight I debated with myself the merit of staying away again on the last day, given with what happened at Notts Scarborough and Derby. This time I took the car to where I knew I could park for the day at a reasonable cost £5 up £1 from my previous visit when I also purchased for £28 a weekly season at Brighton.

I had missed the Stokes epic with 45 from 40 but enjoyed the contribution of Arshad and two centuries from Jennings and Richardson and for a while the possibility of draw was there, but I always felt the force was with Sussex and that third place pot of some £85000 plus while Durham already had their money banked, so to speak and it was good to leave the Sussex supporters on such a happy note, especially those also looking forward even more to the £35 per head award ceremony that same evening. The Durham do is only open to players and staff, their wives and invited guests.

Durham has come a long way since the first turf was laid at the Riverside and I made visits to watch the Pavilion rise but I still miss my visits to Darlington, Stockton, Hartlepool, windy Gateshead, up the road to Chester Le Street (where I still remember the Dean Jones 100 against the West Indies) plus the juxtaposition of Durham prison and the Cathedral at Durham overlooking the Riverside ground there. There is something to be said for being a small club and a park bench under an laden apple tree that the large unoccupied spaces at the Test grounds on championship days.

I hope to sit on that bench for several years to come but if not a big dream has come true again, unlike my hopes for Newcastle and Sunderland AFCs to which I now turn my attention.

It is also time to get ready and catch the Metro for Newcastle and the annual defence lecture at the City University by someone who advises the General Staffs and the Parliamentary Security committee.