2271 Durham at Lords 2012

I arranged the visit to London to watch Durham play Middlesex at the Lords Cricket ground and to be able to make full use of the Members Pavilion.

It was my first opportunity to do so for five years, the period of time that Middlesex has spent in the second division of the County Championship. It is only as a visiting Member of Durham Cricket Club when playing Middlesex that one is allowed into the Pavilion at International Home of cricket, although in fact the International Cricket Conference which represents countries playing cricket is moving its headquarters from Lords to Dubai.

On Test matches days and on the other International and special matches the Pavilion at Lords is only available to Members of the Marylebone Cricket club of which there are 18000 members and 4000 associates but where sponsored membership usually takes twenty years such is the waiting list and such is the scarcity of the new places available. Members also have priority in relation to seats at some of the other stands in the ground for international matches. Entry subscription is £668 and annually £400.

The Lords Cricket ground is also the home of Middlesex County Council, whose members and visiting members from opposition playing clubs have their own stand adjacent to the Pavilion, the Warner stand. The ground is also the home of the English Test and County Cricket Board. The opportunity of this piece will be taken to explain the differences of the various interests and their roles.

As recorded I took the decision early on the first schedule match of the game not to visit because the weather was such that play was unlikely and in this I was correct. While further rain was forecast especially in the afternoon and for the rest of the week I set off for the ground irrespective of the amount of play to be witnessed on the Friday morning, exactly a week ago
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My intention had been to take the train to St Pancras and sort out the problem with the Oyster card having invested in a travel card for the second day in succession, making my way to Baker Street by underground in the first instance and then via the Jubilee line or by bus. However the anticipated train was a short one of only 4 coaches and there was a large party of adolescent school children waiting so I changed my mind and took the first train to Victoria when after changing a Green Park took the Jubilee line connection took to St Johns Wood a station several hundred years from the cricket Ground.

The entrance fee was only £8 for an elder concession and entrance ticket coloured pink. Pink is the colour of the Middlesex 20 20 team associated with a Breast Breakthrough  Cancer research and treatment charity. The team mascot is called Pinky.  It was the 20 20 side which beat Durham in their only appearance in Final’s Day at the Hampshire Rosebowl in 2008 which I attended. Middlesex went onto win the title and thus became eligible to participate in the now infamous Stanford Super series in the West Indies and the 20 20 Champions League(International). The team was also known as the Crusaders but this raised objections from the Muslim Community and  recently changed to the Panthers  thus the Pink Panthers which perhaps in mind  Inspector Cluzot (Peter Sellers)  comedy  film capers which commenced with the Pink Panther!

Full of a sense of cricket history I walked passed the warm up pitch at the entrance furtherest from the main Pavilion at Lords. This area is the size of a small cricket ground and the space is also sufficient to allow a number of concession stalls for food and drink during International and major Finals competition days. On the afternoon of the Sunday I learned from a member of the M.C.C that there is a proposal on the table to build Residential Properties  at the Boundary to the Street, following on what has happened  at Sussex and Yorkshire, Taunton and shortly at the Emirates Durham. There is to be a Members vote on the issue shortly.

This is also the end of the ground with startling designed media centre above the existing stand. It is here on one warm and sunny Test match day that I discovered seats allocated in the lower tier from which it is impossible to see the one of the scoreboards and you have to rely on small electronic notices fixed from the roof of the tier to learn what is happening. More memorable is that having dressed for the summer it was so cold that periods of play were missed to walk and sit in sunshine.

There is a difference in the colour of the stone used to front the main pavilion from that at facing onto the playing surface. The entrance is not unattractive but does not command respect as a building per se. However the pavilion seen form elsewhere in the ground is a most attractive sight with three tiers of seats and player’s balconies at either end of the middle tier. There are in fact two entrances with one usually kept closed.

There is at least one Steward at the entrance in the standard white blazer uniform which all staff wear, including the first female steward I have encountered who controlled one of the doors onto the middle balcony which was next to the sight screen. The atmosphere immediately noticeable upon entry to the Pavilion is that of a Gentleman’s club and indeed it is only within the past 15 years (1998) that the decision was taken to allow women to become members as until then throughout its 212 year history the only woman to be allowed into the Pavilion apart from domestic staff was her Majesty the Queen. Even then membership was selectively given to a handful of ladies who played or contributed to the game. The decision did mean that women supporters of Middlesex County Cricket Club were allowed into the Pavilion as long as like the men they are suitably attired.

There is a guest book on either side of the entrance for  use by MCC members and a recent addition is a small pile of information cards for visitors which concentrate on the dress regulations as well as improving information of refreshments and the location and use of other facilities.  Gentleman must wear a tie or cravat and in the past stewards had a supply to loan as well as the blazer as again gentlemen must wear a lounge suit or tailored blazer, or entitled military uniform.  The loan practice has ended because of Health and Safety considerations.

The list of dress exclusions number thirteen items for men, including sports shoes and sandals, Jeans and denims. T Shirts and singles, shorts, tracksuits and military style items other than a Service uniform, religious or national dress. Twelve exclusions apply to the ladies and the list includes strapless tops, Bikini tops or dresses showing bare midriffs. The Ladies may wear trousers which can be cropped below the knee or culottes and dresses, blouses and smart tops may be sleeveless.

On Friday (April 20th) after visiting the toilet in the basement where there are pubic telephones and a cloakroom I decided to use the top tier to view the game over the bowlers arms and after using a couple of tissues to dry down the bench I was sit at the front and at an aisle with one of the best views in cricket, similar to that at Nottingham but with the sense of all the Test matches played at the ground including my first visit to a Test here when I was around 14/15.  I had been taken to watch Don Bradman’s last Test at the Oval in 1948 and sat on the grass after queuing for hours. I was then nine years of age.

There was no time for further exploring before the first balls were bowled and in the even those first few over were amazing. Before  recording what occurred  I was struck by how few were in the ground where the talk among the Middlesex supporters around me as that of the unexpected win against Surrey in the first match  of the season when within an hour six batsmen were dismissed  to provide a 3 run win for the home side. Few Middlesex supporters had bothered to journey into central London for the event.

Andrew Strauss, the most successful Captain of the English team with Ashes win at home and in Australia and which propelled the team to the number one test side in the world had announced that he would be playing for his county in order to get some batting practice, Graham Onion dislodge his off and middle stumps with his second unplayable ball. Middlesex had lost their first wicket without a run being scored. Two runs later Denly was caught by Collingwood off Onions and Middlesex were 2 runs for two wickets. Thorp then had the other opening batsman Robson caught by Di Venuto for 0 and Middlesex had lost three wickets for only 2 runs. Rogers went for 0 off the bowling of Claydon caught Borthwick and the home side were 28 for 4. I was in dream land and the Middlesex supports in growing shock. Everyone agreed the wicket was on the side of the bowlers. There were jokes about the home team being all out before lunchtime. Derision had greeted the dismissal of Strauss repeated to other Middlesex supporters as they arrived over the course of the first hour of play.

There were darkening skies and the umpires called play off for an early lunch around 12.30, although the reason was reports of hard rain closing in. The wicket was quickly covered over and for the next three hours I was able to remind myself of what a wonderful place is the main pavilion.
At either end of the top tier there is a flat roof area where there are comfortable chairs and table and which enable a picnic lunch or tea. There are also similar facilities on the roof behind the top tier. Lords remains the only ground in the world where spectators are allowed to bring in a small quantity of alcohol, even for Test Matches as there are several areas of picnic hampers and boxes.

I had eaten my packet of salmon and cucumber sandwich early and sipped at the cool water kept in the flask placing immediately after purchase at Waitrose before the journey commenced. I had then discovered the members lounge which runs behind the upper balcony. Here there are comfortable chairs, newspapers and a television showing golf. It was not until later in the afternoon that I was able to get myself a chair. Close to the television and purchased a large and tasty Danish Pastry and a coffee, enjoyed reading the paper and dozing in front of the television waiting for news about the play. There are also several iced water containers with impressive standss filled with bottles available to be added to system. On the ground floor there is also an updated score board from all the other county matches. There is the Library from which there is the famous Bowlers Bar from which drinks can be taken outside overlooking the play. For some reason I missed the second floor Members Bar and from which drinks and refreshments can be purchased and taken out to the balcony and picnic areas.

There is also an area at one end of upper and middle tiers where it is still possible to smoke. The ground is owned by the Marylebone Club and therefore they can set the ground entry conditions. Another of their continuing roles is to determine the laws of cricket, internationally and they also produce a highly regarded coaching manual. The Laws of cricket copywrite is challenged by the International Cricket Conference, after its formation in 1993 and following the created of the English Cricket Board, and the ICC has been flexing is power, now that it has moved away to Dubai by making changes to the regulations such as recently in the one International competition without conferring with the MCC.

Just when it looked as if play was to commence at tea time there was further rain. I was not in the mood to stay having enjoyed the play, and the visit.

On the Sunday my approach was different. For the play before lunch I found myself a seat on the middle balcony. I had visited here on the Friday and sat at the back which is covered and close to where Andrew Strauss was having a private conversation with someone. There were fewer people in the ground than on the Friday, with only about ten individuals spread along the balcony area.

Middlesex had progressed to 188 the previous day with an excellent 65 from captain Dexter caught Di Venuto from Stokes. He had added over 100 runs with Malan who made 35 and Simpson who went on to make 35 not out.  Malan was caught by Mustard off Onions. Berg (2) was caught Di Venuto from Thorp while Murtagh made 18 before going to Mustard and Onions. Roland Jones also made 17 to Blackwell and Onions while England fast bowler Finn was caught Collingwood off Onions without scoring. Given the start, 188 on this wicket and conditions was a creditable score.  Graham Onions 6 for 45 of 24.4 with 7 maidens was the outstanding bowling performance supported by Thorp 2 for 43 and Claydon 1 54 and Stokes 1 for 33. Borthwick, Collingwood and Blackwell were not asked to bowl.

Several Durham batsmen had good starts only to then fall, De Venuto 30, Smith 29 Stokes 45 Benkentein 34 and Borthwick 33 with Onions at the end contributing 20. Earlier Collingwood 19, Blackwell 12, and Mustard 5 all disappointed with Thorp nothing and Claydon 8. The wickets were spread between 4 bowlers with Roland Jones 2 for 26 the best figures. The question to be settled on the Sun was a lead of 50 going to be sufficient for a result given further uncertainty about the weather.

On previous visits I only ventured to the ground floor facilities which include the famous Long Room where is possible view the game from behind the wicket through glass using comfortable chairs with arms rests or high chairs but which only require a small step to reach the seat thus enabling a view over the members sitting in the first row. On International match days this room is also crowded with those standing. The players (and umpires) have dressing rooms reached by separate staircases but converge into the Long Rooms as access to the playing area is through the centre double doors. This means that if a player performs exceptionally well the applause in the Long room is prolonged and reverberates while if there is a batting failure the silence is potentially humiliating. There is a tradition that Members do not approach or speak to players as they pass through the Long Room although if you know a player and are strategically placed then you may be acknowledged.

Running parallel to the Long Room is the Long Room Bar which serves a different main meal dish at each end. On Sunday having free entry to the ground I decided to invest the £8 with what I would have spent on a sandwich and bought lunch there. The choice was between a beef stew with hot veg or four chunky slices of beef in a bun with a variety of colds including new potatoes in skins with mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. It was an unusual concoction which I enjoyed and beef was fantastic.  Afterward I went on a little explore to view the Warner stand before the rains returned and where I noted the members lounge and bar was closed.  As it commenced to rain I bought a coffee in the public bar and managed to spill about a third down me as the lid failed to fit properly Yuk.

The Long Room bar contains some commissioned paintings of those players and other personalities of the game invited to become honorary members, including one large collection of former players where I spotted David Gower and Graham Gooch. Gooch has the highest number of runs in an individual Test Innings at the ground 333 versus India in 1990 and six centuries 19875-1994, plus the most runs in Test Matches 2012(39 innings) But where was Ian Botham? At the far end of the room there was one large portrait. It was Sir Ian smoking a fat cigar. Ian has taken 69 wickets in 26 innings to head the wicket takers and the best figures of 8 for 34 versus Pakistan in 1978

It is an experience to sit and watch a game from the Long Room and cold without a top coat I spent the afternoon and afternoon and evening either pacing the rear on using one of the high chairs. On arrival I had the second floor Members lounge to me as it was closed for refreshments and therefore I had been able to read what interested me in the Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday Times at leisure.

Back to the game. At one point Middlesex in their second Innings were 91 for 8 leaving Durham less that 50 runs to win had the innings then quickly closed.  However Simpson 47 and Murtagh 45 put on what became a match saving stand of 82. Durham tried all their Bowlers and it was Borthwick 1 for 7 off 2.5 who took out Simpson after Murtagh had gone to went to Claydon. Durham then still had more than 40 overs to get one thirty odd runs. Unfortunately there was a further heavy shower and it seemed to me that no one was in any hurry to get the ground cleared before the game restarted with the total having to get with only 17 overs of play.  Onion s4 for 28 was again the star giving him 9 for 73 for the match.  Stokes 2 for 22 also did well.

The situation called for 20 20 style batting and to the credit of Durham they had a go. De Venuto 29 and Mustard not 25, but no one else could get going and the match petered to a draw with Durham 82 for 6 and 50 runs short.  It was Finn 4.43 to do the damage.

A draw brings Durham to a relegation spot in the championship table and with  little play forecast for the game against Surrey, the season has commenced with the worst possible of all starts. There was no play at the Oval on the first day and there is an ominous yet to bat and Close up again although it only lunch time suggesting further torrential bursts and a saturated ground. This is not good indeed.

However I regard my visit to Lords as a great success and on the Sunday afternoon I spent several hours talking to a member of the MCC who was a traditional member without the fevered partisanship of the Middlesex Club supporter. As for Middlesex I suspect their fortunes like those of Durham will depend on the extent to which their International fast bowlers remain playing in the championship. For the past couple of years Finn has taken preference over the then injured Onions.

The present Lords ground is the third to bear the name at three have been within 250 yards of the present playing area. With the first 1781 to 1811 and the second for a short time until 1813. Thus the present site is 200 years old. With a capacity of 28000. The development proposal plans to increase the capacity to just fewer than 40000 with the ECB having given the commitment to play two Test matches at the ground for the next ten years.  A feature of the ground is the floodlighting system which is retractable following representations by local residents. Durham will be required to have floodlights for the Test match in 2013 and it appears they will have to adopt a similar system as that at Lords when it had wanted to the attractive system at Nottingham. The large transformer building has been completed.

I will make on further report covering the last full day of the visits and the return journey as well as the relay of the Opera Rigoletto.

The rebirth of Newcastle United

I break away from writing on recent television programmes to comment on an excellent day on Easter Monday (2012) to visit St James Park, but now known as Sports Direct Com by the owner, to witness the emergence of Newcastle United as a major Footballing skills and winning ability team in the UK and consequentially in Europe.

This involved eating a large spoonful of humble pie on my part because disgusted by the treatment of Kevin Keegan and the general conduct at the time by the relatively new owner of the club Mike Ashley; I had vowed and placed on record my intention not to return to visit the stadium for a Newcastle game while he remained. For a while it looked as if he intended to sell the club and I had hoped that the Middle East billionaire who bought Man City had selected Newcastle for his venture. It would have been geographically fairer if he had chosen the North East, Yorkshire or the Midlands for his location and now we have the imbalance of the top two teams in the UK located in the City of Manchester.

So what has happened to change the position taken four years ago? Whatever his original motives and approach in fairness Mr Ashley has stayed the course and whether by luck and good fortune or by skilled business and football antennae he has now created a situation which has caught the football world unawares.

According to recent statements made by the club it is now solvent having taken five years to clear the kind of massive debts which has and is threatening some of the best teams in the land as they attempt to stay ahead of the competition. This perhaps explains why a year last January the club did not immediately invest the £35 million gained from the sale of one Andy Carroll to Liverpool in new players, particular a goal scoring centre forward.

Carroll who then had major questions about his character to answer was purchased by Liverpool who had made £50 million by the sale of Carlos Tevez to Chelsea. Both these players have been failures as centre forwards and ac cording to commentators about the game. For a time it looked as if Liverpool or Andy’s agent was trying to offload him back to the Toon where he was regarded as one of the lads in the pejorative use of the term. Those now in charge of Newcastle had other ideas and so far it has worked.

It is worth my time placing recent developments in perspective. Until the appointment of Kevin Keegan as Newcastle manager in February 1992 and I had been an established supporter of Sunderland at Roker Park since being impressed by their 1973 FA Cup win over Leeds and moving to a house a short walk from the stadium in the following season. I had held a season ticket until their relegation from first to second and then to third division as it was.

Going to St James Park to watch Newcastle during their first season back in the Premiership was tantamount to a change of religion and some individuals have never forgiven for the change in allegiance, although in fairness to me I also remained a Sunderland supporter through those dark years and witnessed with pleasure the development of both clubs with super stadiums and a combined support of over 100000 from throughout Northumbria, North Yorkshire and Cumbria in addition to Tyneside.

Both clubs therefore have the support to make a financial successes but winning trophies has eluded both in Cup and League competitions apart from getting back from the lower divisions into the Premiership. For a period it seemed to me that the getting promotion fight was the only period when having a season ticket was worthwhile. There is no pleasure in watching visiting superior teams wining at home or making the effort and undertaking the expense of watching away games although this was something I did for three decades.

I attended two Wembley Finals for Newcastle, once getting the most expensive seats, and they lost on both times mainly because Alan Shearer failed. I also watched a semi Final at Cardiff which they also lost. Kegan failed and then walked away from the club the first time round when he felt he could take it no further. Terry McDermott took over until the appointment of Kenny Dalgleish, a great Liverpool player but in my judgement he is too dour a personality to ever make it as a front line manager as his present failure with Liverpool in the Premiership demonstrates. Ruid Guillot is another who had been an exciting player but failed the Newcastle Test and Steve Clark was something of a stop gap until the appointment of local hero Sir Bobby Robson, the former England and Ipswich Manager.

The club maintained its position as a leading club during the five years of his reign during which he achieved a Champions League position twice It was difficult to understand why after a sudden drop in fortunes the ownership decided to change and commenced a period of eight years in the wilderness with John Carver taking temporary charge followed by Graham Souness, Glenn Rodder, Nigel Pearson, Sam Alladyce, Nigel Pearson as caretaker.

Kevin Keegan back for a brief and controversial second period of 8 /9 months was followed by Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer, Chris Houghton and now Alan Pardew. He is the 19th appointed manager/ caretaker manager since 1992 which makes it around one a year! The longer term problem has been matching the ambitions of Club and supporters against the realities of the contemporary Premiership.

Part of the problem was Alan Shearer the legendary man from Tyneside who scored more goals in the number 9 shirt as anyone in the Premiership during their career as. But you cannot build a winning team based on one man however good they are at their role and during his time at Newcastle the club won nothing.

In terms of being the manager Alan Pardew is still a long way short of the achievement of Chris Houghton who holds the record for winning nearly two out of every three games he managed during the past three decades. What Pardew has achieved however is to take the team forward into the top group of clubs against all expectations. It is only in part because the club is now playing three of the most exciting and inventive forwards in Europe. What has impressed me is the organisation and character of the team which is due to Pardew and his team.

He had a good if not brilliant professional career playing for my boyhood club Crystal Palace in that famous 4.3 semi final win which took them to an F Ay cup final replay against Manchester United which they lost.

Pardew made his name as a Manager with the rise of the Berkshire club Reading taking them from the second to the first division, finishing fourth his the first season and losing out in the playoffs to Wolves.

His success led to West Ham making a bid and although Reading refused to give permission, Alan resigned and this forced the issue. Alan again took the club into the play offs where he again lost but he was successful the following year and the team gained ninth position in the 2005 2006 season and to a Wembley Cup final losing to Liverpool on penalties. The following season although the new owners of the club stated their support in the best tradition they sacked him soon after.

He was almost immediately appointed manager at Charlton his most unhappy and unsuccessful time where the supporters wish for him to be sacked was granted. His period at Southampton was also mixed so that his appointment to replace Houghton was a great surprise, given that Houghton had taken the team back to the Premiership. Pardew was not the fans first choice with fewer than 6% said to favour his appointment. He has become known for the club’s 3. 1 defeat in the cup against League 2 Stevenage but also for the heroic fight back at Arsenal from 4 0 down at half time to 4.4. This was first indication of a determination which has been carried forward coupled with attention to developing a defensive mentality which was also the weakness of the Kevin Keagan’s original era.

It was at the commencement of the present season that he led the club to an astonishing series of opening game wins and an unbeaten run of eleven games in all competitions that got the football world talking but no one believed it would last. Pardew himself expressed caution about the club’s ability to continue to match the likes of Manchester Unity and Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal and the also resurgent Spurs under the favourite of the England Managers Job Harry Rednapp, under the cloud for taxation evasion until cleared in court later in the season and where the authorities have decided not to name their new man after parting with the current manager only weeks before the start of the European Cup Competition.

Before the start of the game on Monday the club had won their previous four games placing them in sixth position and a chance of getting not just as a place in European competitions next season but the converted European Championship competition. Before the recent run it looked as if they had faltered with heavy loss at rivals Spurs and defeat at Arsenal and with home draws against relegation likely Wolves and North East rivals Sunderland.

The last quarter of the season ten games are always the most testing and will make the difference to how the whole season is viewed. The solid 1.0 home win against Norwich did not signal what was to follow with an impressive 3.1 away at WBA. It was the professional 2.0 win at home against long standing rivals Liverpool where in Keegan’s day they twice lost 4.3 at Anfield in exciting talked about games. Their 2,0 win at Swansea was also professional and it was this professionalism as well as the exciting goals scored by their three forwards which led to me on impulse to decide to get a ticket for Monday’s game late at night on Sunday.

I had a struggle to remember my log on details and then to find an inexpensive seat in the area which interested. I had intended to go into Newcastle for a cooked meal but stayed home longer than was needed so when I arrived in the city it was already packed with others with the same thing on their minds, only they had arrived an hour before me. I thought I would find something suitable at the Monument Mall Food Court only to discover that since February the top two floors have been closed for building work. In fact only Tymark on the lower floor seems to functions as usual. McDonalds was as busy as I have seen it. The seating area is huge but was full with standing room only. In the end I opted for a local Tesco sandwich deal of a chicken and bacon sandwich, a small bottle of orange fruit juice and a small tin of Pringle crisps for £2.50 which I eat standing against a barrier at the roadside having abandoned the earlier plan to collect the ticket from the ground and then find somewhere to have a relaxed meal. The change in plan and late start meant that I went for the ticket as the ground was opening to spectators although obviously those taking hospitality packages had arrived and were enjoying their food and drink.

The ticket was not immediately available and had to be printed. I was still one of the first at the stadium with over an hour to wait. It was a great squeeze to get through the turnstile and I had forgotten the introduction of the electronic ticket into stadiums.

Although I had a book with me I was not in the mood to read. On the way I had remembered that the old box office had been moved to the former shop and you have to go to the first level of the Gallowgate end for the two banks of booth for tickets allocated by phone and on line to be collected;. I checked out the concessions which unlike those at Sunderland are concentrated into three outlets on the long L shaped walkway which continues along the North end of stadium and to one side until reaching the police monitoring area and the Magpie restaurant. My seat was over the corner flag back at the top of the middle tier with a cushioned bar against the concrete. Being at the back meant that I could stand when I wanted. I was one seat in from the aisle. The seat on the other side remained free throughout the game although I think the occupant was sitting n the step one up with permission from the steward who he knew suggesting a season ticket holder or someone who managed to book the seat on a regular basis. The seat is at the level as the first tier of boxes in the man stand and below that of the second tier. You get a good over view of the play but nothing like as good as the seat I had for about five years in the stand opposite

The seat cost £21 plus a £1 administrative fee. Had I remained a club member it would have been £1 less. Initial membership costs £25 for a year with a presentation box which previously includes a pack of photo cards. It cost nearly half that of seats in the special areas with individual lounges. An end of the season hospitality deal for a party of 12 coasts £175 plus VAT for the tour, meal, drinks and four car space deal with match programme and team sheet. My day would cost £24.50 using my metro travel card which costs £25 and where a one day travel card costs £4.20. If you do not pay the annual concession fee then you pay the adult fare so all you need to do is make more than 6 trips of three zones to gain. With not having a season ticket I do not make that many trips, with so far this year this was my third but there are the two three visits planned by train, two London and one Brighton. I will also make use of the Ferry across the river a couple of times.

The aspect of the last couple of games seen on television was the way the team is organised and its disciplined professional manner prepared not to entertain or show off unless the situation merited and where the win and the invaluable three points is the priority. Thus it was a largely uneventful first half with a few supporters commenting that the team had not turned up. It is difficult for your average supporter not to realise that playing two games so close together is a great challenge even for these players. Usually I would have little expectation for games played at Christmas, New Year and Easter if they are the second game closely following another. I was not disappointed especially as it was evident that there are an extraordinary number of skilful players in this team and several will be wanted by the European Championship teams so qualifying means that the temptation to sell to the highest bidders will be resisted.

In the second half it looked for the first 20 minutes or so that the opposition would spoil the party as they had three good chances to score the first goal and which could have changed the outcome. It was evident that that the goal when it came was special but I needed to watch several replays on the evening programmes to appreciate that it will be considered the goal of the season or one of the runners up. It was that good.

Hatem Ben Arfa is regarded as one of the best attacking midfield players in France. He has played in ten of the first team games this year scoring 7 goals. Earlier he was not always in the side because he could be caught in possession tending to hang onto the ball when it should be passed. On Monday all his shortcomings past and the future were forgiven. He got hold of the ball in his own half and by a clever surge in pace and twist of body left the defender dead and another surge and step avoided a potentially crunching tackle. He continued to run forward and Cissé had run into an excellent position on his left to receive the ball which he signalled for. Most in the same position would have gladly passed because out of steam the ability to manoeuvre and shoot in the net eludes most players. Arfa side stepped the third defender and slid the ball with sufficient pace but not great pace into the net. Everyone stood as they do but the applause was prolonged. Whatever the result we had been there and seen that. Later in the 85 minutes he was taken off to receive the public adoration he deserved again the applause was prolonged and he was clearly delighted with himself and the reception.

Between the goal and standing down he had one more similar effort although this time he passed the ball to Cissé who misfired when the expectation was, probably that of Cisse that he would go it alone once more. Cissé was to continue his club record of scoring in every game since his transfer to the club in January.

Papiss Cissé is an African from Senegal who previously played in Germany. He was acquired for £10 million as a number 9 replacement for Andy Carroll sold the previous January. He works hard always on he move which means defenders have to watch him closely. I noticed that for the greater part of the first half two defenders concentrated on trying to keep Ben Arfa contained. This meant others were stretched because of the movement around the final third which Cissé generated. There is a question that his goal should have been declared off side although repeated showings of the position if you watch the cut squares on the turf suggest that he was not. His legend continues.

Until his arrival the accolades were going to Demba Ba another Senegalese footballer although born in France. He played a year for Watford as a youth player and since then in France and at West Ham where his knee condition meant his future became suspect. Since joining Newcastle in the summer he has scored two hatricks and became one of the leading scorers with 16 goals to his credit. There was interest from a number of clubs. With the arrival of Cissé he has lost his position as lead striker and plays to the right with Ben Arfa going to the left in a three pronged forward attack. The Newcastle team has other players of established quality which makes the idea of competing in Europe not as far fetched as it would have seemed commencing the season. I will cover these if the run of success continues.

There was further good news before leaving the ground as Norwich beat the Spurs at home and Chelsea later were only able to draw. This means that spurs in 4th have the same number of points and played the same number of games as Newcastle 5th with Chelsea in sixth two points behind. Spurs have hit a bad run off form while Chelsea who has recovered from their blip having a semi final game against Spurs this coming Sunday and then a two leg semi final game in the European Championship. Newcastle’s next home game is when I am away in London.

Before returning home I visited the supermarket for something for the evening meal and for breakfast but although I bought a cheap pizza I decided on some fish with the rest of he beans and tomato from the previous day. It was a good day as I stayed up to view the replays and highlights.

Sitting watching the rest of the stadium arrive I was struck by the number of families with young children and also the groups of young people, some students and some visiting football teams. It is a very different crowd from those dark days in the late seventies and eighties.

April 2012 Cricket Catch up and Football

On Sunday I visited the Durham County Cricket Ground for the new Season. The club opened its doors with the Members lounge opened and available arranged for throughout the two days. Having not visited part of the existing stadium and anxious to see if the upper tier of the extension was now open I signed up and participated in the first available commencing at 11 am and which lasted an hour.

Understandably the emphasise was on showing the facilities available for people to hire or spend money but those on the first tour, apart from one young man did not appear the kind to spend a lot of money. There was no regular food provision in the Member’s lounge with an emphasis on Austin’s the separate and open to the public all year restaurant. They do a main course roast for just under £9 and a three course meal for around £15 although the menu is interesting and compared favourably with that experienced at the Theatre Royal Nottingham recently.

We then visited the Board room and the Vice President’s lounge which caters for VIP visitors, and an individual sponsor’s room table seating for 12 with balcony outside. There was opportunity to view the two lounge hire facilities. On the ground floor there is to be a public bar reminding of the Shed in Yorkshire but at a very different level of ambience and facilities. It was set out for a Christmas party as was the upstairs where there is also seating and suggesting hospitality packages for internationals and special matches with the lower area available for non members on rainy days.

On one hand compared to football the hospitality packages are better value in terms of the hours of play offered for County Cricket including the pro 40 competition held on Sundays. That offered for 20 20 games is more questionable. For the county games and the 40 overs the options are a private room for 12 with the cost is around £75 plus VAT per head and for this there is Tea Coffee, ground entry, hot Breakfast Roll on arrival, scorecard 2 course lunch and after noon tea or no breakfast roll and 3 course meal with afternoon tea for the 40 over Sundays. The individual price for lounge hospitality is £10 more.

With ground entry at £15, the breakfast roll and coffee at £3.50. Scorecard £1 and a three course meal at Austin’s £15, one is paying double for a balcony view which can be distant and out of the sunshine depending on the pitch and time of day. The cost of the 20 20 game is exorbitant at £137.50 plus VAT per head for 12 for this only a two course meal and tea or coffee on arrival. The individual pays £120 plus VAT. There is no mention of parking.

What proved the most interesting was the visit to the education centre where schools can send pupils struggling with their spelling and arithmetic? Upstairs the Sky studio is also used by young people around the year for media work. The best view in the ground belongs to the handful of cricket reporters. There is a huge two story window the width of the whole playing surface the is needed because the commentators are able to sit directly above and over the wicket whichever pitch is used. There is a separate room for the scorer who controls both electronic boards as well making a written record and an announcer who is a volunteer.

On the walkabout I we were shown the completed transformer unit for the floodlighting system which remains to be installed and the bushes on the banking by the fencing before the riverside have been cleared to make way for the hotel which will have parking on the ground floor and have two floors for the rooms with sixty on each floor.

As for the cricket Durham won the toss and had a good day at the wicket because of another great century by opener Di Venuto with 143 out of the total of 337. Stokes, Borthwick, Collingwood, Mustard and Plunkett all had good little knocks in the 20’s and 30’s, Smith 4 Stoneman 12 and Muchall did less well. With Braithwaite and Breeze playing I assume Steve Harmison did not... His brother has moved to Kent. Rain interrupted the play on the cold Monday and I wonder how many spectators braved the conditions. Durham remain coy about the details of the play with York’s scoring some runs and Durham bowlers getting a limited number of wickets. I did see that all rounder Ian Blackwell got a century for the MCC out in Dubai against the championship winner Lancashire. It will have been galling for Yorkshire fans that this was the year which saw them relegated to Division 2 especially as Middlesex and Surrey have moved back up.

Having secured the title as the World number one Test side England lost all five Test Matches against Pakistan and the first of two against Sri Lanka. At present things look brighter in the second Test with home side out for 275 and England 154 for 1 with Cook going strong on 77 as day 2 ended Captain Strauss did make 50 which may silence sum of his critics. They will need to win the game to hold on to their number one spot.

In contrast to the Test match Performances the male and female teams have done well in their respective one day tours. The ladies beat New Zealand by 5 wickets out in Lincoln New Zealand in February with the home side dismissed for 233 and Edwards leading the Brits home with an opening knock of 88, They improved to a six wicket win in the first 20 20 game with Shrubsole taking 5 wickets for 11 as the home team struggled to 80 for 9 Taylor not out with 37 saw the team win in this low scoring game. Edwards 33, Taylor 45 and March 48 led the team to 166 for 7 in their innings in the second 20 20 game while four of the English bowlers took 2 wickets to remove the New Zealanders for 118 to win the second. The third game was more closely contested with Gunn the lead scorer at 30 not out setting a total of 108. New Zealand Openers made a good start but collapsed to 90 for 7 and 10 short of the revised Duckworth Lewis total as the game was interrupted by a violent rain storm. Both sides struggled to make runs in the fourth game with the highest individual score 29 but New Zealand had the star Bowler as Nielsen took 4 wickets for 10. However this was not good enough as England managed to get the required runs with 5 wickets in hand and 7 balls left.

The men had an excellent start in their first 50 over game because of Cook with 137 and Bopara’s 50. Ajmal took 5 of the 7 wickets as England made 260 and then Finn with 4 for 34 and Patel 3 for 29 destroyed Pakistan for 130 in 35 overs. Cook scored a second century in the second and closer game with England 250 and Finn 4 for 34 and Patel 2 for 51 as the official home team playing in Abu Dhabi were all out for 230 at the end of the 49th. The third game was extraordinary with Andersen 2 Finn 3 and Broad 3 wickets as Pakistan made 222. Cook 80 and Petersen 11 achieved a 9 wicket win with 16 balls to spare. It was an outstanding performance. Petersen who had failed miserably against spin rescued his place in the team. He then dismissed all the doubters like me with a second century 130 as England achieve the required 237 runs with 4 balls to spare. Dernbach 4 for 45 did the damage.

There was a short three match 20 20 series with Pakistan winning the first as batsmen failed to progress individual good starts so that there was a loss 8 by runs after Pakistan made 144. Swann 3 for 13 was the best of the bowlers.

England won the second game impressively with Bairstow not out at 60 and 150 in total; Finn 3 for 30 headed a team effort which had Pakistan all out for 112.

England then won the series because of a fine 67 run effort by Petersen and Pakistan only failing to make the required 129 by 5.

I decided to record the visit of Liverpool to St James Park on Sunday despite the game being in 3D. I was horrified on return to find I had not set up the recording as I believed and had to settle for the extended highlights in game which Newcastle won 2.0. I then watched the whole game again in 3D on Monday and most enjoyable it was. Although Chelsea and Arsenal had wins Newcastle are still in with a shout of a European place, especially if Chelsea go on to win the League. They play tonight. The new star at Newcastle is Ba’s compatriot Cisse. The comparison between him and Carroll was evident with Carroll sold for over three times as much and failing to impress. Newcastle have become a much better team with out him. Good riddance Carroll I say.

I waited until the evening’s extended highlights to watch Sunderland away at Man City. It was an extraordinary game with Sunderland 3.1 up until the last five minutes of official play and then losing to goals in seconds. Although the one point from the draw was welcome they should have won and even with the single point City are now 5 points behind United and their championship hope which appeared certain at one point may have vanished. Looks like Alec is going to do it again!