el Queso Grande's Groundhopping Tour 2007-8

The background music is "Summertime", from George Gershwin's musical show "Porgy and Bess".

Friendly Match: Birtley Town v Seaham Red Star

Birtley, from the Arngrove Northern League Division 2, entertained Seaham in a pre-season friendly at the Birtley Sports Complex.

Seaham won easily, 3-1, with goals scored by Warren Byrne, Stephen (Buddy) Halliday and Paul Taylor. Birtley's came from a late free kick by James Allsop.

Before the game, I had a good chat with Seaham's John Toft. Also spoke to Seaham's Manager Neil Hixon and their coach George Herd (Sunderland Legend from the 60's). Washington Manager Barry Fleming and his assistant Paul (Porky) Brown were also at the game.

Friendly Match : Birtley Town 0-0 Bedlington Terriers

Went along to Birtley for the second time in 5 days. Not too bad a game for a friendly. Met up with a couple of lads from Bedlington whom I keep in touch with. Also had a chat with Paul Foster, Birtley's Assistant Manager. Birtley have been able to acquire a second-hand clubhouse, which will be completed later in the season! It's the old Dunlop factory Social Club in Washington, which closed with the factory a few months back.

Friendly Match: Team Northumbria 1-3 Washington FC

One down fourteen to go! I found my way through the Saturday afternoon traffic in Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne, to Coach Lane, Benton, Newcastle, where ANL 2nd Division Team Northumbria play their matches at the Sports Complex of the University of Northumbria. I was disappointed at the apparent lack of refreshment facilities, although I did manage to inveigle myself into the "Visiting Officials Hospitality Area" and wangled a free cup of tea! Also on offer were some Cream Crackers without either butter or cheese, which luxury I decided to forgo. To someone who has sampled the excellent fare to be found at some ANL grounds, this was a bit of a downer. The pitch itself was in excellent condition with grass akin to a bowling green. The spectator areas must just about meet the minimum requirements for qualification for ANL status.

Before the match, I was able to introduce myself to Washington's Craig Marron, someone whom I have watched many times both at Washington and his previous club, Esh Winning.

Team Northumbria fielded a very young team with a lot of obvious ability and they had the best of the opening gambits and held Washington in check for some 20-25 minutes, then the likes of Craig Marron, Steve Burns and Martin Houlahan, all seasoned campaigners, took the game by the scruff of the neck and began to dominate, eventually scoring in the 35th minute when Danny Smart brought a great save out of the TN keeper and the ball went free to Liam McBryde, who had a fairly easy task to put the ball into the net.

In the second half, the game went on as the first half had finished and Washington scored another two goals, both to Liam Mcbryde on 48 minutes and 57 minutes, then took their foot off the gas for a while, which allowed the TN No. 4 to score a good goal from about 20 yards out, in the 60th minute. There followed a whole host of roll-on-roll-off substitutions, which seemed to unsettle both sides and there was no further change to the score-line.

On the whole it was an enjoyable game and I was impressed by the contribution from Washington's midfielder Glen Reay, a young lad who has apparently just been released by Newcastle United. He should do very well at this level.