The leaves on the trees may still be green - that sounds a bit like a line from a bad indie band doesn’t it - but, believe it or not, the FA Cup is already up and running and grassroots football in the North-East is already attracting controversy.
A friend of mine decided to escape from the constant hype and hyperbole of the Premiership last weekend - he is arguably one of the most pessimistic of Newcastle supporters - by watching Whitley Bay vs Norton and Stockton Ancients in the First Preliminary Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.
Bovril and pies at competitive prices, defenders and referees who looked as though they had more in common with nightclub bouncers and the sort of no-holds barred, thrill a minute cup encounter which normally warms the soul on a cold winter’s day.
Whitley Bay emerged victorious with a tough 3-2 win and will continue on the long-winding road towards the First Round proper.
But it was a note in the matchday programme from Whitley Bay previous game against Esh Winning in the First Round of the FA Vase which really entertained my pal. You’ve heard of Pizzagate, well here is Watergate - oops, that’s already been used hasn’t it, something to do with American presidents, CIA and lying, but I don’t think there was a dress and a stain involved in that one- I mean Bottlegate.
Whitley Bay have a proud past in the Vase and were winners at Villa Park in 2002 thanks to a goal from manager Ian Chandler, but the have already got themselves into trouble this season after a violent half-time assault with a water bottle and non-league football should hang its head in shame.
Well, I say a vicious assault with a water bottle but what I really mean is a little squirt of water in the direction of the opposition manager.
Whatever happened to the days when non-league football was a man’s game, when referees were quite happy to let the odd thigh-high challenge go, perhaps even an elbow if it was a 50-50 ball and, as for bad language, well you wouldn’t want your Grandma to be anywhere in the vicinity!
So what is the world coming to when Whitley Bay’s goalkeeper Terry Burke receives his marching orders and a three match suspension for squirting a little water at the Esh Winning manager?
Violent conduct? What did it do, get in his eye? If there was a bit of soap in it, maybe because that stings a bit, but water, in the direction of the opposition manager? Did he con the ref by throwing himself to the floor screaming "I'm blind, I'm blind" or did the water make the floor slippy and he banged his head? Unbelievable, but true so there you go....
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