Brilliant stuff Mick. I Remember the despair of leaving school well qualified but only a shit job, then a few months in the civil service too. Went south in 80 so didn't see much of the Toon, probably a blessing, but Pedro in 86 had the heart racing.
Italia 90 I had everyone in the pub in a quiet Surrey town up on the seats singing after Platt's volley and nobody was in any doubt whose school Gazza went to.
What a fantastic read! I led a parallel life mick! Left School disinterested, halfway through my A Levels. Spent 4 years at Newcastle West DHSS or Fort Apache as we called it, in the late 70s. Day release classes at Newcastle Poly. Dated a lass for a year who was renting a Gateshead flat exactly described as you describe yours. I loved VIZ, and much to my wife’s disgust, still subscribe, mainly on a nostalgic level.
And aye, your recollections of the shite football at SJP mirror my memories, unfortunately. Still never understood why they pulled down the Leazes End, with no replacement strategy in place.
Said it before, your writing continues to develop like a fine wine. Brought back some good memories and filled in some bits of social history as viewed from the NE.
I moved away with my family in 1980 and only kept in touch via visits to friends and football over the years, but recall the rise of joy riding and ram raiding. Shared the joy of Viz and the rise of fanzines. As a grandson of S Yorks miners I felt similarly about the cruelty of Thatcher and recall the bulk of my school year left the NE to find good work.
Currently (showing off a bit here) lolling on a beach in Sicily contemplating what pasta to have for lunch. A craft beer festival is set up down the Prom calling my name for tonight. Was up at 4.30 this morning to watch the Belgium match and your read has added to a day when football is still flitting away in my minds periphery. In Italy for a few days to come and can’t help thinking that the experience might have been lifted further by the presence of Italy. Shame.
In the meantime, I read the Rumours of transfers on my phone (why oh why?) and can’t help but wonder what team we’re going to be putting out next year. Is this Summer’s business going to take a turn for the better?
Anyway, back to the struggle. Keep on, keeping on.
Great read and with you all the way on World in Motion - being 10 yr old at the time Italia 90 has a place firmly in my heart. Gazzas ball and Platts over the shoulder volley finish v Belgium being a key memory but the song and video - a thing of class. Pisses all over other football songs for me
Superb, I loved that - and what a final flourish to make me laugh out loud (as you know I was 'Saltwell Mag' for many years (1996-2006) in 'The Mag' in a similar Tyneside flat - well it should really have been 'Bensham Mag', but I had delusions of adequacy). Some very pithy social commentary in there, thank you.
"Bobby Robson's fucked up England" was the chant in the west stand of all places one Saturday afternoon when he came to ST.James' back then.Mental, but brilliant times to be a football fan... unless you supported us that is 🤔.
I was there when the crowd ( if it was big enough to be called one) turned on Charlton... couple thousand calling for his head & he fucked off. Think it was just the excuse he was looking for at the time. Likeable bloke all the same 👍🏁
Fantastic read as always, Mick, many memories stirred here, for better or worse. A welcome distraction from the ongoing off-season circus on Barrack Road. Thank fuck we still have True Faith, the demise and decline of many other fanzines like those you mentioned has been depressing, as anyone who has seen the clickbait factory currently masquerading as The Mag will attest.
I’d almost forgot that Whisky Sneck had managed the Scots, it was always satisfying seeing things not going the way of that cheating old pishtank. Otherwise, your memories of the football are very similar to mine, we were utter shite but we still managed (or rather were forced) to find alternative entertainment somehow, mainly from characters such as “Kenny Everett” who will be familiar to those of a similar vintage. What I’d give to see him in his pomp again, always good for getting a song going despite often being what Private Eye might describe as “tired and emotional”.
Also worth a mention is - though I’m sure you’re aware already - that I heard they got all of the players to record the rap section of World In Motion and Barnes’ was the only one that was in any way usable. Pedro and Gazza’s versions are still available on YouTube for those brave or foolhardy enough to listen.
Another very good read Michael which brought back loads of memories. Was in my early twenties for 1982 WC and just recently married. Hence my delayed 40th wedding anniversary trip to Buenos Aires and Montevideo in 2022. Just so happened that the Qatar WC was on at the same time 😂. Recollections are very much the same and I retired from DWP last year after 49 years. Remember watching the 1982 games after playing 5 aside football at Darsley park. My recollections of the club and region were much as yours, dark times. Just finished reading “the wilderness years”, which I highly recommend. Finally, I watched 1990 WC with my oldest son who was 6 at the time. He went on to support Aston Villa (still does) following the Platt goal. Easily influenced at that age 😂. I didn’t get to the games much during the nineties but took him to Villa Park a couple of times a season. Keep up the good work sir 😀
The North East's answer to Nick Hornby. Football squeezed in between autobiography and social history. A remarkable read. Where's the book deal?
Magnificent writing. Magnificent read. And genuinely informative. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
So many memories from this article, a quality piece of writing 👏👏👏👏
Brilliant stuff Mick. I Remember the despair of leaving school well qualified but only a shit job, then a few months in the civil service too. Went south in 80 so didn't see much of the Toon, probably a blessing, but Pedro in 86 had the heart racing.
Italia 90 I had everyone in the pub in a quiet Surrey town up on the seats singing after Platt's volley and nobody was in any doubt whose school Gazza went to.
A rare flash of light in the dark.
Keep it coming.
What a fantastic read! I led a parallel life mick! Left School disinterested, halfway through my A Levels. Spent 4 years at Newcastle West DHSS or Fort Apache as we called it, in the late 70s. Day release classes at Newcastle Poly. Dated a lass for a year who was renting a Gateshead flat exactly described as you describe yours. I loved VIZ, and much to my wife’s disgust, still subscribe, mainly on a nostalgic level.
And aye, your recollections of the shite football at SJP mirror my memories, unfortunately. Still never understood why they pulled down the Leazes End, with no replacement strategy in place.
Said it before, your writing continues to develop like a fine wine. Brought back some good memories and filled in some bits of social history as viewed from the NE.
I moved away with my family in 1980 and only kept in touch via visits to friends and football over the years, but recall the rise of joy riding and ram raiding. Shared the joy of Viz and the rise of fanzines. As a grandson of S Yorks miners I felt similarly about the cruelty of Thatcher and recall the bulk of my school year left the NE to find good work.
Currently (showing off a bit here) lolling on a beach in Sicily contemplating what pasta to have for lunch. A craft beer festival is set up down the Prom calling my name for tonight. Was up at 4.30 this morning to watch the Belgium match and your read has added to a day when football is still flitting away in my minds periphery. In Italy for a few days to come and can’t help thinking that the experience might have been lifted further by the presence of Italy. Shame.
In the meantime, I read the Rumours of transfers on my phone (why oh why?) and can’t help but wonder what team we’re going to be putting out next year. Is this Summer’s business going to take a turn for the better?
Anyway, back to the struggle. Keep on, keeping on.
Sounds like you’ve got it cracked Duncan - ta for the kind words - enjoy your day out in Sicily 🇮🇹 🥵
Great read and with you all the way on World in Motion - being 10 yr old at the time Italia 90 has a place firmly in my heart. Gazzas ball and Platts over the shoulder volley finish v Belgium being a key memory but the song and video - a thing of class. Pisses all over other football songs for me
Superb, I loved that - and what a final flourish to make me laugh out loud (as you know I was 'Saltwell Mag' for many years (1996-2006) in 'The Mag' in a similar Tyneside flat - well it should really have been 'Bensham Mag', but I had delusions of adequacy). Some very pithy social commentary in there, thank you.
"Bobby Robson's fucked up England" was the chant in the west stand of all places one Saturday afternoon when he came to ST.James' back then.Mental, but brilliant times to be a football fan... unless you supported us that is 🤔.
I was there when the crowd ( if it was big enough to be called one) turned on Charlton... couple thousand calling for his head & he fucked off. Think it was just the excuse he was looking for at the time. Likeable bloke all the same 👍🏁
Michael that’s a fantastic piece
similar age so easy to follow
Julies viz ram raids doormen so many reminders keep it up your wasted as a true faith gob shite as yo often put it
Fantastic read as always, Mick, many memories stirred here, for better or worse. A welcome distraction from the ongoing off-season circus on Barrack Road. Thank fuck we still have True Faith, the demise and decline of many other fanzines like those you mentioned has been depressing, as anyone who has seen the clickbait factory currently masquerading as The Mag will attest.
I’d almost forgot that Whisky Sneck had managed the Scots, it was always satisfying seeing things not going the way of that cheating old pishtank. Otherwise, your memories of the football are very similar to mine, we were utter shite but we still managed (or rather were forced) to find alternative entertainment somehow, mainly from characters such as “Kenny Everett” who will be familiar to those of a similar vintage. What I’d give to see him in his pomp again, always good for getting a song going despite often being what Private Eye might describe as “tired and emotional”.
Also worth a mention is - though I’m sure you’re aware already - that I heard they got all of the players to record the rap section of World In Motion and Barnes’ was the only one that was in any way usable. Pedro and Gazza’s versions are still available on YouTube for those brave or foolhardy enough to listen.
Another very good read Michael which brought back loads of memories. Was in my early twenties for 1982 WC and just recently married. Hence my delayed 40th wedding anniversary trip to Buenos Aires and Montevideo in 2022. Just so happened that the Qatar WC was on at the same time 😂. Recollections are very much the same and I retired from DWP last year after 49 years. Remember watching the 1982 games after playing 5 aside football at Darsley park. My recollections of the club and region were much as yours, dark times. Just finished reading “the wilderness years”, which I highly recommend. Finally, I watched 1990 WC with my oldest son who was 6 at the time. He went on to support Aston Villa (still does) following the Platt goal. Easily influenced at that age 😂. I didn’t get to the games much during the nineties but took him to Villa Park a couple of times a season. Keep up the good work sir 😀
You have to say that's magnificent. Brilliant read.
Really enjoyed that, excellent. A proper book about football, the north east social history 1970-2000 needs to be written Mick!
Just read it, Mick - started at 7am this morning!! Concur with all of the above, absolutely stonking.