Howmanheyman

Aye I was going to add something about the umbro logo. I think they only started appearing from 87/88 (alongside the white patch). The season before that I think the number was of the same style but without the umbro logo and white patch. 1984- Keegan's shirt We'd have a much better home shirt if we got red numbers back, mind. No virtually all black or all white on the back of our shirts.

I think most had the umbro logo on the bottom with a white patch made by umbro specifically for the players but not included in the shirts for sale. I'll have a look for the earlier ones.

The top I'm tempted to get is the new '80s TOFFS ones, went in last week to have a look and the material is far better than the club one, they'd also have a plain red number if you're right? Still prob wont bother with a number.

Profit? i.e. "Sell on value"?

Cheers Tom. I'm tempted to get one of their mid eighties tops. I probably wont bother with a number.

Which official site, Tom? NUFC's or TOFFS?

Good point.

As Ba's replacement?

Aye, they love highlighting the one knacker out of thousands. I don't like either Manchester club but I've no doubt the majority of the media will love it if Man Utd pip them. We all know they pulled this shit with us in '96 with a couple of our attention seekers crying for the cameras.

There's also all fuck all wrong with a Mag taking the piss out of anyone from SAFC who infers their club have been, are, or can be bigger than than NUFC. It's contrary to all the evidence I've ever seen in my time supporting us. They simply aren't and I've been saying this for years as well!

Many and big thanks. It might be worth having a look on TOFFS website, mate.

More a figure of ridicule when he stated Sunderland are bigger than NUFC.

I see Howard 'Stars in their eyes' Webb is the Ref tonight. As if we haven't got a hard enough game as it is.

I bought a ticket in 'The Gunner' pub once. Don't know if it's still there/open?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I find this story staggering if true.

I seem to recall their being far more bother from Boro than there ever was from Sunderland. I think Sunderland were so far behind the times that they didn't really get into that scene until it was on its way out. It's a mugs game, anyway. I would say one thing though, for any of them reading this, could they explain how the scenes at Roker Park where away fans would infiltrate home areas in numbers and weren't shy in showing who they were, were never replicated at St. James' Park?

Not many people know this but the same kid who threw the Molotov cocktail at the West Ham fans at SJP repeated the trick with Villa a couple of years ealier only he threw an Estee Lauder bottle with a burning incense stick which had a hint of Wet Citrus notes of luscious Bergamot, Orange Zest and White Grapefruit combined with Darjeeling Tea, colourful florals and sheer woods. Horses for courses and all that.

Aye, I never factored in the 'beige' effect, to be fair.

I went to a Liverpool v Villa game once. Was in the main stand with my uncle who supports them. The uncle was staying at my folks for a week with my aunt, (being Irish he naturally supports one of the North-West reds) and I was asked if I wouldn't mind going down with him on the saturday while he was over as he fancied going but didn't want to drive down on his todd, normally he'd go with his mate or my cousin. I was about 17 at the time and wasn't really sure about it but didn't want to let him down, so being in the home end surrounded by Liverpool fans I decided to covertly support Villa, (if I'd known what the bastards planned all them years later I wouldn't have!) Anyway, as a neutral, all I can say is, I heard more noise from twenty thousand Geordies on open terraces in the 2nd division then I heard from these and villa that day. Even the atmosphere around the ground before kick off was just shit. There just wasn't the buzz you get on a matchday around the Toon, something was missing. There's definitely something up here which gives us an edge but it's hard to put your finger on it. For the record, Liverpool took the lead through I think Barnes from the spot, and Villa levelled through fuck knows, though I have a feeling it might have been that Daley kid?

I watched that 2-0 win in a bar near Goodison. Went down without a ticket, four of us, three long time, well travelled supporters and the driver, nickname 'Knackers' who'd only started going to football matches again and wasn't really that bothered. The three of us did the rounds round the bars asking every Tom, Dick and Harry for spare tickets, no joy, was outside the Kop when a scouse Scally offered us tickets at £70 a go which we politely told him to fuck off as we didn't have the money and also thought they were snides. Anyway, 'knackers', after asking the sum total of one person for a ticket all day, was standing near the door of the last bar we were in when a Mag just approached him out the blue and offered him a cost price ticket for wor end. He took it, got in despite us asking him to spin for the ticket amongst us all. As soon as he fucked off and we settled down to get off our tits and never have I been so convinced of a NUFC win at Anfield as I was then. As it happens we had some canny craic with the Evertonians that day but I was gutted I never got in. Only game I've went without a ticket where I didn't get to see us.

It showed the club for what they are though...even now rotten to the core. I think your brain must be rotten to the core, mate. A couple of lads came into the ground not knowing there was a minutes silence. That's it. It's not the fucking Krypton Factor, mackem.

Toontastic needs a remote breathalyser put on it. I was a waste of a decent shirt last night.

To Mongbird: The Tranmere match co-incidided with a non-advertised one minutes silence to both young Jamie Bulger and Bobby Moore who both passed away in the week leading up to the game. In those days days pre-match one minutes silences weren't so common place. Simple fact was, a few Mags coming through the turnstiles and presumably full of beer, had no idea that a minutes silence was in affect. Thats it, basically. I'll never forget the back page of the Mirror showing a pic of Mags celebrating a goal with the headline 'scum' as if this was the the same supporters actions in the one minutes silence. Wankers of the highest order, our national press.

Walk home early, many things on a half drunken mind. End up walking home from Byker down the Fossway after a 'do'. End up passing approx 20 kids roughly 16-20. I'm by myself, one of them sees the odds, can't hold their water, 'alreet mate' after virtually saying it nostril to nostril'. Rest of the kids, no bother, know a kid out of his depth when they see it. The kid himself? If anyone finds an arsehole could they please pass it on to the Turbinia asap as some clever cunt appeared to lose it in front of his pals.

What Llambias said: What Llambias really said: