My Back Pictures - Wembley

Wembley Stadium the home of English football for over 80 years,every football fans dream is to make it to those famous twin towers come May for the F.A.Cup Final,the showpiece game of English football,but the dream had a habit of turning into a nightmare for us Newcastle United fans.
My personal record in attending games at Wembley reads;
Att 5 W 0 D 0 L 5 F 2 A 12
(2 F.A.Cup finals,1 League Cup Final,1 Charity Shield,1 F.A.Cup Semi Final)
My other appearance at Wembley was for the American Bowl,Chicago Bears v Dallas Cowboys,where I pledged my support for the Cowboys,guess what?.. Even they lost as well.
So the thrill of seeing those Twin Towers in the distance as you approach the stadium,soaking up the atmosphere as you walk up Wembley Way, the sheer awe as you see the pitch for the first time and the deafening noise as the players emerge from the tunnel as far as i'm concerned you can stick it!! (and that's putting it politely)
So I'm pleased the old stadium has gone,good riddance to bad rubbish!Hopefully the 'New Wembley' will have more happy memories than the old one.

Hears a few pics from the two Cup Finals in the late 90's,when on both occasions we came up against the best team in the country,who were going for the double.(not making excuses like!)
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I'm pictured here in '98 modelling the 50s Toffs shirt,I thought the last time we won the cup this is the shirt we wore so it might be lucky,and in '99 I'm seen mostly wearing my 'lucky' 70s yellow away shirt which I wore in every round of the cup,but we still lost both times!

My Matchday Pics 2006 -113 Filtrona Park

9th August 2006
Filtrona Park,
South Shields.
v. Gateshead
Pre-season friendly
(score 2-3)

The current home of the third reincarnation of South Shields FC at Filtrona Park lies just outside Shields next to the Simonside Industrial Estate in Jarrow,the ground has been home to the Mariners since 1996 after they moved from their old home at Simonside Hall.


The present Shields club was formed in 1974 and progressed to the Northern League via the Wearside League in the 1995/96,winning promotion in their first season.


The name Filtrona derives from the nearby Filtrona factory which manufacters cigarette filters,and the ground was also 'home' to Gateshead in April 2003 when the International Stadium was out of bounds due to the installation of a new athletics track.


The ground is in great condition with a main stand in the club colours of blue and SSFC lettering running through the back of the stand in maroon,with matching coloured seats.Theres also a small covered terraced stand inbetween the main stand and the clubhouse known as 'The Mariner Stand' overall Shields have a smashing little grounds which I like a lot and look forward to returning to,especially after winning a bottle of vodka in the half-time raffle,the one and only time during my groundhopping adventures world wide:-)















(click pics to enlarge)

My Matchday Pics 2006 -112 Moor Park

August 7th 2006
Moor Park
Chester-Le Street Town v Gateshead
Pre-season friendly (score 1-2)

Moor Park has been the home of Chester-le-Street Town since 1980,the club was originally founded as Chester-le-Street Garden Farm after there formation in 1972.After progressing to the Wearside league in 1977 they changed their name to 'Town',and became members of the Northern League in 1980,winning promotion at the first attempt.

The Cestrians have spent £100,000 on bringing their home in Chester Moor up to Northern League standards,this includes a 200 seater stand,covered and uncovered terracacing,and floodlights.Moor Park has a very homely feel about it,hidden away on the A167 the money spend on the improvements has been wisely spent,and it's maybe one of the best grounds in the ANL.
(click on thumbnails for a larger image)

My Matchday Pics 2006 -111 Belle Vue Ground

17th July 2006
Belle Vue Ground
Consett v Newcastle Utd XI
Pre Season friendly
(score 0-1 att.800)



Newcastle started the first of their pre-season friendlies,by sending a reserve side to the Belle Vue Ground for a game against Northern League Division 2 Champions Consett.'The Steelmen' won their division in style last season,amassing 102 points and scoring an incredible 134 goals in the process.
Belle Vue has been Consett's home since 1950 after previously residing at Vicarage Road from their formation in 1899 up until 1948,they then played at Leadgate Eden Colliery until they found a more suitable home at the present site on Ashdale Road.
The ground consists of a main stand behind the dugouts which has a seating capacity of 475,the roof of the stand covers approximetly half the standing area in front,and a set of eight floodlight pylons.The other three sides are made up of grassed banks of terrace which is ideal on a July evening like tonight,lying in the sunshine enjoying a leisurely friendly,but not on a cold bleak Wednesday night in the ANL.
Match report@-http://www.consettafc.com/2006-07/newcastle-h.html


(click on thumbnails for larger images)