Life is Gay at Whitley Bay

Subbuteo '94

Hallyink

Here's something both good and northern. Hallyink, a Hartlepool based sketchist, who's focussing on local clubs cult heroes and then recreating them with a classic smudging of HB granite. Refreshing to see an artist dedicating his talents to the likes of Pools and Boro, rather then Man Utd and Liverpool, for a change. Could easily do United's treble winners - let's be honest, they'd sell quicker - but no, Hartlepool United are his team and drawing is his gift, so that's what he's going to do. Good man. Check out his wares here

Steve Harper Testimonial

If ever a player deserved a testimonial it's Steve Harper. Despite only playing 199 games for Newcastle, he's the longest serving player in their history (by some stretch) with two decades of unflinchingly loyal service.

Signed from Seaham Red Star in 1993, he provided back up cover to many a goalkeeper but stayed loyal to the black and white cause. Successful loans, in particular with Hartlepool and Huddersfield, led to calls for a move away in search of first team football (and with it no doubt glory and riches), but Steve's head couldn't be turned as he waited for his chance. It arrived in 09/10 when the club plied their trade in the Championship when he finally became first choice. That season he kept 20 clean sheets which is a Toon club record. Hung out to dry by the clubs owners in the summer of 2013, no coaching or even an ambassador role offered, he joined Hull. The Toon fans demanded an event to celebrate his service and their calls were rewarded with a charity match with AC Milan.

With Steve being an ex Pools player I jumped at the chance to head up to St James's to witness a special night. Even I was awed by the players on show. AC Milan introduced first and getting a great reception, Maldini and Costacurta in particular getting cheers as if they were ex Newcastle players. Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio, an AC player circa 1994, was introduced last to a chorus of boos and he emerged from the tunnel hamming up the panto villain role, waving and blowing kisses to the crowd.

The Toon squad included Albert, Beresford, Dabizas, Ginola, Beardsley, Cole, Ferdinand, Tino and Shearer. And for once Harper got the nod over Given.

The game, as always with charity games, was a bit flat on the pitch as knackered legs, grey hair and beer guts took there tole. Annoyingly, for the Toon faithful at least, Di Canio was the best player on the pitch, and on that evidence could do worse than select himself for his struggling Sunderland side. He dashed around unchecked, until the second half when sub Joey Barton  delivered a vicious raking down the Italians calf. He took it with a smile on his face, despite the standing ovation and jeers from the Mags.

Meanwhile the main man Harper had a decent spell in goal, saving well from a couple of classy eyetie efforts, and waving to the crowd. He came off halfway through the first and carried on from the dugout as manager of the legends. He could only manage a nil nil draw, despite having some fearsome, yet aging, strikers to choose from. Cole still looked sharp despite being out of the game for some five years and twice forced great saves from Massimo Taibi and also hitting the post.

Penalties it was and the former Man United reject Taibi spoiled things by saving the first two spot kicks as Milan converted theirs past Newcastle's Srnicek. Harper strolled up to take the third and Taibi held his hands up in mock surrender. He jumped slightly to the side, upright, legs together and arms firmly by his side in an attempt to let Harps strike past him. Unfortunately the ball struck his knee and bounced out, to his, Harper's and the crowds dismay...

AC Glorie the victors then. Not the fairytale result, but the night itself was. 50 thousand people, including Ant and Dec, packed in St James's to call time on Harper's twenty years and raise some funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Happy Mondays @ Newcastle

Me and our kid are on the rattler to Toon, excited at the prospect of seeing the Happy Mondays original line up play together for the first time in 19 years. The Ryder brothers reunited after over a decade of hating each others guts. Bez, Mark Day, Knobhead, Gazza Whelan and Rowetta completing Madchester's finest.

It's been a long time coming for those guys, nearly two decades since the ill fated 'Yes, Please' caused ill temper and the breakup of the Mondays. Back in previous forms and line ups as far as 2007 but never the original bunch. And they're playing their first reunion gig in Newcastle. Good times.

We're having a few jars in the pub round the corner. Usual crowd milling about wetting their whistle. Ageing chaps who remember them first time around, resplendent in their Lyle & Scott, CP Company et. al. Never understand lads wearing their best gear at gigs considering there'll be bottles of piss flying round later. I'm dressing it down in a vintage RL harrington and battered Trimm Trabs. I'm telling the tale that Rowetta has retweeted/replied to me three times in 48 hours. The little tease. We sink a few lagers, rib a guy who wants to be Liam Gallagher (who isn't going to the gig), give a cheer when 'Step On' comes on the jukey and slope off to the O2.

In the academy and overpriced Carlsberg I'm jealously eyeing up the Happy Mondays bucket hats the merch stalls are selling, kicking myself that I only brought beer vouchers. The Inspiral Carpets come on as support earlier than expected and do a cracking job of rousing the crowd with a handful of quality tunes. Clint Boon plays up to the 'Boon Army' and seems quite emotional that its the first time the Carpets have played together for awhile too. I make the mistake of seeing out their set before going for a slash and join every gent in the place in a queue for the one set of khazi's.

Then there's a long old wait of anticipation waiting for the guys to come out. Eventually Bez swaggers out to a massive cheer and introduces the guys. They come out of the wings to critical acclaim and kick us off with Loose Fit. The crowd, including myself and the lad, go mental, but more so when Bez comes back out for some Freaky Dancin for Kinky Afro. He disappears after this - well he is a grandad.

Hit after hit and tune and tune come out from the Mondays. Shaun swearing a lot and living up to his lead role, checking the setlist sellotaped to the floor and ribbing Bez about his aftershow party being very exclusive - pay the six quid or have excellent tits and you're in. Paul and Mark do an excellent job on respective guitars and Rowetta looks and sounds great. The sound is a little muffled but they're doing a smashing job. They can play and are doing it as if they have been doing it for 19 years.

Anxiously checking watch as the last train to Durham looms. Ryder breaks into 'Step On', Bez reappearing to bop around. The crowd noise goes up a couple of decibels and I'm thinking they can't possibly do an encore after Step On. Alas they do and theres no fucking way I'm leaving for the train. They reappear and go to Mr. Jellybean followed by WFL. Then it's off the stage enroute to tomorrow's gig in Glasgow with Newcastle cheering them all the way there. Great reviews to follow on this tour if tonight's show is anything to go by.

Me and our kid leave - all sweaty bodies, passive weed stink, stale beer fug clouding and piss stained shoes. We find a bus stop and get on the last double decker of the night to the land of Prince Bishops. Sat on the top deck, flying through dark silent streets we relived the songs, me slightly disappointed 'Tart Tart' wasn't on the menu. Still 'God's Cop' and 'Holiday' were. Pleased about that.

The Mondays playing together for the first time in 19 years. And we were there. Champion.

Thats Entertainment

808 State. Black Grape. Blur. Ian Brown. The Charlatans. The Coral. The Enemy. The Farm. The Futureheads. Gorillaz. Happy Mondays. Housemartins. Inspiral Carpets. James. Kasabian. The La's. Madness. Manic Street Preachers. New Order. Oasis. The Seahorses. Shed Seven. Suede. Supergrass. What's this? Thats Entetainment.

That is just some of a few artists whose work I've picked up from the store that is That's Entertainment. Dealing in used CDS/DVDs and selling from 99p up, most £1.99 (or 3 for a fiver), it's enabled me to expand my CD collection dirt cheaply. Some from the list, like Kasabian, were important albums that I hadn't bought as I couldn't warrant spending a tenner on a CD brand new. So £1.99 each used? Bang on. Other artists like Blur, Mondays and Oasis I grew up with and already had several albums, but has enabled me to get 'lesser albums' (Oasis Be Here Now and Standing On...) or rarer ones (Mondays Rave On EP) rather than just the best sellers or greatest hits.

They seem to be situated in the North (Metro Centre, Newcastle, North Shields and York were about 60% of the companies stores last year) but with the likes of HMV struggling and the recession biting it wouldn't surprise me if they expand. Saying that I was gutted to visit the Metro the other day and find it closed. Was genuinely upset. I told the wife who kindly informed me that they've now branched out to on tinterweb. So had a look. Thousands of bargains there and free P&P. So Gorillaz Plastic Beach and Wonderstuff's Greatest are wending their merry way to me for £3.98.

Dogging in Newcastle

Excuse the misleading title, just I'm vaguely amused at the additional page hits I'll receive by randy Geordies googling hotspots for sordid public displays of making babies in their cars. I'm actually referring to greyhound racing that takes place four days a week in the East end of Newcastle..

Went for the first time ever last night after the wife received free complimentary tickets through work, and had a blast. A few friends, a few family and myself and the wife went dogging in Byker (I'm sorry, I'll stop it now). Throughly enjoyed the free pie and pies and a few jars, whilst having a few quid on the dog I fancied in each race. Had three winners out of twelve races, the best was the aptly titled 'Mags Gamble', so just came under break even - but made it far more enjoyable even if it was just for peanuts.

Shall certainly look into it again as was a relativity cheap night - entrance, fed and watered, and twelve singles and spent just over £20 - for me and the wife. Great nights entertainment. Shame a few of the lads opted out, but they're heavier gamblers than us lot who went, so will possibly have been worried about loss of wages. Could have had a better end to the evening for the wife too - she fell ill on the way home, and was in the driving seat at the time so covered the dash, herself and me in vom. Meant I had to drive from Gateshead to Durham slightly over the limit, but four pints of watered down Carlsberg (which is pishwasser anyway) led to no driving mishaps - it probably just added to the evenings entertainment.