Newspaper Clippings - Dick Butler - page 66
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IT'S A TOPSY - TURVY ALLIANCE THERE were some topsy turvy Northern Alliance results last week in which Throckley Welfare and Marine Park lost their unbeaten records and the joint leaders South Shields and Carlisle City , on eight points parity . new were ex The Cumbrians shocked Marine at home 4-0 and deservedly so after Wolves player John Ritson and recently signed John Hopper from Tow Law , had set up a 2-0 interval lead . The tight Carlisle defence has conceded only three goals in five games , a credit to coach Ron Thompson the former Carlisle United player , and will provide a stiff challenge to South Shields in the clash between the top two next week : THE The Mariners were put to the test before beating NORTHERN ALLIANCE previously 100 per cent Throckley Welfare 5-1 2-1 after nosing ahead before half - time . Ken Parker ( 2 ) kept up his record go al - a - g a me matched by Jimmy Robson ( 2 ) and the nap hand was made up by Billy Graham . This was one of the better displays by Shields this season and augurs well for their bid to retain the championship title . Worthy draw Seaham Red Star maintained their unbeaten tag with a worthy 1-1 draw at Percy Main Red Star have several teenagers with potential including 17 year old Steve Laverick and 18 ' keeper Alan year old Turns . Alnwick Town kept in ' keeper touch with the leading quartet by virtue of a 3-1 hard - earned win against improving Greenwells . After trailing 2-0 at half to time two Johnny Morpeth Duncan goals . Town rallied with three goals in five minutes and won 4-2 against Belford . Joint leading league scorer of 1974/75 Colin Rutter grabbed two of the Morpeth goals . Wallington got their usual point at Workington in a hard fought game which could have gone either way . despite ending the season as wooden spoonists . Wallsend Athletic picked up their first win of the ( 5-1 ) against luckless Bedlington . season 7 In a rearranged game next week Bede College are at home to Greenwells in their first fixture of the season , October 4 and should see both Newcastle and Durham Universities start off their programme . NORTHERN ALLIANCE PW D L F A Pts 1 9 3 8 18 7 8 12 7 7 1 12 11 7 1 8 2 1 12 9 1 10 8 9 6 Carlisle City 5 So. Shields . 5 3 Seaham RS . 5 2 Marine Park 5 3 Alnwick Tn . , 4 3 Throckley W 4 Proy Mn Am Wallington Morpeth Tn Wkton Res Greenwells Belford 5 2 As a matter of interest the Alliance 1974-75 awards for sportsmanship featured these sides , with Workington ( £ 50 ) first , Wallsnd Ath Bedlington • 9 . Ncle Univ Wallington ( £ 30 ) second , brhm Univo and Greenwells ( £ 20 ) third " Bede Coll 4 5 5 5 1 5 432333NNNHELLOOOO 4 1 5 1 00000OOTOTNOOIEN00 435000TTOOTE 2 1 11 6 12 4 11 12 00 3 22000NNWASSSSLLS0 00 6 5 4 3 6 9 9 16 6 24 0,1 00 12 N H SOU posi char a in THI Cho Aut all thir qua the TH EBA Davi Mala Mo. ( € ) 55 HO Dripping - and - bread soccer TO ALL my many red - and - white - eyed mates who have thrown up their arms in horror at the news that I am covering the potentially thrilling , probably hot and cold , but , as ever , unpredictable Newcastle United this season , I must confess that in the very beginning Kirkup was as black and white as the magpie itself . I was born just a couple of miles from St. Jame's Park a few months before Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-1 in the 1932 FA Cup Final and later , for several eventful years , I lived only a few yards from St. James's Park which to me and the The day rest of my gang in that rough tough quarter of Newcastle was the holy of holies . Since then , of course , I have come to regard our two big clubs on Tyne and Wear with equal affection , enjoying just as much as the staunchest fan the successes of these two great clubs . Equally , I have shared the agonising heartbreaks their disappointments . As I travel the First Division circuit , I'll bring back inside news of super - club soccer and its varying personalities in a special weekly " Dick Kirkup File " but always I will remember my days among the great " popular side " crowd at St. James's Park starting during the 1939-45 war years . But I hardly made the grand entrance . I was one of a crowd of soccer - crazy kids , living in the very shadow of the ground , who didn't have the price of admission . Nevertheless , on Saturdays we still made our way to the popular side gate at least a couple of hours before the kick 2 off . Still waiting - of After we had finished our dripping and bread the bread was a long strip of " oven bottom cake " , known on the South side of the Tyne as " stottie cake " we begged everybody we saw to " Take me in Mister " , but always we would still be waiting outside that gate after the last of the spectators had gone in . How many are the hours I stood there , my young heart thumping at the sound of the great roars from the in a would swing open , some spectators would make their early getaway either to miss the crush at the end or to catch buses or trains but , most important , our gang would gallop up the steps to see the last ten minutes for FREE ! a der We did this for around three seasons , and it was during this time that I had my first taste of violence on the field . My big hero at the time was Newcastle's red headed , broken nosed , lion - hearted and brilliant centre forward Albert Stubbins who I am now proud to call a personal friend , like SO many of my boyhood idols . The ten minute flag had gone down , and I scampered up the steps behind the popular side terraces . As usual when I reached the top , I looked for Stubbins - but on this occasion I couldn't see him . He had to be there somewhere . was Newcastle were playing Sunderland , and I had read that Stubbins playing , but where was he ? In my anxiety I hadn't noticed two players having rare old set - to on the ground , and when my eyes finally got around to them there he was exchanging punches with a Sunderland player . a fi Gazette sports wi of Newcastle Uni reckon he's more he has turned tra ning of his life - lo manhood to sudden I was surrounded by red and white shirts and I thought , I'm for i now . ' Sent off " But all they did was to separate us , after which 1 was sent off for the one and only time in my career . When I got neal the tunnel I heard someone racing up behind me and I clenched my fists thinking it was Jimmy ready for another dust - up . " It WAS Jimmy , but there was no more trouble . He stuck out his hand saying : ' Albert , the sent me off as well . ' We shook hands there and then on the field and we became good friends . " That's one of a thousand memories I treasure . distance Perhaps lends enchantment ; perhaps we look back with greater |
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