The Pink Sparkles One

As the sun broke through the winter drizzly clouds Newcastle ladies 1st XI started their journey towards the smog of Middlesbrough. Marton Furness were the opposition for this weekend and memories of last year's antics were flooding back. Changing room music, Helen delusional behaviour and the monthly farmers market.

As usual the journey provided lots of giggles in the convoy of cars. Normally we find out lots about Lou Lou’s life in Kenya however this time we learnt all about another member of the squad. Megan announced that she would have showers after the game but she doesn't have the correct sized towel. Our captain, the ever inclusive one, did make it clear that any side towel was allowed at after match showering. Hodge and Amy arrived just after the boys and Farrah, with Fi and her new look hair, styled on Elsa from Frozen! The Baz arrived with very little sleep and no idea where her husband was. Hannah thought it would be a good idea to prod Bazi’s patience! Bazi responded with love and affection to Hannah and reminded herself about pink sparkles over and over again!
Meanwhile the white car and black car had a race. Suze made the journey in good time after leaving very late. So Claire thought she had all the time in the world to get there before Suze because she was so late leaving Newcastle, only to arrive in the changing rooms seeing Suze applying more tape to Fi’s upper leg! The anticipation of the limited edition Rocky Road was too much for some so as soon as it appeared everyone divided in to grab some. There is only one piece…. And a whole tin from Hodge. It was yummy! Thank you Merry Berry Ladies! Before we left, Nicky went through the team and positions, which ignited a lot of chat about, who was on who’s side of the pitch, with who!

Whilst we waited for the previous game to finish, Brian took us on the warm up of death around the netball courts. With the fear of life, Princess Nicky insisted that we moved to the equally slippy carpark. The dare devils in the team went for the sprinting section of the warm up. The other half of the team just jogged in the fear of injury.

Eventually we got on the pitch and began to adjust our body position to compensate for the bounce of the pitch. Brian had strong words for us at the start but we began quite slow. Brian again was talking about the elusive club mini bus! In the first half we seemed to be second to the ball as we took time to anticipate the bounce. Even though we were only in 3rd gear we still created changes in their d. Nicky was passed the ball at the top and took the first time hit and missed the ball. Claire was given a set up and took the shot and missed the ball. When she was given it for the second time she passed to Hodge who took the shot and fouled the attacker. We just need to find that extra two gears to ensure we were successful today. We defended well and protected our goal and Princess Amy. The forward pressed the ball well and tracked the players eager to steal the ball from them. Fi tried to work her way up the line and without any other option tried to do some completely inappropriate 3d skills to get her out of the crowd. The game was quite a physical one but at least Anna was used to it after playing against Suze for years!

Half time came. Brian returned to the huddle and asked us to step up. Everyone asked themselves to step up. To be better for each other. That’s what we did. Lou lou had fabulous positioning in middle of the pitch whilst Nicky decided to make friends with a player from the opposition. The Right and Left mids held their sidelines which gave us great width. Anna’s amazing work rate up front was troubling them in the second half. Unfortunately she suffered a serious whack to her poor foot.

Obviously the eagerness to be awarded the banana today was too much for some as Nicky flew to the floor while playing the ball. Bazi then dropped to the fall twice and clutched her ear as she got up. She did continue to play but complained of an ear problem. In hindsight this could have actually been caused by Helen’s constant chat on the picture and not from the impact of a player.
Steph battled hard in the second half and pressed them at the back with a great run into the circle to be awarded a short corner. This was the perfect opportunity to take and we stayed calm kept our head over the ball and worked together to create a slick and goal worthy routine. 1-0! Marton weren’t going to let us get away with it that easily as they continued to press us. Claire was on point in the second half and bossed the middle with tackle after tackle. The mid and the backs communicated so well and helped each other as they tried to create something down the wing. One ran in to the d from a free hit and a short corner was given. We had to stay calm and make sure this ball stayed out. That is just what the famous five in Team D managed to do. They stopped any creativity and moved the ball out from the back. They defended the hit outs well and Amy was keen to switch the ball around the back. Rach wasn’t so keen and was a firm ‘NO IT’S NOT ON!’ Amy was a ‘YEAH IT IS ON!’

We managed to work it out up to Suze, who held the ball superbly, as always and produced her finest signature move to challenge their defence. Lou Lou was still perfectly placed in the middle and as the game went on, her true geordie roots began to show as she blurted ‘HAWAY MAN’ during a stick tackle. They still pressed us until the end and we defended well with great communication as someone helpfully sang advice to the defence in the spirit of Fi new hair…. “Let it go, let it go.” As the clock started to tick Hodge and Bazi got up to their usual tricks, then Rach and Suze joining in (At least Suze was in the attacking corner!) The final whistle went and a huge sigh of relief followed. Megan randomly took on the ‘three cheers’ roll today, very much like Hannah did in the previous match. I wonder who will steal it next time!? We had some missing legends this weekend and it was great to see the mini Bobi on video at the end of the match rocking out the nativity play! This gave Fi a little more time to be brave and walk out the pitch. She was scared to leave incase tempers overflowed outside the pitch after the game. One of the reasons she would have never of survived at a comp school! The other reason is that she has too much faith in her teammates! The same teammates that stole her towel when she was in the shower!!! Thankfully the Lovely Kind and Caring Hannah was their to return it!!! Steph was so tired from all the running (or perhaps knew more about her teammates that Fi did!) that she didn’t even make it in to the changing room and instead changed in the corridor.

There were a lot of lesson to be taken away from the game. The most important one that was apparent to everyone in the team and anyone who is a member of the club that was their... behaviour. Newcastle conducted themselves very well in an interesting environment. It is important to create an environment which is safe and fun for everyone involved to enjoy the game. This includes the umpires and the players.

As spectators to our matches you are representing the club and please continue this respect towards the players and the umpires at our matches.. Because we play for a wonderful club! As Winnie the Pooh once said “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard!” It is simply a pleasure to play with such wonderful people and be supported by such wonderful people. If you know of any more wonderful people send them to our club! WE LOVE THE WONDERFUL!