Going to this one provided its not Monday. Hotel booked provisionally hoping match is Sat or Sun.. I'm looking forward to reacquainting self with St James Park. Wife looking forward to the shopping!! Only time prevously on St James's Park was April 1983 a strange game without much atmosphere notwithstanding the 3-2 loss scoreline featuring a bizarre Mecky own goal and 2 "Killer" super-sub sharp strikes.

That's exactly as I remember him. Wasn't he nicknamed "Spider" given his physical characteristics?

No complaint about anything he needed to do. In fairness he was hardly tested. Strong-wristed away a firmly struck shot that came through a crowd of players. Fair play on that one. Have to say that his judgement of Freeman's shot that clipped outside of post high up was impeccable.?

Am I right in thinking that you can prepay by ringing the ticket office or booking your ticket online before the matchday deadline and collect from the kiosk to avoid the surcharge. If that is correct it is very likely that there are only a few that truly decide at the last minute to go that pay for the "last minute" service. Surely most of those averse to paying extra could organise their diary to make a call or go online!! I do however hold the view that on the playing side, on communications via social media, on coaching and team management and commercial partnerships and sponsorship there have been enormous progressive strides. These need to be matches by an inventive progressive policy on season ticket and matchday ticket pricing. I'm not keen at this stage on allocating the upper BBE to young adults per JHR's idea. Would create empty chasms in other areas of ground until there is a huge surge in attendances. Apologies for the appearanceof the post!!

There's been a long list of incomers with "masked" poor medical histories .... Gilliver, Britt, Agnew, Munro etc.... but IIRC Jimmy Kerr who had a very bright future picked up a new career ending injury very soon after joining. The modern pre contract "medical" with full medical/injury history provided by the "selling" club hopefully negates Agnewlike mistakes in future.

Scott Wilson (Northern Echo) reports today that Chapman's shoulder injury is not serious and hints that a number of clubs in Championship and League One are after him on loan.