Reet - I haven't read the rest of this thread but I wanted to add some points about Chester-le-Street's recent cricket match.
I grew up in Great Lumley and I used to play footy on the fields that were where the stadium is now. I hadn't had a chance to get to a match before yesterday. So 4 of us went along for The Ashes test Day 4. I was a little bit worried it would all be an anticlimax. I have been to Trent Bridge every year for the past 20 years and often go to Lords and The Oval too for The Ashes. When I got into the ground I wasn't exactly encouraged by the temporary stand and dirt tracks leading into the ground.
f***ing hell Chester-le-Street, you did the cricket world proud. The organisation, beer and food, parking, stewards and staff, the outfield and the views from the stands were all absolutely fantastic. Yesterday had everything. We started the day as favourites then lost the plot as the morning went on. It looked like a certainty that the Aussies would win. Then the rain came and everybody was pretty miserable. The 4 vicars right behind us kept us entertained as did The Honey Monster and Bertie Bassett popping up in the stands every few minutes. The final session, spurred on by an atmosphere louder than I have ever encountered in cricket (including Trent Bridge) was incredible. The crowd were willing on Broady to bowl them out. Brilliant when we waved Watson and Smith goodbye back to the pavilion. "Can't bat, can't bowl, what can you do?" Stumps flying everywhere, crowd getting louder and louder as we sense a win in possible. Then the clouds come in and the twirlers are on, it's back in Australia's hands. With 20 minutes to go the sun starts breaking through and we sing "Here Comes the Sun" as Broady smashes the rest out and we get the final catch to drive the crowd mental.
Absolutely brilliant stuff and I left extremely proud to be from the North East and in particular from CLS. I really hope that Durham are award another test. If they can build a new stand on the back of this success that would be fantastic. Superb stuff and also encourages younguns to take up the game. Wouldn't it be great if the next Ian Botham started their career with (and stayed with) Durham?
