Season 2011/12 begins

Today see's the start of the new season and a chance to see Alan Pardews hard work in the summer in action.

Pardew has been fairly busy in the transfer market, with players coming and going from St James Park.

June saw the catalyst of the club Kevin Nolan leave for the Championship to join West Ham.

Nolan has been a massive part of the club, on and off the pitch. He has been a great leader for the team and all the players and fans looked up to him.

Other players to join Nolan out of the exit door are Ben Tozer, who left for Northampton Town on a free transfer, Wayne Routledge leave for QPR and yesterday saw Jose Enrique leave for Anfield.

St James Park has welcomed players Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux, Mehdi Abeid and Gabriel Obertan to the club, in the quest for silverwear.

Newcastle kick off their season tomorrow against Arsenal, who have had a summer of hell, with reports on and off about their star player Cesc Fabregas leaving for Barcelona. It looks now to be confirmed he is on the way and will be confirmed over the weekend.

Samir Nasri is also reported to be on the way out of the club and on his way to Eastlands, for around £23 million and has been left out of the sqaud to face United.

Arsenal will also be without Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby through injury. Robin Van Persie and Kieran Gibbs will also face late fitness tests to see if they will play apart in the opening fixture.

Newcastle will be without Hatem Ben Arfa and Dan Goslin who picked up knocks in pre season, but they could see the return of Cheick Tiote and Shane Ferguson, who would be a great replacement for the now departed Enrique.

Newcastle have only beaten Arsenal once in the last 12 visits from the Gunners, with a 1-0 win back in December 2005, but with a great fight back last season after been four goals down to grab a point, lets hope the wind is still in our sails to grap some points and start the new season in winning form.

Howay the lads!!

Alan Pardew Set For Newcastle

It is today reported that Newcastle United will appoint Alan Pardew as thier new manger after the dismissal of Chris Hughton on monday.

The unveiling  of thier new manager is scheduled for 2.30pm today.

In a supportive article in The Telegraph they say

"....savvy enough, bright enough, street-wise enough and confident enough to understand not only the special nature of the club – and the resonance that exists with his own background - but that he quickly needs to connect with the fans. He will do.

"Certainly his history would suggest he is up to the task. Beyond the fact – often over-looked – that he is a far better coach, far more innovative manager and has the strength of personality to thrive in the top half of the Premier League – his back-story points to a man equipped to cope with what will be thrown at him.

"Any suggestion that Newcastle are being presented with a ‘new Joe Kinnear’ is grossly unfair.... it’s not a re-building job at St James' Park, but a re-ordering one involving a more subtle approach. But he can galvanise the club.

"Pardew likes to explore the "psychological side" of football and examines other sports, especially American football, comparing the Green Bay Packers, with its “working-class roots” to West Ham. He will have a similar point of reference at Newcastle."
Please tells me your thoughts on the appointment and who you would of liked to see in charge of Newcastle United.

The Roll-A-Coaster Starts Again At Newcastle United

After suffering relegation from the top flight and Mike Ashley putting the club up for sale, Derek Llambias released a statement saying "Mike Ashley feels it would be unwise to appoint a team manager when the club is for sale." This was followed by the appointment of Chris Hughton as caretaker manager.

After a great start to the 2009-10 season in the Championship and winning three manager of the month awards, he was offered the permanent managers position.

He managed to secure promotion back to the Premier League after just one season away, taking the Championship title with 102 points, winning  30, drawing 12 and losing 4 of the 46 games and remaining unbeaten at home throughout the season.

Newcastle opened up their new Premiership campaign  with a tough trip to Old Trafford, suffering a 3 - 0 defeat, but this didn't holt Newcastle United, they opened up the home form a week later with a 6 - 0 thrashing against Aston Villa, with new club number nine, Andy Carroll, bagging a hat-trick.

Newcastle have had a very inconsistent 2010-11 season so far, losing points to the likes of Blackpool, Wolves, Wigan and Fulham, but taking points from Arsenal and Chelsea.

After picking up only 5 points in the last 6 games, but 4 of them coming against Arsenal and Chelsea, Mike Ashley felt it was time to move on.

The club released a statement saying: "Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment since being appointed manager in October 2009. The club wishes him well for the future."

"Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club further."

All first team affairs have been handed to reserve coaches Peter Beardsley and Steve Stone on a temporary basis.

There has been a few of the same names getting thrown around for the job, with Martin Jol being the favourite  after stepping down as manager of Dutch side Ajax after a run of bad form.

Alan Pardew is a close second favourite, with word been said he wants the job.

Who is the right man for the job? Who do you want to see in charge of Newcastle United?

Martin Jol - 1996-1998 Roda JC
                                     Won Dutch Cup 96-97
                   1998-2004 RKC Waalwijk
                   2004-2007 Tottenham Hotspur
                   2008-2009 Hamburg
                   2009-2010 Ajax
                                     Won Dutch Cup 09-10

Alan Pardew - 1998-2003 Reading
                       2003-2006 West Ham United
                                          Runner-Up FA Cup 05-06
                       2006-2008 Charlton Athletic
                       2009-2010 Southampton
                                          Won Football League Trophy 2010

Martin O'Neil - 1990-1995 Wycombe Wanderers
                                            Winners Football Conference 1993
                                                         FA Trophy 1991, 1993
                                                         Division Three Play-Off Winners  1994
                         1995           Norwich
                         1995-2000 Leicester City
                                            Winners First Division Play-Off Winners !995-96
                                                          League Cup 1997, 2000
                         2000-2005 Celtic
                                            Winners Scottish Premier League 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04
                                                         Scottish Cup 2001, 2004, 2005
                                                         Scottish League Cup 2000-01
                         2006-2010 Aston Villa
                                          

Fantastic Year For Reeve And Cleveland Gym

Sam Reeve made a successful first defence of his IKF British Welterweight Title in front of a packed crowd in Kent.

Reeve, 24, beat the freezing temperatures to make a 270 mile journey to Rochester, Kent, where he fought home fighter Neil Wyborn.

The first two rounds were very even as both fighters got into their groove, making it hard to split them apart.

In the third round Reeve’s intensive training regime started to play its part, as his speed and strength became too much for Wyborn.

As Wyborn came back off the ropes with his hands down, Reeve delivered an explosive right hand, to send Wyborn crashing down. As Reeve looked to finish the fight the bell came to Wyborn's rescue.

Wyborn started very strongly in the final two rounds, knowing he had to give everything he had left to get back into the fight, but in the fifth and final round he started to tire and Reeve was able to finish the stronger of the two, taking the victory by a unanimous points decision.

Sam Reeve has had a great 2010, becoming IKF champion in February, taking the title from Niel Wyborn in Kent. Then in April he made the first defence of his EFK British Welterweight Title against Middlesbrough fighter, Glenn Coleman, winning by unanimous decision.

In November he carried on his run of great form by making a second successful defence of his EFK title against Scottish fighter Mikey Shields, then three weeks later, making the long trip down to Kent to take on Neil Wyborn for the second time in the year.

This victory has capped off a great year for Sam Reeve and Cleveland Kickboxing Gym and it has shown that if you put the hard work into your training, that you can gain everything from it.

Cleveland Gym has had a golden 2010. With Chris McCartie defending his European title and Sam Reeve defending his British titles.

But also with the juniors who have made long trips, picking up victories around the country, with Morgan Guest and Francis Conlin both becoming Northern Area Schoolboy Champions.

Ron Gray Cleveland Kickboxing Gym coach, said: “From European, British and junior titles, all Cleveland Gym fighters and coaches have pulled together. We have had a fantastic year throughout the club.”

“We are planning our next show which is March 6th 2011 at the Marton Country Club, where these fighters will be defending their titles.”

If you are interested in joining the sport or if you have any questions on up and coming events, you can contact the gym at Leeholme Road, Billingham or call Ron Gray 07939 130 942.

Chris McCartie Clinches EFK European Glory

BILLINGHAM kickboxer Chris McCartie made a successful first defence of his EFK European Light-Middleweight Title in front of a packed home crowd.

 

McCartie was able to use his long reach over Northern Irish opponent Stuart Jess, to win by a unanimous 64-70, 67-68, 65-68 decision.

When asked after the fight how he felt to successfully defend his European Title and how he felt he performed, McCartie said: “Fantastic, one word.”

“I felt I could have trained harder, in all honesty I wasn’t 100% as I should be, but I feel next time I’m going to come through and going to train harder and hopefully put on a better show as well.

“I felt I could of put more effort in, so definitely train harder.”

Cleveland Gym also tasted success, with Sam Reeve defending his EFK British Welterweight Title over Scottish fighter Mikey Shields.

Reeve looked sharp from the start and his speed and strength really played its part, winning the fight by unanimous point’s decision, 46-50, 48-50, 46-50.

Other Results:

• Callum McGregor (Rivals Gym) beat Francis Conlon (Cleveland Gym)
• Kelly Sivills (Scorpio Gym) beat Jen Todd (Contender Gym)
• Morgan Guest (Cleveland Gym) draw Callum Reynolds (Rivals Gym)
• John Russell (Tatakai Gym) beat Kevin Wheatley (Stockton Kickboxing Gym)
• Steven Raybould (Cleveland Gym) beat Rob Bennett (Scorpio Gym)
• Mark Dickson (Rivals Gym) beat Shaun Liddle (Cleveland Gym)
• Dimitri Kalatzis (Scorpio Gym) beat Paul Marshall (Dave Lancaster Gym)
• James Wilson (Stockton Kickboxing Gym) beat Sean Evis (Tatakai Gym)
• Richard Carr (Akai Gym) beat John Dickson (Rivals Gym)
• Scott Allan (Rivals Gym) beat Mick Dunford (Scorpio Gym)

Your compare for the evening was BBC Tees Radio presenter and lifelong Middlesbrough FC fan Alastair Brownlee.

After the show he said: “I have been coming along to these shows for a number of years now and I think tonight the standard of all the kickboxing has been at the highest of what we have seen. Really well organised, some great entertainment for everybody and I think the attendance recognises that this is an up and coming sport.

“I always enjoy coming along to these events because normally I’m commentating on professional football matches and footballers earning probably thousands and thousands a week, as where the guys and indeed the ladies who were fighting here, the majority do it for the love of the sport.”

During the night there was a raffle to raise money for the Action Duchenne charity for Muscular Dystrophy. In total they raised £329.94

Christine Maude, whose grandson Jake suffers from the disease, started raising money for the charity back in May. Since then, she and her family have managed to raise over £5000.

Photographs by Keith Adams Photography