Eric Oates CARPET SALES

THE TEESDALE MERCURY Wednesday, 23rd June, 1982 SUNDAY: A lazy day, partic A GREAT FUN ularly if we’ve arrived home late Sending off has made Ipswich from an away game the night MERCURY before. If we win Fm eager to players want to thrash Spurs RUN - AND see what the papers say before COMMENT studying the league tables. If we SO W ELL DONE lose I’m a bit down and don't want to know. A heap of praise has to Malcolm Parker who put so much Some reporters are good. Their DAYS IN THE LIFE OF go this week to everyone into it over many months. match verdicts and features make involved in the Upper Tees B ut 'they in tu rn were grateful great reading, but others don’t dale fun run — checkers, to the (large army of helpers who seem to understand the game or E r ic O a te s timers, marshals, first aiders complied .the lists, prepared die players. Even well known men and caterers as well as those route, checked the runners at who have their names and photo who puffed and sweated. various stages, handed out food graph next to their story are not star footballer For sheer spectacle there has and drinks and generally assured the authortiy they seem. competitions. I had some eye- But I can’t imagine a way of been nothing ifike it for years: the that all participants were safe. But players have to take the opening trips to the continent. life that would have brought me sight of over 1,200 runners pound It was no mean feat over such good with the bad. We’re in the Our best performance? We beat more. If Martin has the ability ing .through Mdddileton in one a rugged course, but despite the public eye and must expect some St. Ettiene 4-1 in France. They III be right behind! him. He’s made great mass was quite breathtaking. obvious difficulties there seemeo criticism. The state of ithe game were enjoying a marvellous run a good start—his first word was hardly a hitch. Response to the event was a is healthy here despite what the and folk said they would beat us football! It was a fairly easy workout for trifle lukewarm in the upper dale media says. We have the most —but we hammered them. the regular sporting types who set at first, but 'that feeling was swept exciting league and cups in the A game in Poland was unusual. THURSDAY: Hard training. Be off first and >led th e way, but there away as the vast assortment of world. Although there are fabu We played on flattened snow. They fore winter we’ve regained full was jolly encouragement from the athletes surged through the village. lous teams abroad our overall can’t postpone games there be fitness and concentrate more on crowds for the others of all shapes, Among many spectators there standards are higher. cause it snows for four months. skills and organisation. We’ve a sizes and ages for whom it was was only one regret — that they My Dutch team mates Frans The lines were painted by hand. practice pitch behind the main something new .... and who themselves were not taking part Thisson and Arnold Muhren (who We lost 1-0 but won on aggregate. stand and spend most of the morn who struggled home long after the and helping to make this colourful has just moved to Manchester A referee in a tie against a ing doing fitness training including experts had changed and eaten. bit of history. United) say first division football Greek team had a controversial sprints before returning in the Apart from the fun enjoyed by in Holland attracts gates of 5,000 time. We won 5-1 at Portman afternoon for more technical work Along .the pavements spectators ail, the run brought in a great or even 2,000. Who would believe Road in the first leg. We scored and 5-a-side games. could be heard shouting approval, deal of cash to be used for a their international team reached three penalties as the Greeks were We all have a set of spikes for and assuring friends that <they’d sports complex — and now that the last two world ©u<p finals. dirty—two were for fouls on me. sprint work which we do more of soon be in training -for next year’s the standard has been set, there We’Ve a fickle bunch of fans. The Greeks wera’t happy. At than most dubs. We do a lot of fun run. will no doubt be even greater Supporters in the North East their ground fans were angry and work on set pieces and it’s great Eric Gates could be soaking up the sun on some faraway The main thanks have .to go to rewards to come from next year’s appreciate their football more. If threw missiles. The referee when they pay off. Spectators may beach, but instead he's at his parents house in Staindrop enjoying race directors George Lear and event. Newcastle or Sunderland had a trembled before the game. He think it straightforward but a lot meeting friends he hasn't had a chance to see for a while. team as good as Ipswich they’d get awarded them two goals when we of work goes into them. Although he leads an exciting, lucrative life as a top footballer, 50.000 every game. were sure the ball hadn’t crossed In a game against Spurs with the envy of thousands of star struck youngsters, he reckons there's PEEPS INTO THE PAST We have a hard core of about the line, but I scored a late goal the score 3-3 I was tripped. The no place like home to relax after a hard season. 12.000 fanatics who would turn up referee waved play on but as I to clinch the tie. He joined Ipswich Town straight from school and despite 5 YEARS AGO 15 YEARS AGO even if we were in the fourth picked myself up Graham Roberts I hate flying but enjoy trips problems settling down has emerged as one of the most hardworking Mr Leonard Raw, 63, of Red A Barnard Castile team of Frank division, and an average gate of stood on my head deliberately. I abroad as you never know what to and exciting midfield players in the country, scoring some memorable Well Cottage, Baimaird Castle, a Atkinson, Alan Wilkinson, Mrs B. around 20,000. But they don’t get stood up and pushed him away but expect. Some grounds are no better goals. senior ambulance driver for Dur Marisey and Mrs E. Talbott lost behind us with enthusiasm. If we the ref looked as I did it and sent than Northern League ones, A first team regular for four years, he has enjoyed life, ham County Council, received a to Redcar in a Tyne Tees TV quiz win 4-0 they feel we should have me off. while others are better than our travelling all over Europe and occasionally further afield to play Jubilee Medal from Buckingham an which Katie Boyle put the scored six. These incidents are usually for best. At Barcelona the dressing against world famous players in fabulous modern stadiums filled Palace. questions. rooms seem almost as big as the gotten quickly, but the lads were with fanatical fans. MONDAY: Footballers get that annoyed. We love to beat Spurs pitch. That’s the best I’ve played With their blend of skill, determination and the shrewd The whole of Teesdale celebrated Monday morning feeling more to this day and tell ourselves they at for atmosphere and facilities. management of Bobby Robson, Ipswich have more often than not .the Queen’s silver jubilee, with Hundreds of dead fish were than most. In early season we are no good. The trips I look forward to in come out on top. Eric has also played for England. Although fancy dress shows, sports, carnival taken from the Tees at Barnard train hard. It’s exhausting with Most of the Ipswich team were England are Liverpool and Man in the original squad of 40 he didn't make the final 22 for the parades, social evenings and ham Castle. Their death being a long cross country runs. I’m not disappointed to see them win the chester United. An hour before World Cup. teas. Some people exdadmed: mystery, an investigation was made naturally fit and am usually in the cup. It’s rather daft because of kick off the grounds are filling and He'll enjoy it on television while giving an ankle injury time “We must have a jubilee more after water samples for chemical group struggling at the back. an incident that cost us a game Later in the season when we are tension. mounts, keying up the to heal so that he can thrill fans with more goals next season. often.” analysis were .taken. visitors as well as the home team. years ago—but look out, Spurs, fit training is lighter but it’s often I’m getting a good rest while preview and there’s terrible mickey An hour before kick off at Stoke we’ll be after you again next 20 YEARS AGO so cold that it’s just as agonising. cheering the lads in Spain. I’ve a taking if one of us is featured. 10 YEARS AGO or Middlesbrough you wouldn’t season! Mr and Mrs A.

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