Episode 3 Late Kick Off North East and Cumbria

And tonight, an American dream in Cumbria. We need Carlisle's Frank

Simek. -- we meet. It is what I call the real world. At Hartlepool,

flying high one minute, sinking the next.

Hello and a warm welcome to another Late Kick Off. I am Mark Clemmit.

As ever, Danny Mills is here. And we have a packed sofa tonight.

After that cracking FA Cup tie yesterday, one of the North East's

most familiar names over the past decade, Middlesbrough and former

Sunderland star Julio Arca, is here. And we are also joined by the

Mirror's man on our patch Simon Bird. You are armed with lots of

gossip as it is transfer deadline day. Has it been quite relaxed?

expect Sunderland to be busy, with three possible arrivals. Newcastle,

possibly someone from Watford. Not millions spent. Maybe some deals

bubbling. I may be scratching for other details. At Julio, welcome.

Six years at Sunderland. How gutted were you to miss the game to

suspension yesterday? Obviously, you look forward to play, and

disappointed. It has been a while since I was last suspended. And for

it to happen before the Derby, obviously disappointed. We have the

incident that led to your red card. Are you guilty? At the moment, that

kind of target, that kind of tactic, it can get the red card. Yuan not

malicious, just a desperate attempt to get the ball? -- you are not

malicious. I went and did not think twice about it. Then the red card

came after. I then knew I was going to miss the Sunderland game. When?

There are some important games coming up for the league. Being

away Porter redeems us quite a long time, especially when you can lose

your position. It was a cracking game. Problems can happened. You

score goals, the 01 minute, the villain do next. But you almost

always get remembered more for being the villain. Barry Robson

does hold his hand up to mistakes. Yes, he is that kind of sky, who

apologises if he does something wrong. -- that kind of man. We can

see lots about him. I heard he threw the man-of-the-match

champagne away? I do not know about that. It must be rubbish champagne.

I would have taken it. I do not think people realise from a

distance and that the Newcastle and Sunderland Fink, many people think

that is the big one. But it is quite an atmosphere. There was a

real edge, a fantastic atmosphere. I was impressed, there was a very

good tactical formation. Robson had a great coal. Very unlucky to muck

up the back pass. We are seeing at Trent with Sunderland, counter-

attacking, soaking up the pressure. Not having a lot of the ball, but

breaking with three or four fast players when having the ball.

Arsenal the winners of the replay. What about Newcastle, I would have

not Alan Pardew would do his utmost, so he will be disappointed. It was

a strong team at Brighton. They were not going down with a second

string side. They were going knowing Brighton are a good team,

played good football, but you would expect Newcastle to win. Newcastle

did not, had all the possession, but got hit with a sucker punch.

Newcastle's trip to Tenerife have produced some headlines. What do

you think? If Newcastle had got a result at Brighton, it would have

been seen as a great trip. It was some rest and recuperation and a

different environment. You can make any trip look bad with trips --

with pictures of people drinking. But the only one drinking is a

player out for the season. I do not think that trip had anything to do

with the defeat at Brighton. agreed. The newspapers get involved,

but what other players did anything wrong? Some pictures with fans,

tweets that could say anything. But what did the players do wrong? It

makes no difference to the result, but the team lost, so it got

brought up. It has been a dramatic time down at Darlington. With the

club facing liquidation, the fans have been trying to raise �500,000

by the end of the month. And over the last few days, things have been

looking up. Sheffield-born businessman, Paul Wildes, could be

about to invest �300,000 for a 40% stake in the club. Well, Mr Wildes

watched his first match on Saturday as Craig Liddle's men took on York

City. There was another fantastic crowd of over 6,000 at the arena.

And we grabbed a word with the would be chairman.

An how would you be different? a hospitality point of view, the

stadium is an asset. Getting that to work would be positive. I have

had some good meetings with people are interested in taking the space

to make it more of their destination for non match days as

well as match days. What do you think up Darlington's support?

team, that is something to work with. If Craig Liddle -- if Craig

Liddle does the same job, that can only be positive. There is

something to build on, a huge sense of togetherness, which we have not

had for a long time. It we can come through the next three days, who

added takes over, we have something big to build on. I am sure we will

If Darlington can get themselves on the other side of this, maybe

people have realised what is at stake. If they can keep the has

6,000 fans, maybe 4,000 fans, will begin a week out, they will have a

great chance. The stadium has to be used, not just on a match day. That

is where Lord Division clubs have struggled in the past. It has to be

commercially viable and if they can make that happen, then certainly

the have a great chance of survival. For a deal in principle should be

agreed to model according to reports, subject to Rach sing's

agreement. -- Raj Singh. There is a lot of money involved. Do you think

�500,000 is enough? What they need is a sustainable, long-term plan

and if they cannot do that it is not good propping up the club for a

few months. They have to know that it can last a few years. The people

of Darlington have shown in the last few weeks that they want the

football club. They have to keep their side of the bargain as well.

Father borrowed voice talking about this in the training ground? -- are

the boys talking about this in the training ground? Hopefully they

will find the right man to invest in the club and keep them alive.

There has been a huge amount of interest in this, certainly from a

European perspective. But there was a Norwegian camera crew at the

weekend. Well, football is big. Thank you for that. Always

economical with his words! And if you want to have your say

about Darlington, or any of our other discussions and debates, the

Twitter address is @LKONEC. We are also on Facebook and if you want to

drop us an email, it's [email protected]. Still to come on

tonight's show: Hartlepool hit four, but can they had the flagging?

Wannabe veterans. 5th feet -- One of Our veterans.

Carlisle's USA international defender Frank Simek had a tough

start in English football. He made just one League Cup appearance in

two years at Arsenal, before being released by the Gunners. But now

Simek is loving life in Cumbria. And, as he told Matt Newsum, he's

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

It has been a journey for you, hasn't it? Coming over to a

different country was a big change for me. But I was only young and

they did not know what to expect. I grew up in America, played football

have the ear and baseball the other half of it. I pretty much gave up

baseball and played football year round. What was it like that

Arsenal? They gave me a good footballing education. They have

the best facilities, the training ground and the food after training

is unbelievable. It is kind of love a wake-up call when you are sent

out on the loner. You move out from there and see what the real world

is like. People think that the attack on this occupation, but it

is difficult it it if you are out on one. It was a very uncertain

summer. A few sleepless nights not knowing what know where you are

going to be. -- not knowing where you're going to be. I was lucky

enough to be hooked up with Sheffield Wednesday, went out on

pre-season tour with them and spent five years there. You have to keep

the believing in yourself, that I got injured with Sheffield

Wednesday, it took me forever to get back. I eventually got back, we

had a change of manager. I never really got back in the team, so my

contract ended and I did not expect to be signed on again and I wasn't.

I was lucky enough deadeye was given the opportunity, because

people so that I was injured and had not played a lot of games and

were reluctant to take a chance. I was lucky enough that I was given

This is all about the American in York, what about the Englishman in

New York, what were your first impressions? I enjoy living here.

It is nice. I love the five minutes from this beautiful castle. I have

never been inside. This is my first time, I enjoy it. Is there a part

of you that is Carlisle United through and through? They are my it

-- my extended family are decked out in the car Lale dear. --

What can curl alienated do this season? We'll keep going, keep

plugging away. Right now, we have a very good squad that is capable of

making the play it and that is something that we're looking to do.

It will be tough, it is a long season, but if we can keep the team

together and keep everybody injury- I do not want to follow it with

Carlisle can so, but that Castle looks like it could use a steam

clean! You came over here at 20, 2,000? Yes, I was 20. In 2,000. The

first three months were the hardest ones. Bidding to a new place,

having your own place, looking after everything. And also the

language, that was a problem for me. The lifestyle is totally different

to the one in Argentina. What shocked you when you arrived here?

Early afternoons when everything shuts at five o'clock. You go to a

shop after 5:00pm and everything is closed. That was a surprise. The EU

have to get used to the lifeboats they were here. -- you have to get

used to the lifestyle here. But there has been nearly 12 years here

now. It is great. Friendly. Having my family and friends over there in

Argentina, that makes you think of going back. I have not made my mind

up yet. Do you feel a responsibility as one of the more

senior players helping new players get settled in? That is the main

thing. It helps the performance on the pitch. We tried to help

everybody. The two that you mentioned are doing well now.

Unexpectedly, Newcastle are expecting a couple of strikers to

come back. I'd be surprised if the through ball put them straight in.

-- to put both of them straight in. I think he might get involved at

the weekend, rather than straight away at Blackburn. When you have

suffered a disappointment at international level, and as a

former England full-back, there must have had a few of them, when

you come back, does it have a hangover? I think it will help that

they are not in Senegal. An English player coming back to an English

Premier League team, the media that surrounds that is always a lot

harsher and you have to take a lot of criticism from your home fans. I

think, yes, they will be disappointed and they will get back

into it. You would have thought maybe just come on for 10 or 15

minutes, a little cameo role and tried to give the fans a lift after

discipline that that the Wrekin. -- after a disappointment at the

weekend. Do you still socialise? are from the same country. It is

good to see them once in a while. It is making me quite hungry. Do

not be afraid to send the invitations out!

Well, Saturday was a miserable day for Frank Simek as Carlisle lost

four nil. But the flip side of that was a belting afternoon for one of

our other teams, because it was of It was a great win for Hartlepool.

They have already released the game on DVD. Let us take a look at the

boy of the moment, Luke James, 17 years old, becoming the youngest

scorer against Rochdale. Two moored on Saturday. He is damned

impressive. And he looks about 14. He makes me feel very old. He has a

great ally, up a great strike, and it will be interesting to see if

Hartlepool can keep hold of him. Some Premier League scouts floating

around? Maybe he should have a season or two at Hartlepool. One of

my colleagues said he was like a younger Michael Owen. He has worked

hard to be part of the academy. He was kicked from pillar to post, no

fear, got up and laugh it off. There is good spirit in him.

We are staying with Hartlepool for a moment. It is their turn on foot

golf. The game that is gripping the region, as James Stephenson

described it on Twitter, without a hint of sarcasm. So can the boys

hit the flag or find the green, avoiding the bunker and the water?

When I say green, bunker and water, I mean centre-circle, bucket of

sand and kids' paddling pool. Who said the licence fee is a waste of

is food golf. One veteran is all the way from Carlisle, Paul Murray.

-- footgolf. Excellent, good start. Next,

representing Stockton, Antony Sweeney. Straighten up! Come on!

Next, a younger player, Gary Lidl. Dr Paul Johnston. Straighten up!

And representing Barnsley, Neil Austin. He has used the wings too

much. -- used the wind. Come on, changing the run-up. Decent.

Next, the team coach, Nikkei baron. -- Micky Barron. Drive! Drive!

And last, Richard. Sorry. Very windy conditions today,

as you can see, not ideal. But thank you for coming down to

Hartlepool. Saussure is the leader board. Hartlepool could not beat

I guess it is nice on the training ground to break things up a bit and

had something like that. You can forget about the real thing for

half an hour or so, so I can imagine the boys will be more than

up for that. I am glad to hear that. But we are still unsure about it. I

think the producer would like the paddling pool for his daughters. We

know about some transfer news. Alyn Smith will move up to MK Dons from

Newcastle. I gather he liked their style of football seeing them on

television. Yes, a strange one, some Championship clubs would have

loved to have taken him. A professional, not suffering since

his injuries, with a lot to offer in terms of experience. Maybe he

has dropped down for me, maybe dropping down a level too much, but

he could do a good job in the Premier leaks. -- leaks.

We talk about how important younger players are. But someone on a

short-term basis can make the difference in terms of points, but

also be spread in the dressing room. Of course. Experience always helps.

I believe that. You would start to say that. Yes. I believe experience

helps. Even six months or one season, it can help the team.

Especially the young players. If Sunderland goal for Kevin Davies, I

am sure he could be a great signing. What about the problems at the

borough? What about these defeats? Apart from the back you and Kevin

Thomson were sent off? We were doing well until the end of the

year, then for some reason, we lost the last three games. We were

disappointed with that, but we have plenty of games still to play, so

we can hopefully turn around. We believe confidence will be hag.

Hopefully, -- confidence will be high. Hopefully, we can start to

climb in the table again. Simon, you were impressed with Sunderland.

We have seen the form table for the last 6 games. It is going well for

them. The thinking behind, Kevin Davies will be the big saga, the

idea of getting him in but 18 months is to try and plea on the

pitch as well as up and influence behind the scenes and try to help

improve the strikers. Martin O'Neill has a habit of bringing in

unhappy players and making them fantastic again. Kevin Davies will

be fantastic for Sunderland. Simon, thank you for coming to see us.