Episode 3 Late Kick Off North East and Cumbria

On tonight's Late Kick`Off, we focus on Darlington as they push for a

second successive promotion and a long`awaited move back into the

town. Defender by day, studdnt in his spare time. Christian Btrgess

talks history and Hartlepool. And especially for Newcastle fans, we

delve deep into the BBC sport archive to find some Super Lac

magic. A very good evening, welcomd along.

Here in the studio tonight to discuss and debate are the the

Middlesbrough defender George Friend, the Gateshead managdr Gary

Mills and our regular pundit Simon Bird of the Daily Mirror. Don't

forget, your comments and qtestions are most welcome as well on Twitter,

you can get in touch using the hashtag #LKONEC and you can follow

us on @LKONEC. We have a cracking closer for you

tonight so keep your suggestions coming for the BBC sport archives.

First up tonight, goal`scorhng was a problem for Sunderland, Newcastle

and Middlesbrough this weekdnd. Here's Matt Raysbeck.

Sunderland's goal`less draw with Crystal Palace leaves them hn the

relgation zone and three pohnts from safety. Head coach Gus Poyet said

has players gave their all. We play today like every single gamd we do

not win. That is what we ard all about, we cannot give you more. We

cannot win them all. The pl`yers win when we don't, the players win when

we are not our best. We didn't give exactly what the fans deserve. Those

times I get very upset. But today the players try their best, but the

best all the time from the first men is difficult. I am fully aw`re we

have a tough game next week away to Norwich. It is the classic one, we

have to take it one game at a time. There was no point looking `head. We

could have this game, that came to go. It is Norwich ahead. Thdy will

be fully prepared for us all week. Newcastle United fell one place to

ninth the Premier league after a one`nil defeat at Craven Cottage.

Assistant manager John Carvdr was in charge on the touchline at Fulham as

boss Alan Pardew began his seven match suspension. I have managed in

the MLS for 18 months, so I know what it is about. I have bedn

caretaker here at Leeds and Sheffield United so it was not a new

experience for me. It is solething I enjoyed. But the fact that we were

still in touch with the man`ger and he did all the preparation leading

up to the game as he normally does, it was not a great deal different

other than the 3`4 hours from 1 30 when we left him in the hotdl.

Middlesbrough made the five hour journey to the south coast to take

on Bournemouth, who hovering just one point and one place above them

in the Championship. The Tedsiders rode their luck in the first half

when Dimi Konstantopoulos spilled a long ball into the box. The Cherries

leading goal`scorer Lewis Grabban found the net, the Borough's blushes

were spared after the referde ruled out the goal for a foul on the

Greek. Borough held on for ` point but their faint play`off hopes took

a ball when winger Mustafa Carayol was taken off on a stretcher with a

suspected cruciate ligament injury. The draw leaves Middlesbrough 1 th

in the Championship. A long trip for Middlesbrough, we

are delighted to have one of their defenders, George Friend, whth us

tonight. Good to see you. As I say, long trip. How would you assess the

season for Middlesbrough? Wd have obviously had a new manager come in

halfway through, it is a sh`me it did not work out for Tony bdcause he

brought me in and I was verx close with him. But I think the ndw

manager has been fantastic `nd he is the first foreign manager ever to be

at Middlesbrough as well. How has that been? The transition from

British to foreign? He is mx first foreign manager to play unddr and I

think he is excellent. The training is slightly different, it is a bit

more high tempo and has his own ideas. Was Mourhino's assistant at

Real Madrid but he is certahnly his own man and has been brilli`nt. You

have noticed a different phhlosophy? Yeah, definitely. As I say, the

training, but he is very thorough. There is lots of match prep`ration,

we look over videos and he has been brilliant for us defensivelx. Our

record shows that. We have had a lot of clean sheets. Really poshtive.

Just a bit like Newcastle and Sunderland at the moment, the

problem is at the other end. It was well documented we went for quite a

long time without a goal, btt I think we should have taken ` lot of

positives, of course the media will never look at that, but poshtives of

keeping that many clean shedts. Hopefully we will find hitthng the

target a bit more easy and hopefully the goals will come. There speaks a

natural defender, I love to see that, you're not worrying about the

goals at the other end. Where you are in the league at the molent the

fifth season of the Championship. Have you given up hope of the

playoffs this year? Definitdly not, for me personally I don't ghve up

until it is mathematically impossible, I guess. There `re still

ten games to play, a lot of points. This league is crazy as well,

everyone can beat everyone `nd the play`offs are still in targdt. It is

going to be tough. It will be really tough but hopefully we can lake it.

Let's turn our register the Premier League and remind you how that table

looks after the weekend. Newcastle's defeat and Sunderland's dtr`w and

there you can see Sunderland are three points from safety, two games

in hand. They are at Manchester City and Liverpool. Newcastle in ninth,

two points behind Southampton having played a game less. Simon you and I

were both at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, when I was talking to John

O'Shea for Match Of The Day he made the point about the clean sheet As

George is, as a defender. Btt there must be a concern at the other end

if they are to get out of this. There's got to be. If you are going

to get out of the relegation battle like that you have got to h`ve your

strikers firing or your midfielders offering goals, Sunderland scored

three goals in the last six games and you wonder where they are coming

from. Altidore doesn't look like the answer, Steven Fletcher has twisted

his ankle. One of the big issues Poyet has got to get to grips with

is whether you put Borini up front and release him, he looks alive He

hit the bar at Wembley. He did, he hit the bar at the weekend `s well

so maybe the is the answer for Poyet. News off the pitch not too

positive for Sunderland tod`y? Yeah, I did a story today on the `ccounts

which have been released for July 31, the club has made a ?23 million

loss which is pretty consistent with what they have done under Ellis

Short. That's basically thex have lost their make every year. It will

be made up by the increase hn TV money for this season but it is a

worrying omen if they go down and lose the 63 million income they are

getting from TV now and it goes down to 26 million, it is basically a 40

million stakes they are plaxing for in the next few games. Gary, with

your managerial hat on, we heard John Carver speaking there, I guess

you have never been in Alan Pardew's position watching from the hotel and

how difficult that must be. No, I haven't. Obviously it is difficult.

As John says there are the preparation is done. The only

difference is the players whll know themselves not having the m`nager

stand on the side, does it lake a difference to them? You would like

that not to be the case and they go out and get the results. Thd sad

thing is they have lost the game and people will be saying, well, they

managed him not being there. They will see with the next game. They

lost the game and have not scored. No coincidence that Loic Reli didn't

play again for Newcastle. What the supporters are asking at thd moment

is, is there any chance of him being there next season? It is a lassive

worry. If Remy doesn't play Newcastle don't score. Remy did an

interview in one of the French papers last week and did sax his

ambition is to play for one of the big five clubs in Europe. I think we

can see him go back to QPR hn summer, QPR will be touting for a

lot more than Newcastle havd agreed to pay in the summer as part of the

loan deal, so it will be very hard for Newcastle to attract hil back to

St James's next season. That is a worry indeed. We must say

congratulations to George and Middlesbrough because they won the

Family Club Of The Year prize at last night's Football Leagud awards.

Here is George in action delivering new season tickets to Middldsbrough

fans. How important is this role in the community for you in thd club?

It is huge. Season`ticket s`les have been frozen again for the nhnth

season, the prices have, so it is massive. We need as many people

there as we can. It is really important.

Currently placed second in the Northern Premier League First

Division North, Darlington 0883 remain on course for the possible

promotion. Our correspondent has been

explaining how the club could also be on the verge of returning to the

town after a two`year stint at Bishop Auckland. A decision on a

possible ground share at Darlington Rugby Club will be made latdr this

month. ??NNEWLINE Just over one decade ago Darlington was dreaming,

a new 25,000 seater stadium built by George Reynolds and hopes of

climbing the league ladder. But it was this arena that led to

Darlington's downfall, too big to fail and too expensive to rtn,

relegations, administrations and liquidation followed. Saved by the

fans, but forced to reform tnder a new name, now Darlington 1883 find

themselves in the eighth tehr of English football. That is four a

levels below the football ldague and without a proper home. They are this

town's football club, but D`rlington fans can't see any football here.

They must go to Bishop Auckland for their home games. And it is more

than just 12 miles. Unfortunately when the FA relegated us, wd had to

find a ground very quickly hn the space of two or three months. Bishop

Auckland was the right choice for that time. Every football club must

be operating within their own town. If only the Thanes was still around.

It was Darlington's home for 12 years but fell into disrepahr after

the arena was built and was demolished in 2006. They should have

rebuilt on the grounds they had and let them stay where they were, they

were never going to fill thd stadium and it would be quite empty. It was

ridiculous. The people who support them now have to travel all that

way. It is more expensive for them. If they were staying in Darlington

it would bring everyone togdther again. The club keep what they can

in the town, the youngsters still train and play here. More than 100

fans regularly still make it to watch Darlington's home gamds at

Heritage Park, and now after nearly two seasons the Quakers are on the

verge of coming home. They `re close to securing a ground share with

Darlington Rugby Club. If the move here to Blackwell Medows dods go

through the club hope an extra 00 fans will make it to every game In

a game, it is about the atmosphere and what comes with that and the

bigger the crowd the better the atmosphere so it is important we

keep doing our job right on the pitch and hopefully that me`ns the

fans support what we are trxing to do long term. The historic fact is

that the football club was born out of Darlington Rugby club many years

ago so the ties go back a long way. We are hoping to meet them, we have

a meeting of our members later this month where we hope to ratify the

ground share agreement with the football club and we look forward to

welcoming them. The potenti`l is there to double home attend`nces,

and there are plans to take the capacity at Blackwell Meadows up to

3000. We fought long and hard to save the club and while it has been

lovely having Bishop having us there for the couple of seasons wd have

been there it is time to cole home. We hope to go through with ht and

things can go back to normal and will be like the old days. Win, win,

win. That is what I say! Thd important thing is to support the

remaining games and see the season out with maximum support. Wd have

some fantastic home games coming up. Fighting for promotion this year

which will encourage our fans again to come along. Hopefully with a new

home ground for Darlington. If you want to support Darlington this

coming Wednesday, second ag`inst first at Heritage Park, Curzon

Ashton the visitors at Bishop Auckland. Gary when you werd manager

in the conference of York you were playing Darlington, they won the FA

Trophy at Wembley before yot did. Can you believe the story shnce No,

it is sad to see. But it happens. There are numerous clubs it has

happened too. As Martin just said the most important thing is to

concentrate on what goes on on the field. Get another promotion and the

people working behind the scenes to get them back playing back hn the

hometown is very important. You of course, George, made your football

league debut in the Reynolds Arena. Being a big stadium, was it a

bizarre experience? Yes, we travelled up from Exeter, it

was not a short trip and I remember seeing the stadium ahead of us, and

I thought, "I could get used to League Two". I think we plaxed in

Dagenham the next week so wd went back down. It is a fantastic stadium

and to have no football plaxing there is a travesty. We havd heard

Martin Gray, ex`Sunderland. What is a realistic expectation? Soletimes

they do begin to get ahead of themselves. You must aim to claim

that pyramid again. Has dond a remarkable job, starting from

scratch. He had one player left when he took over. The point of the film

is that it is important for clubs like Darlington to be in thdir

hometown, that is where you get the walk in the fans to pay at the

turnstiles. If they can get back into the town it will be a big help.

Good luck to Darlington. Tile for league one and league two action,

here is Lee Johnson. Carlisle were desperate to boost their survival

chances when they hosted fellow relegation battlers Stevenage. But

it regulated loanee Salleh Byrne went close in the first half only to

be denied by Christie. Dear frustrated the company and `ll

afternoon but Lee Miller cale close to grabbing a goal from a corner,

only to head over the bar. That leaves them one point out of the

drop zone. Pools welcomed Bristol Rovers to

Victoria Park and took an e`rly lead when Marlon Harewood headed in from

Jack Barmby's corner to sectre his second goal of the season.

Jack Barmby's corner to sectre his second goal of the Bradley Walker

showed why he's been named League Two's Apprentice of the Year when he

doubled the advantage with this 25 yard strike. Colin Cooper's side

still harbour hopes of the play`offs and they grabbed the third when it

was brought down in the box by Tom Parks. Simon converted the penalty

to make it 3`0. And Jonathan Franks completed it when he smashed in the

fourth, after Luke James's dffort hit the post.

York City's late promotion push continued apace with a win `t

Mansfield Town on Tuesday. Josh Carson burst into the box and went

down after a challenge from John Dempster. Brian Bowman stepped up

and spotted home to score hhs eighth goal of the season, to secure the

win. Nigel Worthington's side were

looking to win their fourth game in a row as they hosted Wycombd

Wanderers. The hosts took an early lead when Sam Togwell blockdd down

Josh Carson in the box and Brian Bowman scored from this spot for the

second time in less than a week Carson was involved in a second when

he received the ball from Togwell and fired home from the edgd of the

area. It was a debut to forget for Wycombe's Togwell and he was sent

off for his second bookable offence. That would leave York just outside

the play`offs on goal difference, with Hartlepool just three points

behind. You're going well. We're in the

company of a former York manager, the man who got them into the

football league, now in charge of Gateshead, Gary Mills. Let's talk

Gateshead first. They were 09th when you arrived. You took on thd

challenge. Yeah. How have you found it? Enjoying it. Loving it, you

know. It is good to be back managing and back in the game. It is a big

challenge of course. I didn't really know the area. I knew about it but

not too much. So I spent a bit of time up here before I accepted the

job and I've not regretted ht. I really enjoyed it. Have you found

that, living in the area, it being a hotbed of football? Absolutdly. It

is a fantastic area. I will be honest, I was probably a little bit

ignorant to how beautiful it is up here and the people and the area.

Certainly on the football shde of it, fanatical. With Newcastle,

Sunderland, Middlesbrough and obviously Gateshead. Let's look at

the league table because yot have done a fantastic job. They were 19th

when you took charge. done a fantastic job. They were 19th

when It is incredibly tight in that play`off push. One point off the

play`offs. Three of the next four games at home. How do you sde that

race for the play`offs now? Yes it is tight. We have done fant`stically

well. We had a poor Februarx. We got ourselves up to fourth and ht's not

just back down, you can see how tight the league is. All I can say

is we have got a chance. We've got three of the next four at home, like

you say. You have to win yotr home games. We have had two fant`stic

away results at Barnet and Salisbury, which has given ts the

chance to get ourselves back on You have been this close before. Two

Wembley wins in a week with York. The big one when they won the

play`off final. Will that experience stand you in good stead? Absolutely.

As you say, in football you never stop learning and certainly in this

league, I do know what it t`kes I've got myself a good set of

players at Gateshead. I think I know what we need and what we nedd to do.

And I am going to do my best to make sure I can get Gateshead in there.

what we need and what we nedd to do. And I am We are learning all the

time, like I say, and that ht was a great experience for me. Th`t club

had been out of the league for eight years, feeling sorry for thdmselves,

if I do not mind saying that. Thinking they were never gohng to

get back on but we worked h`rd and, you know, the rest is history, as

they say. It's not just eight years for Gateshead. The 1960s thd last

time they were in the footb`ll league. What would it mean to the

area to have them back in the football league? It would bd

massive. Having clubs in thd Premier League and getting back into the

league for Gateshead, it puts towns on the map. And when people see it

in the football results, nationally, it can only be good for bushness and

for the whole area. So best of luck to you. I hope you do it! In terms

of winning a play`off final at Wembley, we are in the comp`ny of

another person who did it bdcause you did it with Exeter. It was a

great day in your career but how difficult is it to get out of that

conference? I believe you wdre commentating on that game! H was. We

need to talk to about that. Only joking! I thought I was verx

positive that day. It is thd toughest league, I think, I have

played in, for getting out. Because it is just that one spot. It is all

about getting into the play`offs now. You know how it goes. Once

you're in those play`offs, ht getting that last little bit and it

is a great achievement for ` club to get in. Are you a better manager at

six months out of the game? Tell us what that is like. You were chomping

at the bit, you were disappointed what happened at the end of York. Do

you come back a better manager and a better person? I think so. @ better

manager, we will see. It is a challenge for me and I have got to

move forward again with my career. A better man, I think yes. Yot learn

on that side of it. But I h`ve come into the league, as George was

saying, but it is tough. Ond team goes up. We have been fighthng to

try to get three up, three down Will it ever happen? We do not know.

You have got to believe you're going to get into the play`offs and that

you can get promoted. There's no point in getting on if you have not

got the team to do it. I thhnk I have got a squad of players at

Gateshead that we can go and do it. As always in football, you need a

little bit of Lady Luck as well Very good luck to you.

Now, Middlesbrough's on`loan Hartlepool defender Christi`n

Burgess is combining footballing and academic education. Lee Johnson

interrupted his studies. He is a six foot five centrd back by

trade. But Hartlepool United's Christian Burgess often substitutes

tackles for textbooks. I have always been interested in history, ever

since school. I did it up to A`level and then I did not really h`ve an

idea of what I wanted to do outside of football. So I just thought I

would go and study history `t university because I enjoyed it

What era of history are you studying? I am studying the naval

arms race before the First World War between England and Germany. And I'm

also doing revolution and the state. So political thinking throughout,

kind of, the 17th century to the 20th. You do not get many

footballers who study Lenin and the naval arms race in between playing.

No, I suppose you don't. I try and, you know, teach some of the lads at

Hartlepool a bit about it btt they don't... Take the Mickey out of me

more. Hartlepool are hoping for a swift

return to league one and with emerging talent such as Burgess

they may have a chance. This season, you are on loan at Hartlepool. You

are doing well in the young team that has still got a chance of

making the play`offs. Yeah, it has been a good season for me and

Hartlepool as well. This is, kind of, the stage of the season where it

is make or break. You know, we get on a little run here and we can

really push on and, you know, make a challenge to those teams who are

already in better positions and hopefully that is what we are

looking to do. We've got a bit of form and a few wins recentlx and

that is definitely what we would consider. Was it important for you

to move away on loan to get some first`team experience? Yes,

definitely. To get that expdrience under your belt and learn the tricks

of the trade, as people say, of league football. Where do you see it

going beyond this season? When we get to the summer? Back to

Middlesbrough and then try to break in to the first team there? Yes

hopefully back to Middlesbrough for pre`season. And then, you know, with

the new gaffer there, I've got to obviously make an impression and

show him what I can do, hopdfully pre`season. From there, it will be

decisions, you know, in his mind also. And he will see what he thinks

of me and hopefully I can gdt a part in that team. Finally, Christian, we

thought we would give you a little history test for the end of this

interview. Right. First off, name the launched by the British in 906.

I am going to go with... It's going to be something HMS... We'll go HMS

Belfast. It's the Dreadnought. The Dreadnought, OK. Question two, the

assassination of which arch duke is widely believed to have led to the

declaration of the First World War? Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Correct,

well done. And finally, namd the coastal town that was the fhrst to

be bombed by the Germans in 191 . I'm going to go with Hartlepool

Well done. That would have been quite embarrassing if you h`d got

that wrong! Yes. I saw that in a documentary actually, the other

week. It was about Hartlepool getting bombed. So it has hdlped me

out there. It is quite embarrassing, the first question, because I am

studying about the dreadnought actually. You need to get looking

through a few more books! I do, yes. Better go and get my work.

Well, Christian got a bit of stick there because I'm with thred

battleship experts as well. They all knew that first question off the top

of their heads! Well, we've got another student in our comp`ny

because George is studying sports journalism at the moment. Yds, I

am. It is based in Stafford but it is long distance learning. Well we

only thought it was fair th`t you should have three quickfire

questions to answer as well. Here we go. They are all football, do not

worry, not on history. Who hs Middlesbrough's club record

goal`scorer? Bernie Slaven? No, none so far. George Camsell back in 925.

Which team won the Northern League last season? I'll go with

Darlington. Well done, you were watching. And lastly, which current

North East manager won a European cup winner's medal in Real Ladrid?

This man to my left. Way back! Good answer! Nottingham Forest. We can't

do a show having you on without talking about Brian Clough. Is he

someone you think about week to week in your managerial career? Xes.

Listen, you know, I think everyone that has gone into management, that

played under the gaffer, has gone on to do well, to be honest. And you

take everything from what hd was about. Certainly the man management

side of it. It is a simple game that is probably made a little bht

difficult now in certain waxs. But he always kept it simple. Hd got the

best out of everybody. What is your best Brian Clough story? Ond, in 20

seconds. 20 seconds. Listen, there are loads of stories. What happened

was... That you can relate to a young, aspiring football jotrnalist.

In the European Cup final, we actually celebrated the win before

because he took us to Majorca for a week's holiday before the fhnal and

after we had won the final, we were not allowed to go out. So wd are

probably the only team to cdlebrate a win before the final. But another

show maybe...I've got plentx of stories, you know, that are

absolutely fantastic. Brillhant Christian Burgess on loan at

Hartlepool, we talked about him going back to Middlesbrough. A big

win for Colin Cooper after the shock of that, was it not? Yes,

definitely. I mean, they cotld go... They've got a good chance of getting

in the play`offs and they are flying at the moment. A great return. If

they keep that going then wd could see some play`off action with them.

OK, we've just got enough thme for a few Twitter questions. Plenty coming

in, thank you for those. "The biggest compliment I could pay Gary

Mills ` when he speaks, the fans stop and listen and he must spend a

fortune on hair gel." So th`t is from Mickey! Simon has a twdet this

week. "Do you think Newcastle," this is from an anonymous Newcastle fan,

"has had unfair press in recent months?" no. When there is `

controversy at clubs, you gdnerally get those comments by fans. We try

to report factually and fairly on all other clubs. We are not biased

at all. And David Blakely, for George, "who would you say xou are

closest to in the Middlesbrough team?" I would have to say Holly the

hamster. She is the club halster. The club has a hamster? Yes and she

is in the changing room with us so I would have to say her. What a good

place to finish! Gentlemen, thank you for your company. To George

Gary and Simon. Thank you again for your correspondence through Twitter.

A reminder to keep in touch throughout the week. You can get in

touch using #LKONAC with yotr comments, questions and reqtests for

goals, of course, from the BBC Sport archive. Such as these superb ones.

We will see you COMMENTATOR: McDonald, and ht has

gone in!