Episode 4 Late Kick Off North East and Cumbria

On tonight's Late Kick Off: We check in with Newcastle's Ivory Coast star

Cheick Tiote. How did the miners' strike affect

football in the area? We go back to 1984.

And we're joined in the studio by a local Olympian, and hero of London

2012! Steph Houghton. Good evening. Welcome along. Plenty

to come tonight. I'm delighted to have Steph Houghton with us. We're

also in the company of the former Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve

Harper - now at Hull City - and our regular journalistic viewpoint comes

from Simon Bird of the Daily Mirror. Thanks again for all of your

comments and questions on Twitter. Keep them coming at #LKONEC. The

closing of tonight's show features the glory days of Carlisle United -

if you want to see a specific clip from our archives, get in touch.

First tonight, it was another disappointing weekend for

Sunderland, while Newcastle left it late to return to winning ways. Here

are the views of the two managers of the day, starting with John Carver.

Being a local lad, I'm a fan inside as well - not just the assistant

manager! I'm delighted for Papiss Cisse, and for the fans. I'm also

delighted for myself because it's been a tough time. You do get put

under a little bit of pressure when the manager's not here. But

thankfully we had quite a bit of communication today. We were not

competing enough. They were always in front. They won second balls,

tackles, decisions... We were second best then we decided to change. Some

players paid the price. They were not directly responsible for the bad

30 minutes but I had to make changes. Gus Poyet not happy and

it's not looking any better week by week for Sunderland. Perhaps the

only saving grace is that all of the bottom five lost at the weekend,

therefore they didn't move. Sunderland are three points from

safety with two games in hand. Steph, great to have you here -

we're going to talk Olympics and women's football a little bit later,

but first, you're a die-hard Sunderland fan. How worried are you

about your team? I'm a little worried. As a Sunderland fan, you'd

expect them to go and try to get something off Norwich at the

weekend. That wasn't meant to be. Over Christmas they had a really

good spell of picking up points. Ever since the cup final, we've lost

our form a bit. We've got some big games coming up, especially

Wednesday against Liverpool. From a fan's point of view, do you look

back now and think that was a turning point? They played so well

at Wembley and everybody thought it could be a springboard but it's been

disappointing since. I think every fan thought that would be the case.

If they played well at Wembley, you thought it might have had a knock-on

effect. As a Sunderland fan at the moment, you're thinking that the

next ten games are all cup finals. It's a cliche but they are big games

and it's a fight to stay in the league. We're not ones to repeat

ourselves, Simon, but they haven't scored again. We're talking about

Crystal Palace, Norwich... A real lack of goals. Today's news is that

Gus Poyet has recalled Connor Wickham from his loan spell at

Leeds. He played five games there and didn't score. Is that a

desperation measure at this stage? It does have a feel of the last

throw of the dice for Poyet. He's wondering every week about how to

get the best out of his forward line. He's not found a combination

that scores. Look at the stats - Adam Johnson is top scorer with

seven goals. Borini has got three. That's not good enough in the

Premier League. You need someone getting double figures. A couple of

people. Will Connor Wickham do it? I don't know. He's got one goal for

Sunderland in the Premier League - four in total. It's desperation.

Steve, without wanting to bring back old memories, you've been part of a

squad that's been relegated from the Premier League. How difficult is it

when you're on the slide to try to arrest that and try to get some

belief from somewhere? I think when you're struggling and you've got

games in hand you tend to think you'll be OK, but every weekend one

or two of the teams around you gets a result. That puts more pressure on

you. The lack of goals has to be a concern. I remember the last two

games of the season, we lost them both 1-0. If we'd scored in either

we'd have stayed up. I know Danny Graham had a very difficult 2013 but

I think he's scored 15 or 16 Premier League goals. Maybe not recently...

But if there was somebody you're looking to recall... I'm surprised

he hasn't called Danny back. There are ten games to go for Sunderland

to decide their destiny, really. There they are. The next is this

week, at Anfield. It looks a difficult one. I was at their game

against Cardiff and they were irresistible going forward. Steph,

Fabio Borini is unable to play in that game. He's your most likely

goal-scorer but they're his parent club. He'll be a big miss. He's been

one of our form players in the last few games. He's going to be a miss

on Wednesday but hopefully we can try and nick something. Liverpool

are just in top form at the moment. As far as Newcastle are concerned,

Steve, an important win for them. They left it late. Papiss Cisse got

the goal. Only his second of the season. You know him. You played

with him. Has he managed to keep his head up, do you think? I'm sure he

has. People have said his confidence will be down but that's the type of

goal he needed - an instinctive, reactionary finish. We saw at Fulham

last week, when he had time to think about it, he ran around it a little.

But the big thing is he's getting in there. He keeps getting the chances.

Hopefully that goal will set him off to get a few more. You were at St

James' at the weekend. Was there a feeling of relief when that goal

went in? Massively. Palace had parked the bus and done a good job

stifling. When Cisse scored everybody was delighted for him.

He'd actually had quite a good game. He had four or five chances before.

We got some lovely quotes from him after the game. He said that after

his miss in the 92nd minute he was lying on the ground, looking at the

sky, thinking 'oh my god, I've killed the game'. But he kept

believing. He got his chance and took it so that was brilliant.

Steve, we heard from John Carver there - saying it's an important win

for him. He's been thrust into the limelight. You obviously know him

well from the dressing room. How pleased are you for him? What's he

like? I'm delighted for John. He's very passionate - black and white

through and through. Despite the circumstances he'll be loving his

time in charge. Now, talking Newcastle, following

the sale of Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote has resumed responsibility in

the centre of Newcastle's midfield. He's now looking forward to a

positive end to the Premier League season and to a successful World Cup

in Brazil with the Ivory Coast. He's been at the heart of

Newcastle's midfield for nearly four seasons. And in less than a few

months, Cheick Tiote is due to play in his second World Cup for the

Ivory Coast. You've been made captain a few times this season.

Have you enjoyed having that extra responsibility? Yeah, I was so happy

because I didn't imagine I would ever be captain for Newcastle one

day. It's a top club. This season you've had fewer bookings. Do you

think being made captain changed that part of your game? Yeah!

Really! Before that some people said I was naughty but at the moment I'm

much better and I hope I'll continue. Alan Pardew isn't on the

sidelines for matches at the moment. Is that strange for yourself and the

other players? I think we don't have any point to make about that, as a

player. For the players, it's hard but we have to stay focused. Do you

think it'll have any bearing on results? I don't know... We have to

fight, every game. How do you relax and how do you take your mind off

football matches? When I'm at home I watch a lot of African movies to

relax. I speak to my parents, my brother and my sister. We talk a lot

on the phone and that helps me a lot. I can be lonely but that really

helps. Off the pitch, Cheick is into his fashion. He's currently working

with a friend to launch a clothing line. So who's the best dressed

United star? At the moment, Loic Remy. Who's the joker in the team?

The joker... I would say Gutierrez but he's on loan. He's a really nice

man. The World Cup is on Cheick's agenda. He's hoping to be on the

plane to Brazil with his Ivory Coast team-mates this summer. It's going

to be my second World Cup so I'm happy. We aren't there yet but I

hope I won't get injured. You never know in football. This Ivory Coast

team has been described as a golden generation. You've got players like

yourself, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure... Toure! When I started

playing I was watching them on the TV. I was in Africa. I never thought

I would play with them in the national team! I'm just enjoying my

time at the moment. Pele said he always thought an African nation

would win the World Cup one day... The Ivory Coast have got an all

right group! Do you think they could do it? Maybe! I think it's too soon

for an African country. We have some good players and good quality but

compared to the top teams like Spain and Brazil... I think it would be

hard for a team from an African country! Certainly a big few months

ahead for Cheick Tiote, for club and country. You know him well - a

former team-mate. Do you see an extra responsibility and maturity

about him recently? I do actually. When he first arrived a few years

ago, he was very disciplined - sitting in front of the back four

and breaking the play up. He mentioned he was maybe a little rash

when he was first arrived! But he made a real impact in winning the

ball back and giving it to the likes of Cabaye. Last year, he tended to

wander off and lose the discipline in that position but this year

they've reigned him in and given him more responsibility. The bookings

have lessened and he's winning the ball back. He's quite a funny guy.

He was quiet when he arrived. He actually got changed next to me so

it's good to know he's interested in fashion now! Clearly from you! I

wish! But I think we're seeing the best of him now and I'd put him in

the top three performers for Newcastle this season. He's getting

praise at the moment, Simon. The irony is that when a Newcastle

player gets that he might be on his way soon. Cabaye left in January. Is

there a worry Cheick Tiote might not be there next season? We spoke to

Alan Pardew about him today and he said he's in the top three players

for Newcastle this year. He also said he wants him to stay for the

next two or three years. That was out of the blue. I don't know if

Alan Pardew is expecting a bid. He's had an up and down time at Newcastle

- a couple of great seasons and one not so good. A good defensive

midfielder is very underrated. Arsenal and Manchester United could

both do with one. We'll have to wait and see what happens after the World

Cup. We certainly will. Time now for the weekend's Football

League action. Middlesbrough head coach Aitor

Karanka said afterwards that he couldn't explain how his team lost

this game. Both sides went close early on but it was Boro full back

George Friend who broke the deadlock after 18 minutes. He keeps going...

Friend will shoot... He does and it's over the line! George Friend's

effort is a goal but it may well go down as a mistake from Rob Green!

QPR's equaliser came in fortuitous circumstances just before the break.

The shot's blocked... Chance for Benayoun... He's onside and there's

the equaliser! Both sides seemed happy to settle for a point, but

Boro hearts were broken in a dramatic and bizarre final few

minutes. It's looking busy in the penalty area! Here's George Friend

with a chance to win it... He's inches wide! Rob Green's clearance

appeared to cause no danger, but when Kenneth Omeruo sent the ball

back to Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos... This happened.

He's missed it! What a chance for Zamora to win the game for Queen's

Park Rangers! He won't have an easier goal, ever! Boro's play-off

ambitions now look almost over. Their misery was complete when Ravel

Morrison broke through the middle of the defence to fire in QPR's third,

and ensure Harry Redknapp's team returned to London with three

points. Carlisle faced their former manager

Greg Abbott, now on the coaching staff at fellow relegation

candidates Notts County. The contest was effectively over just after

half-time, with the Cumbrians conceding three goals in seven

minutes. Aidan Hollis was alone in the six yard box to get the first...

County's second came from some neat play down the left. Ronan Murray was

left with the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net. Hollis

headed in his second and County's third from an Alan Sheehan

free-kick. Carlisle did manage to find the net thanks to this

deflected effort from James Berrett - only the club's third goal in six

games. But Shaun Derry's side boosted their survival hopes when

former Hartlepool defender Craig Liddle scored this acrobatic effort.

That defeat sends Carlisle into the drop zone, one point from safety.

Hartlepool travelled to the Kassam Stadium on Friday night needing a

win if they are to realise their play-off ambitions. Colin Cooper's

side had chances early on but were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes

left when Simon Walton was sent off after collecting his second yellow

card. Oxford seized on their numerical advantage just three

minutes later when David Hunt's free kick found veteran striker David

Connolly, who headed in the winner. Nigel Worthington declared his side

as outstanding as they stretched their winning run to five games with

a victory at Portsmouth. Michael Coulson's thunderous effort just

five minutes in gave the Minstermen the perfect start. That goal was

enough for York to win and move into the play-offs on goal difference,

while Hartlepool drop down to 11th, six points from the play-offs.

Gateshead needed a win over Lincoln city to keep in touch with the

Conference play-off positions, and 38-year-old striker Jack Lester made

quite an impact on his full debut for the club, finding the net on 34

minutes. Jamie Chandler's volley gave Gary

Mills' side some breathing space before half-time. John Nolan pulled

one back for Lincoln. But the former Sunderland striker Ryan Noble

secured the points with a third for Gateshead. That win leaves the

Tynesiders just one point off fifth place.

Three second-half goals without reply gave Berwick Rangers a

comfortable 3-0 win over Clyde, leaving them just two points off the

play-offs in Scottish League Two. Some really positive results for

some of our teams, not for Carlisle. We had the Carlisle manager here,

pinpointing the fixtures coming up, he's only got one point since nine,

a huge point against Shrewsbury, it is looking dire. They were just

above that zone, but they have fallen into it after the weekend.

But a huge week, Shrewsbury and Tranmere, the two teams either side

of them, hopefully they can pull themselves out of it. If you can get

down to support Carlisle, a massive game against Shrewsbury, gets down

to Brunton Park. We're delighted to be in the company of one of the

country's top women's footballers. Steph Houghton has won two Women's

Super League titles with Arsenal, including a domestic treble and 44

England caps. She was also the star of the 2012 London Olympics.

It's Houghton, it is brilliant! Steph Houghton scores!

Fantastic memories for you, what was that Olympic experience like?

Unbelievable, I think I struggle to put it into words now, and seeing

those images, it brings goose bumps back. But the whole Olympics

experience was brilliant for everyone involved, whether as a

supporter, being involved in the Olympic Village was something you

would never forget and something no-one can take away from you. We

all feel very inferior sitting next to somebody who has scored for Great

Britain against Brazil at Wembley, I guess it doesn't come much better

than that. That's obviously my favourite moment in my career so

far. It was the fact that we have 70,000 in the stadium, that was a

turning point for women's football. To be able to play against one of

the best teams, you dream of that as a kid, to play in Wembley Stadium,

and to score was to top the whole night off. To have your friends and

family there made it more special. You said it was a turning point, do

you feel, domestically, the women's game has grown since the Olympic

Games? Yes, of course, the amount of media coverage that we did get from

the Olympics has meant that women's football has been in the spotlight a

lot more, and I think everybody is taking a little more interest in the

game. And clubs are putting a lot more money into making it as

professional as they possibly can, and that's good for us as

individuals, but in turn it's going to help the national team that so

much money is being put in, and we get a lot more recognition for what

we do as footballers. And the new WSL season is about to start in the

middle of next month, eight teams once again in it. We should point

out for the first time there will be relegation from WSL1 into the newly

formed WSL2. A couple of new teams in there,

Notts County, the old Lincoln Ladies have reformed. Liverpool are the

reigning champions, and Manchester City Ladies are the newly into the

WSL, which is your new team. How exciting a challenge is that?

Yeah, really exciting. It was really hard to leave Arsenal after three

years and winning a lot of trophies and developing as a player. But as

soon as Manchester City came calling, it was really hard to turn

down, their plans are unbelievable. As a female footballer, the chance

to turn professional was a big pull, to be on the ball every day, getting

looked after. It's going to help me as an individual for club and for

country, and it was just something I couldn't turn down. And you've got

England team-mate Jill Scott there, Lucy Bronze, Jordan Nobbs. All

players from this area, but you had to leave the area to further your

career. How frustrating is that, the fact that you had to leave? Really

frustrating, obviously because we're all Sunderland supporters, it has

always been a dream to play for the team you support, and we came up

through the ranks from a young age. And we had to find first-team

football in the best league we possibly could to develop our

international career. And it is frustrating when you're playing

England, five of us in the starting 11, just think how good Sunderland

could be. Even though they are a good team, they could have been

fighting in the top league now. It just shows what Sunderland have

done, good coaching staff, the setup they have, bringing young players to

represent their country. It can't be that bad. Steve, I am interested to

know, since you started as a footballer, do you a big change in

the women's game? Yeah, funnily enough, we were talking about it

before, and my son played an under-11s game, in the game before

there was a girl, North Shields under 11s, the best player on the

pitch by a mile. That says it all, doesn't it?

30 years ago this month, thousands of miners across the country went on

strike over government plans to close pits. Lee Johnson has been

finding out how football helped members of one mining community in

County Durham. March 1984, Easington Colliery,

miners from across the country are striking against government plans to

close 20 pits with an estimated loss of 20,000 jobs.

It was very hard, cos I had two children at the time. And for coal

and that, we were going down to the beach. You're doing something you

believe in, I never contemplated going back to work nor nothing. I

was out for the duration. The strike put a strain on families

and friendships, with some workers choosing to cross the picket. I had

a scab lived down the road to me, and I come out thousands six o'clock

in the morning, and he used to walk down behind me when I went to the

picket line to stand on the picket line, and he'd walk through the

picket line. But football offered miners in

Easington Colliery a temporary escape from the dispute. For 90

minutes, when you were actually playing, it just took over. Your

strike was out of your mind, everything was out of your mind,

what hardships you had. You know, just for that Saturday afternoon, it

was very, very important. Something that I would have been lost without.

The biggest thing that I found during the miners' strike with

football was that a lot of the miners had spare time, so on the

morning they used to go on the picket line, on their lunchtime they

used to go to the club for the free meals, and then on the afternoon

everyone used to meet at the welfare, six, seven days a week, for

a two-hour game of football in the afternoon. So I played more football

join the strike than I've ever played, and it was all with the

miner, yeah. While the police were perceived by a

lot of miners as the enemy, one local bobby, George Curry, was just

another player. I myself sympathised with the miners' plight. This thing

was separating families, relationships, but it is a common

bond, football, and when you go in the dressing room, you were just one

of the team. You got changed, got your team-mate team talk, and out

you went to play. To us, he was champion, there was no problem, the

lads accepted him, because they knew he wasn't the fault of what was

going on in Easington Colliery. He had a job to do, and obviously we

accepted him. Money was tight during the strike, and playing football

helped in more than one way. I was expecting a third child in November

'84, so it was difficult. But I was fortunate. I played football, and I

got expenses for it. There was a lot of people who didn't have that, I

know a lad that got threatened with houses being repossessed.

The miners' strike would last until the following spring, but 30 years

on Tommy and George still have fond memories of playing together. You've

got to remember that people were salvaging everything they could to

keep the home fires burning, literally. We played in the County

Cup once in the afternoon, and as footballers know, you always go back

to the club for a drink. And on the way back home after two or three

hours in the club, we wanted to stop for a toilet break. The coach

stopped, and the side door opened, and I think I was the only one left

on the bus. And one of the lads spotted some logs had been chopped

down, so we all ended up getting a log. And they put the wood onto the

coach and climbed back on board. And if the chief constable's watching, a

lot of common sense and discretion was used that day, sir!

Steve, a poignant tale, one you know very well, we saw your uncle in that

report. Yeah, I am from Easington, my dad was a miner, and I used to

watch them. They had a very good team, Geordie, the policeman, the

centre half, Tommy Garside was a very good centre forward as well.

And they were tough times, but football was a important thing, as

was touched on in the VT there, the community really pulling together,

football giving them an opportunity to do that.

And East Durham as an area seems to be a proud area, Adam Johnson, Paul

Kitson, your good selves, a proud area of the community. I think

football was used as a release for all the families, something that

everybody could go and enjoy. As you said, you mentioned those names,

there is obviously something good in the water in East Durham and

hopefully it can continue. Simon, is it a case of politics dividing but

football uniting? There are many examples of football being a uniting

force and a release for communities in times of hardship like the

miners' strike. At the time, the government was destroying the

industry, and it was not very keen on football fans as well. Brian

Clough made an appeal on television for people to contribute to the

miners' strike fund. Alex Ferguson mentions it in his autobiography as

well. When he walked past miners doing a collection, Jock Stein

pulled him up and said, you had better put a fiver in there.

We've just got time for a few Twitter questions, thank you for

your correspondence, keep them coming. Steph has been inundated,

Emma says, is there one moment you will never forget in your career? I

would have to say the Olympics 2012, when we played at Wembley against

Brazil, nothing can beat that. Julian says, your ambitions for City

and England, World Cup qualifying as well. For England, the ultimate aim

is to qualify for the World Cup, individually to have a really

consistent season for both club and country, and hopefully nail a

starting-11 spot with England. Simon has had a tweet personally for

him, from Daniel, what are the ramifications financially of

potential relegation for Sunderland? The straight finances are ?63

million a year TV money for the bottom of the Premier League team,

that will go down to a ?26 million parachute payment in the

Championship. It is about ?40 million they are playing for in the

next few games. Steve, one from a Newcastle fan, are

you worried the big boys may come calling for Tim Krul in the summer?

It wouldn't surprise me, I think a lot of that is dependent on Tim. If

he goes, it would be a good chance to get Fraser Forster back from

Celtic. Interesting! Thank you for your company once again. Please

remember to keep in touch with us on Twitter. Keep your archive video

requests coming in as well. Tonight it is the turn of Carlisle united

and a season in the sun, '74-'75, when goals from heroes of the past

Bill Green and Les O'Neill took them to the top of the Football League

with a win at Chelsea. We will see you next week. Good night.

# We had joy, we had fun. # We had seasons in the sun.

# But the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach.

# We had joy, we had fun. # We had seasons in the sun.

# But the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach...

#. Green puts it in! Good running by

O'Neil. That's useful, and he's scored!