A View From The Gallowgate

Penalties gamble is no great spectacle May 22 2012

RIGHT, that’s definitely the domestic season finished with, closing with two major injustices.Read

Despite defeat, we’re off to Europe May 15 2012

IN a strange sort of symmetry, the phrase ‘poisoned chalice’ was coined by an exorcising monk (he was knocking around even before Sky Sports, although they’d never admit it because, as we know, all sporting life only began in 1992) who was a patron saint of Europe. Read

City loss dampens high of Chelsea May 08 2012

TURNED out to be a damp squib, didn’t it? After Chelsea I encountered the second of my new experiences of the weekend, the first of which was being asked what flavour I wanted for an alcoholic drink. I mean to say, ‘Fruits of the forest’ belongs in a trifle not a beer glass.Read

Being ignored is more preferable May 01 2012

MY apologies for the two-minute gap in your week last week. I was taking our last family holiday in its current form and I can’t comment on the performances against Stoke and Wigan.Read

Let’s not celebrate Europe just yet Apr 17 2012

WE are on the cusp of Europe! Three seasons ago we wouldn’t have got there even if owned by the Lib Dems. Remembering 95-96 though, I’m not going to watch old re-runs of Allo Allo to polish up my French just yet.Read

Roasted Swans a just reward for Toon Army Apr 11 2012

DON'T you love the excitement of the Easter programme? Traditionally it was the only time lower-league clubs broke five figures for their attendances.Read

Take that experts – and you, Savage Apr 03 2012

AND the embarrassing uncles at the society wedding dance on!Read

A threat on every time we attacked Mar 27 2012

HAVE you ever pondered life’s imponderables? For example, if there is a god, why is Chris Moyles rich?Read

Magpies' finances on the up Mar 13 2012

NOT wanting to detract from your re-living of last night, I want to talk about the financial figures.Read

Derby day is best out of the way for me Mar 06 2012

Paul Dixon has been following Newcastle United for more than 35 years, 17 of which have been as a season ticket holder in the Gallowgate End at St James’ Park. Each week in his column, he takes a wry look at all things football – from a black-and-white perspective.Read

Blank looks as United thrown to Wolves Feb 28 2012

SORRY about the blank week last week. Strange thing, the club tried to get the paper to re-name the column ‘The view from the Spring madness sale at SD’ but resisted.Read

Plenty of spirit but a lack of quality Feb 14 2012

WITHIN minutes of good old ’Arry’s quite proper acquittal from HMRC’s absurd allegations, I received a few emails. Mostly exceedingly libellous but all very funny.Read

Raising a glass to a marvellous team effort Feb 07 2012

Why am I surprised by dismal Cup exit? Jan 31 2012

ACCORDING to a study from the Mental Health Foundation, on why we follow a particular team:Read

Surprises never far away . . . Jan 24 2012

Win was comfortable if the tackling wasn’t Jan 17 2012

WE are spoiled aren’t we? 1-0 suggests a nervy, scrappy win, it actually turned out to be quite comfortable.Read

No luck as usual at Anfield for Newcastle Jan 03 2012

I DIDN’T have high expectations at Anfield on Friday. We never get anything resembling luck down there.Read

Happy New Year United? Who knows Dec 27 2011

NICELY back on track at Bolton and a welcome boost for Hatem Ben Arfa.Read

Tribute to Speed touched the heart Dec 20 2011

I SUPPOSE the stalemate against Swansea which played out after the Speed tribute was almost inevitable.Read

We have the cash but not the range Dec 13 2011

I HAVE a regular Saturday night routine at this time of the year. To avoid Simon Cowell’s dreadful ‘Cirque de so lame’, I take a musical journey around ‘You Tube’.Read