Search found 313 matches

by Andrew Wilkinson
Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:15 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

You make your point well bga. For the media it's about decision making. Not just what subjects to cover, but how to cover them, and, these days, not just in the paper, but online, and via social media. All of the media companies I worked for put a lot of thought into their coverage, sometimes making...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:46 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

Look North last night said there was only one football result to bring viewers, and that was York's defeat - no mention of Darlo at Halifax. At our current level the only regular media coverage is from the Echo. And just to make it clear, my view is that the Echo give very good coverage on the playi...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:25 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Constructive views on the Blackwell experience
Replies: 120
Views: 39603

Re: Constructive views on the Blackwell experience

When recalling those good old days at Feethams we tend to forget that there was a fair bit of animosity between us and the cricket club. Let's not recreate that feeling between us and the rugby club. I will probably wander down there to watch the occasional rugby match, and I hope their fans will wa...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:46 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Echo
Replies: 2
Views: 2400

Echo

Great read today. That sets the standard. With reporting like that, the paper can boost the club and the club can boost the paper. Well done!
by Andrew Wilkinson
Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:45 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

See what you mean. I didn't read it that way. What I was referring to was that these days as a Darlo reporter you don't need to delve deep to let fans know what's happening in the club because it is more open than in the days of many previous owners.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:02 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

Don't forget Kev Luff. Interesting choice of phrase 'fighting our corner'. There is no need for journalists to do that these days as the club is stable and open, which is great.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:36 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Best Striker For Darlington
Replies: 54
Views: 25747

Re: Best Striker For Darlington

Marco Gabbiadini was probably best goal scorer, with Currie virtually his equal. Best all round forward was Alan Walsh. Great left foot, with the most powerful shot I've seen. I remember a 20 yard free kick at York - was on the open terrace right behind it. A player needed lengthy treatment so keepe...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:22 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

Not at all bitter Gramps. Spend over 20 years covering Darlo home and away. Covered Boro at The likes of Old Trafford, and Wembley cup finals. As an angling writer fished the best rivers and lakes in England - for free. Co wrote three football books with Ray Simpson.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Thu Dec 22, 2016 10:41 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

The fans radio, Twitter, the club's website and this message board keeps us informed on all things Darlo.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Dec 21, 2016 11:49 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

Bringing out the same old footage of George adds nothing. Even the neutrals have heard it all before countless times. It's boring for Darlo fans and for neutrals?
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Dec 21, 2016 9:16 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: BBC Radio Tees tonight
Replies: 59
Views: 24551

Re: BBC Radio Tees tonight

How much we need the local media is a worthy topic for discussion. My view is that they can be very valuable to the club, and boost their own viewing/listening/circulation figures - but only if the coverage is good quality.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Nov 28, 2016 7:33 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Steve Staunton
Replies: 5
Views: 4623

Re: Steve Staunton

Absolutely.
Don't forget Bushead, Staunton did his best for YOUR football club.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:04 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass
Replies: 21
Views: 10975

Re: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass

Agree with you Spyman
Exile - I praised a person I knew and liked and expressed sadness at his death.
I didn't and cannot to the same for someone I didn't know, and whose work I didn't read. Surely that puts me in the vast majority.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Sat Nov 26, 2016 11:30 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass
Replies: 21
Views: 10975

Re: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass

I'd prefer the minute's silence to be for Paul Futcher, and if people wish, include Bob Cass. I should think Martin knew him well, and I totally respect Martin.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Sat Nov 26, 2016 11:02 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass
Replies: 21
Views: 10975

Re: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass

I didn't question that you saw him at games! That said I have attended over 1000 Darlo games, most in the press box - and as far as I can recall I never saw him, and certainly never met him. That doesn't mean he didn't have a fondness for the club, but in terms of a place in the club's history Paul ...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Sat Nov 26, 2016 10:22 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass
Replies: 21
Views: 10975

Re: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass

Nowhere in that tribute did it say that he was a Darlington fan. Elsewhere he said that his most memorable game was Sunderland v Leeds. Surely as a Darlo fan the most memorable game involving Leeds was Darlo's 2-2 draw there when Leeds were in Premier League. The best game I ever covered was Boro's ...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:10 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass
Replies: 21
Views: 10975

Re: Paul Futcher and Bob Cass

Paul Futcher was a really nice guy who did his best to turn round the fortunes of the team. It didn't work out the way he planned, but that doesn't detract from his record of being a fine player with a good football brain. It was a pleasure to work with him, he was always honest and open in the inte...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Apr 27, 2016 5:24 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Justice for the 96
Replies: 13
Views: 3930

Re: Justice for the 96

When Gregg Blundell played for Darlo he wouldn't do any interviews for The Sun. I believe a lot of Merseyside players took the same stance (incidentally Pete, we were not in Division 1 when Hillsborough happened. We were in Div 4. It was the year we were relegated to the Conference. But you are righ...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:01 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Back to Darlo - Bucket collections
Replies: 30
Views: 8427

Re: Back to Darlo - Bucket collections

On journalist wages these days I'm not sure you could even afford the bucket :D
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Apr 04, 2016 1:24 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Back to Darlo - Bucket collections
Replies: 30
Views: 8427

Re: Back to Darlo - Bucket collections

That's why I wrote'try'. Mystery benefactor stories always make a good read.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Apr 04, 2016 12:58 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Back to Darlo - Bucket collections
Replies: 30
Views: 8427

Re: Back to Darlo - Bucket collections

Have the Echo not picked up on this? This is a good story. They could try and find out who the mystery person is.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:35 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Echo reports
Replies: 7
Views: 3007

Re: Echo reports

Don't know - it hasn't been announced. It's not just a case of Darlo being non league. When the club was in the league they got give or take the same coverage as now and Hartlepool were given just as much space as they are given now. For instance last week when Pools lost 4-1 at Bristol Rovers they ...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:50 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Echo reports
Replies: 7
Views: 3007

Echo reports

Now that Peter Barron is leaving the editor's role at the Echo I wonder whether the football coverage will change. I hope the Darlo reports will be given a more prominent position in the paper and Hartlepool coverage reduced.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:39 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Trevor Kettle
Replies: 20
Views: 6177

Re: Trevor Kettle

I remember the Mansfield game well. It was the worst display by a ref that I have ever seen. The red card for McGurk capped it. The press box was square on to the incident so I saw it clearly. Vaughan lunged at McGurk with studs off the ground. McGurk saw it coming, took evasive action and accidenta...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:21 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Northern Echo
Replies: 10
Views: 3941

Re: Northern Echo

A circulation of six in Hartlepool? Is that an increase?
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Feb 24, 2016 1:50 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Northern Echo
Replies: 10
Views: 3941

Re: Northern Echo

The Echo's circulation is down to 26846 - down 6.8per cent. That's the daily figure for the second half of last year.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Mon Feb 15, 2016 7:06 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: Why I have a severe dislike of Poolies
Replies: 19
Views: 6615

Re: Why I have a severe dislike of Poolies

Ali was one of those guys who made the job fun. One of the most enthusiastic blokes I have had the pleasure to know. And while he was Boro through and through, he ALWAYS asked after Darlo - every time we met.
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:41 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: mr upshall,Dubai
Replies: 91
Views: 19652

Re: mr upshall,Dubai

Cash reserves last only so long - and might be needed for future development. We'll find out soon enough what the short term future holds, but what concerns me is discussions of Conference football (two divisions up from where we are now) and big budgets (several times the amount we can currently ra...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Wed Dec 02, 2015 1:50 pm
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: mr upshall,Dubai
Replies: 91
Views: 19652

Re: mr upshall,Dubai

We're jumping the gun talking about the Conference let alone Football League. The here and now is enough of a challenge. We have been knocked out of both major cups cheaply, the return to Darlo has been delayed, and we are at the time of year where postponements are hitting cash flow hard. Top prior...
by Andrew Wilkinson
Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:31 am
Forum: Virtual Feethams
Topic: mr upshall,Dubai
Replies: 91
Views: 19652

Re: mr upshall,Dubai

Read Martin's report again - I stand by everything I said.