BigD

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

@YouShouldHaveBT @SimonCalder Absolute farce at Barcelona airport today, system on / System off, queue here, move over there, queue again.

[Grassroots @Teamgrassroots_]

I am the wife of a man who has dedicated the past 12 years to coaching young boys, helping them become the best versions of themselves. What began as simply helping out my son’s team when he was five years old has grown into a journey where my husband is now the head coach and chief cheerleader.

Sadly, that journey came to an end last night. Why? Because, after a series of tough results (and yes, they were tough 🤦‍♀️), a local team made a tempting offer to some of the most talented players on my husband’s team. These boys, aged 15 and 16, felt their pride wounded and decided to take up the offer. This led to more players following suit, leaving my husband with no choice but to fold the team.

Despite his heartbreak, my husband fought until the very end. He stayed up all night, reaching out to every parent he could think of who might have a player who could help. He felt a deep responsibility to the remaining players to ensure they could still enjoy football on the weekend. Sadly, despite his best efforts, it wasn’t meant to be.

I watched my husband crumble last night. It was heartbreaking. He cried, something I rarely see. He spent hours calling each parent, and the tears were not just his own. The words of comfort from the parents were incredibly moving:

‘My son wouldn’t be who he is today without you.’
‘Because of you, my son has made lifelong friends.’

Unfortunately, youth football can be incredibly competitive, as an ex-dance mum, I can say without a doubt that the world of grassroots football is far more cutthroat than the world of dance!

Though the team may be gone, my husband’s work doesn’t end here. He will do everything in his power to help the boys find new teams if that’s what they want. And why does he continue? Because his values are rooted in respect, integrity, and sportsmanship. His team has meant everything to him, and they always will.

I guess I’m just venting my grief. Yes, grief. We lost our football family last night. We knew it wouldn’t last forever, but losing it so suddenly and harshly is difficult to process. To all the grassroots coaches out there—like my husband—who simply want to see kids enjoy the game, I want to say: I’m proud of you. Your impact on their lives is something no one can take away.

Yours in Sport,
Anon

[dan barker @danbarker]

@oasis Any chance of doing Whitley Bay ice rink again for £12.50?

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

👏 🍻

[Paul Heaton @PaulHeatonSolo]

Tynemouth, we haven’t forgotten you! As a small amount of help during the cost of greed crisis, Paul is leaving some money behind the bar at a few local pubs near to Tynemouth Priory and Castle so that some of you can have a drink on him tomorrow…

[Paul Heaton @PaulHeatonSolo]

Tynemouth, we haven’t forgotten you! As a small amount of help during the cost of greed crisis, Paul is leaving some money behind the bar at a few local pubs near to Tynemouth Priory and Castle so that some of you can have a drink on him tomorrow…

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

@metoffice 👎

[Grassroots @Teamgrassroots_]

This is Naomi, she has autism. She's played for my team for the last 2 seasons, U8s and U9s.

At first, if it was raining she wouldn't even leave the house and if it started to rain during training she'd go sit in the car.
But now, especially in the second half of this season she's really coming out of her shell. She's been braving the great British weather for the past 18 months, but in the last couple of months she's been asking to go in goal in training (that was a massive no no previously). For me, the biggest change in her has been the way she behaves on a Saturday. Before she was fairly static, wouldn't get involved too much and if the ball came near her, she'd just kick it in whatever direction she was facing. Now though, we have "beast mode" Naomi. She is composed, takes a touch, passes forwards, runs with the ball and joins the attack. A few weeks ago she got her first ever assist. 2 weeks ago she was inches from her first ever goal. And last week she captained the team. However, the biggest and most noticeable difference is the fact that she is actually CALLING for the ball. Last weekend she was asking to be passed to!!

All this from a young lady who wouldn't even leave the house some weeks. Now she's asking to receive the ball. For the vast majority that's "normal" but for Naomi, it's enormous!

I'm immensely proud of her and the support that she gets from her Mum, step-dad, Dad and step-mum is vital.

I would love it for the whole grassroots family to bask in how fabulous she is!

She's an inspiration! She inspires me to be a better coach and I'd love it if she could inspire someone else with similar struggles, even just one!

[Grassroots @Teamgrassroots_]

This is my son Charlie, he's 15. It's important that everyone understands he isn't a ref, he's a child who chooses to ref. If he refs your game, please treat him how you would want your child to be treated. I'm so proud of him. Charlie's Mum ❤️

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

Definitely lots of independents in #WhitleyBay, @OMNIONTHECORNER is one of our favourites. @lyndsiejo78 @Sacha_Lord

[lyndsiejo @lyndsiejo78]

@Sacha_Lord @DarrenLBerry lots of your locals independents #whitleybay

[Whitley Bay FC @WhitleyBayFC]

Two days to go until one of the biggest cup ties of the weekend, and it's at Hillheads on Saturday as Tyneside takes on Manchester! Come and support the Bay in our @IsuzuFAVase 3rd Round game v @WD_CFC Let's pack Hillheads!
@NUFC @SunderlandAFC fans all welcome!
#HowayTheBay

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

@lyndsiejo78 @NCLairport @jet2tweets @OrchardBerry

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

👏 👏 @NCLairport Fast track parking ✅ in 5 mins, security ✅ in 5 mins, and 5 min bag drop with @jet2tweets

2 hours to go now with @OrchardBerry and the boys, 🤔 🍻 🥂 before ✈️

[eli yudin @eliyudin]

Bars should have a “beertender” and a “bartender” don’t make me wait 30 minutes for a high life because someone ordered some made up shit like an upside down negroni

[Will Norman @willnorman]

People keep telling me that because the UK had a heatwave in 1976, climate change is overhyped.

So here’s the global heat anomaly maps from June 1976 and June 2022. https://t.co/GGVg46UTcI

[Kyyria #TeamGP 💙🇺🇦 🇵🇸 @kyyria_6]

Is this all GP Practice Management at the moment? Am having a "please reassure me it's not just me" moment @TheIGPM

[valleygardensnt @valleygardensnt]

Good luck to Henry in Y5 who is going up to Aberdeen tomorrow to represent Northumberland in the U10s County Cup Tennis competition. Enjoy it Henry! 🎾 #vgmspe

[TyneHealth - North Tyneside GP Federation @TyneHealth]

Don’t get caught on the hop this Easter Bank Holiday🐣

Pharmacies and GP surgeries will be operating to different hours so ensure you have repeat prescriptions ordered in advance and use the online NHS 111 if you need medical assistance.

Pharmacy info ➡️ https://t.co/T9wzX7mw9q

[Oliver Carroll @olliecarroll]

Brave. Zelensky close advisors go walkabout in central Kyiv. It’s a shame the city is so empty, they say — “but we did find coffee!”

[Dr Dave Triska @dave_dlt]

Found this absolute corker from Newcastle Gateshead CCG - complete guide on minor illness in <=5 year olds, complete gem https://t.co/7RhCZEBbZ5

[BigD @DarrenLBerry]

@AdrianBentley @NHSuk GP won’t generally be able to help, 119 is main point of contact