Forgot to report that my 72nd birthday came up on March 12 (last Tuesday). Where does that place me on the age hierarchy of this bbs? TMOMNBWY! :-) phoenix

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Answers

Many happy returns Gerald! Don`t know where it puts you in the hierarchy, but it does illustrate my belief that one of the reason this bbs is so successful is due to the good `spread` of ages.(:o)

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Many of 'em Marra. By my (somewhat inebriated) calculations, I think you've got a few years on the older bu99ers like Jonno and Clarky. Keep it up Bonnie Lad!

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Congrats Gerald,

I thought I was the only one on BBS who could remember Colin Veitch

Derek

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Many Happy Returns Gerald! Great to hear from you. I think you may well have the honour of being the BBS senior elder statesman unless Floridian is going to submit a higher bid.

For such an honoured member of this forum I've assembled a few facts here to let you know what was happening to the Toon as you were brought forth kicking and screaming into existence a short 72 years ago. You were born just 3 years too late to witness the Toon's last Title win in 1927, and 2 years after completion of the Tyne Bridge. You were born in the final season wee Hughie Gallacher played for us, and just 6 months before he came back with Chelsea to record the record SJP crowd of 68386.

I'm afraid the Toon celebrated your arrival with a run of 7 games without a victory, the first game in your life being Mar 15, Sheff Wed (who finished as champions) (a) 2-4. Seven days before your arrival the Toon had gone out of the Cup 1-0 in a quarter final replay away to Hull. Your first Toon victory was 3-1 at home to Liverpool on April 18 with Gallacher scoring the first. We finished 19th just 1 pt clear of the relegation spot with Burnley and Everton going down. It gets worse! I can also report that your first game against the Mackems was a 0-5 at Roker park in November of that year. However, there is some good news. In that season 30-31, your first full season, Man Utd were relegated, bottom, 9 points adrift and 115 goals conceded. :-)

On your 2nd birthday the Toon played in the FA cup semi final and beat Chelsea 2-1, going on to beat Arsenal in the famous ball-over- line final of 1932. (Arsenal got their revenge for that just last Saturday when a linesman made a shocking decision awarding a goal kick to Arsenal with the ball still well in play!) I wonder if you were you able to get a ticket for the final that year Gerald? :-) By the time I was that age (2)the Toon had won TWO FA Cups (both of which I was unable to attend!)

Long may you to continue to grace this forum with your presence Phoenix. Happy Birthday.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Colin Veitch. LOL Derek! :-)

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Many congratulations Gerald - you got a canny few years even on me!

I was reading recently that there are now only around 100 surviving British Veterans of WW1, and note with interest Jonno's observation that it is highly likely that not one even bbs-er is a veteran of our last Championship victory. I just wonder how many Toon supporters there are around now who witnessed that last win - no more than a handful would be my guess. Puts it all into it's true ghastly perspective, actually.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Many Happy Returns Young Man!

Have you ever let us know where your handle, 'phoenix' comes from? Were you originally born in 1432 and rose out the ashes to be born again in 1932? ;-)

Come on then Del Boy / jonno, who's this Colin Veitch bloke? (he's President & CEO of NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES according to Google!), ah got 'im:

http://www.nufc.co.uk/history/top28/veitch.htm (VEITCH, Colin Campbell McKechnie) "...he was the first United skipper to lift the FA Cup, in 1910".

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

...poor maths there, make that 1932, 1930 ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Happy Birthday!

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Many Happy Returns Gerald

You certainly have a couple of years on me.

I think I rank alongside Clarky & Jonno

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Happy Birthday Gerald! bbsers don't grow old, they just lose the thread!

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Happy Birthday, Gerald!

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Gerald many happy returns.I am 72 on April 22

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Happy belated birthday Gerald/phoenix. I remember you calling into the Strawbeery after a match a few years ago.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002

Ta everso for all of your good wishes. Special thanks to you Jonno for your incredible posting of historical events of my early years. In my time you were born covered in black coal dust with stripes of white skin being discernible. This, Jonno, is what prompted the toon colours :-) Many more happy birthdays to you Floridian..I see that I've only just pipped you out for the title of 'senior statesman'. We must share quite a bit of history e.g the air-raids at the beginning of the war, the declaration of war that Sunday am, the scrambling about looking for gas masks when the first air-raid warning sounded..among many other things.

All the best!...phoenix

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002

Gerald, Belated birthday greetings. You are 10 years ahead of me as I am 62 on April Foolds day. Only on-line at present as babysitting for daughter. Miss you's all. Buff

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

Eee Gerald - you're old enough to be me faather - just!!

All the best marra.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

10 ahead of me as well Gerald. Bit late, but many more of them kiddo.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002