Jeff Winter on Alpha 103.2
Listen to the Podcast for The Phone In: Click Here
The Blog:
Hi folks, just to warn you my web log and questions for competitions will be late next week as I am off to the Far east to referee in the Masters tournament, so I will miss next weekends football and also the shows.
It was a barren weekend for Darlington after their exit from the FA Cup, a chance to get players back fit, but as manager Dave Penney said, sometimes after a defeat the players want a game as quickly as possible to get the performance and result out of their systems. That was certainly the case following the shock midweek home defeat to Chester City. A bright start an dan early goal did not lead to an expected comfortable home win, but a shock loss that saw Darlo drop to third in the table.
Hartlepool edged past Fleetwood town in the fog and Boro did everything but score in outplaying Newcastle United at the Riverside, but it’s goals that count and once again Boro were shot shy.
The draw was made for the Third Round of the FA Cup and has given both Boro and Pools intriguing ties. Pools will have to be up for the fight as they face the long throws and hard tackling Stoke City. But as we saw against West Brom, Hartlepool are capable of playing against top flight sides, so a shock could be on the cards. Talking about shocks, can Barrow knock the Boro out of the Cup, well as we have already seen this season and last anything is possible. If it does happen though, I think the patience of long suffering Boro fans will finally snap. In reality it’s a great draw and hopefully a place in Round 4 will be assured.
With the end of the loan window in the lower divisions, it was Darlington who were busy, with two players coming in and surprisingly Greg Blundell going out to Accrington Stanley. With Darlington also not prolific in front of goal, the loss of a true 100% player who is always useful as an impact sub if not a regular starter surprised me. Another victim of the club’s ridiculous decision not to run a reserve side!!!
On Saturday evening, I had Darlington assistant manager Martin Gray in the studio if you missed the show it is well worth listening to the podcast available on the alpha website.
I also caught up with David Craig from Sky Sports News, who as usual had much to say about football in our region.
Eric Paylor the chief sportswriter from the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette was my guest for “On the Spot”, he chose some rock music to get him in the mood for the game. After answering 10 quick fire questions we played his choice of music. During the course of the season I will be putting more players and also fans on the spot, so if you fancy doing a quick recorded interview with me, please get in touch.
As you can see from the web site we have developed a relationship with The Great Air Ambulance and William Hills, the bookies are giving me a series of Charity bets to try and make money for a very worthwhile cause. I was amazed to find out that this is a Charity and receives no public funding. At Durham Tees Valley they need to raise £ 1.2 million each year to provide what is a vital service that helps save lives everyday of the week. Each Saturday at 1.15 pm I will catch up with the boys from Billy Hills and I place my bets, they will appear on my web site each Wednesday so you can join me in having a flutter if you wish.
Boro let me down this week ( again), I had tipped them to win 2-1 and Pools to win 3-1, at least that one was close. Paul at Billy Hills, tipped us a couple of horses which both finished second at reasonable odds, so a profit there.
If you fancy being a guest on the show, please let me know.
Don’t forget with Christmas approaching an ideal gift for a football fan could be a book, you can order copies of my autobiography “ Who’s the Basxxxd in the Black” via my website www.jeffwinter.co.uk or by contacting me at the station, also Steve Goldby from the fansonline franchise of fans sites, has an excellent new book “ Teesside Urban Legends”, a hilarious look into the history of the message boards with the wit of the fan the characters that make up the history of the area. Whilst Boro based it will make excellent reading for any football fan. Order one now via the www.comeonboro.com website.
Anyone looking for an ideal present for a youngster aged between 5-12 could look up the details to join enrol them as a Junior Quaker. For more details contact the club on 01325 387060.An ideal stocking filler, costs only £ 10 with savings and membership benefits.
I am steadily picking up a longer list of regular Darlo and Boro callers, why not add your name to that number?
Thanks for your calls, without them we would not have a show. I hope that I can encourage more of you to contact me after games. It’s the opinions of the true fans that I want.
If you missed the phone-ins you can catch up with them on the pod cast from Monday each week on www.alpha1032.com
To the competitions, this week we had are usual prizes to give away. The carvery for two at the Darlington arena, in “Jeff’s Meat and Two Veg”, was won by Paul from Middlesbrough, he worked out that it was William Gallas, who was the captain who had publicly slagged off his team mates.
The Half-time entertainment slot for a Meal for Two at a Jo Rigatonis restaurant of your choice was won by Gary from Darlington who knew that the “Goodbye” in the song words was with reference to both “ The Gloryhunter” and Greg Blundell leaving the club this week.
This weekend we will the usual meals and also match tickets for Boro v Arsenal on Saturday 13th December. To win any of these prizes check out the questions on the website www.alpha1032.com NOW and enter today. Just look under the “What’s happening section” Get your entries in early.
I hope that you enjoy the shows. I am always open to suggestions as to how we can improve their content and keen to hear your views especially live on air, so don’t be shy give me a ring from 6-7 every Saturday evening on 01325 25 55 55 or email at football@alpha1032.com. Or text me on 81800 start your message off with goal, then leave your name and comments.
To keep up to date with all of my other columns visit my website www.jeffwinter.co.uk
William Hill have kindly agreed to give Jeff a series of charity bets throughout the season to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance.
Jeff has backed Darlo £25 ew for promotion at 9/1, Hartlepool £25 ew for promotion at 50/1 and for Boro’s Afonso Alves to be the Premier League’s top scorer at 25/1.
Each week throughout the season Jeff will have £10 each on the correct scores for Boro, Darlo and Pools games and also a treble on the outcome of their games.
These bets will be confirmed on air each weekend at 1.15pm and will appear at www.jeffwinter.co.uk, with running totals each week on a Wednesday.
For more details and to make donations visit www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk
Friday mornings between 8.30 – 9.00 AM. Jeff’s preview of the weekends games.
Saturday lunchtime 1.00 till 1.30 PM. The Pre Match Warm Up with Jeff Winter. Your chance to win a Sunday Carvery for two at the Darlington Arena.
Hear from the managers, find out about Jeff’s charity bets with William Hill in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance and Q & A with the players and the fans.
Saturday Evening - The Jeff Winter Football Phone In. Your chance to win match day tickets and also a meal for two at a Jo Rigatonis of your choice.
