THE EXILED GEORDIE INTERVIEWS........
IAN CHANDLER
Currently in his third spell at Hillheads, Sunderland born Ian Chandler, has seen alot of things happen during his times there. His first spell coincided with the club's spell in the Unibond League between 1989 and 1995, before returning for a brief spell at the start of the millenium, 2001 to 2003. After brief interim spells at Bishop Auckland and then Jarrow Roofing, he returned to Hillheads in 2004 as the Bay's player-manager following the departure of John Charlton.
His second spell at the club saw him score the winning goal in their first FA Vase victory (1-0 win against Tiptree United at Villa Park). However, since becoming manager he has become one of the most successful manager's in the regions, and has led the club to successive FA Vase victories in each of the last three seasons (2009, 2010 and 2011).
In the past week, numerous things have been happening between Hillheads and Croft Park (the home of Blyth Spartans), so much so that Steve Cuggy (Ian's assistant), Gavin Fell (Coach), David Coulson (Captain) and Kyle Hayes (Goalkeeper) have all left for Blyth, with the former two becoming the Spartans new manager and assistant on a one year contract. Blyth's now former manager, Mick Tait, was manager at Blyth when Ian was there himself as a player between 1999 and 2001. The following, is a brief interview with Ian Chandler about his thoughts concerning recent events at Hillheads.
EXILED GEORDIE - Cuggy, Fell and Coulson to date have left the Bay for Blyth. What are your thoughts on this? Do you have anyone lined up as their replacements?
IAN CHANDLER - I actually recommended Gav and Cuggy to Blyth, Blyth initially asked me about the job, I did consider the position, but for several reasons, one being as Mick Tait was still their manager I felt it only right not to take the position. I'm sure Gav and Cugs will do well at Blyth, and they were very good for Whitley Bay and this will not be forgotten from our history, however, they are gone and I've moved on.
EG - Do you have anyone lined up as their replacements?
IC - I have appointed Brian Rowe as my assistant.
EG - You've been manager at Hillheads for a number of years now, is this just another challenge/obstacle for you and the club to overcome and how do you see that happening? Has this disrupted your plans for pre-season and next season?
IC - As I mentioned a little earlier, things change, I’ve moved on already and we have been speaking to several players and hopefully will have a couple on board very soon. I always use something like this to motivate myself and the team, I hardly need to say anything everyone works hard to prove we are still the best.
EG - Has this disrupted your plans for pre-season and next season?
IC - Yes, slightly as David Coulson has now left to join them, while another few have been contacted by Blyth, so there’s a little uncertainty around who will be remain, but plans are moving on adding new players.
EG - Any personal thoughts, comments, words to Blyth's new management you would like to relay.
IC - Just to wish the two of them the best of luck, it’s a tough league but they have a good shot at it.
(The above piece is the work of myself, Peter Mann, writing as The Exiled Geordie. This shall not be copied or used in any other publication unless the expression permission is given myself)
26 May 2011
25 May 2011
THE INTERVIEWS 1
THE EXILED GEORDIE INTERVIEWS...........
CHRIS MOORE
James Christopher Moore, a 27 year old geordie-born winger who was schooled in the shadows of SJP having been part of Newcastle United's Academy set-up between the ages of 16 and 18. Having then spent a year at Bishop Auckland, Mooresy joined Whitley Bay in 2005 and went on to spend five years at Hillheads. During his time with the Seahorses he won the Northern League Championship, the Northumberland Senior Cup and the FA Vase. Also, whilst there, he was away at Rutgers University in the USA for two and a half years, travelling back to the north-east of England for pre-season and holidays. He would join Darlington, then of League Two, in March 2010, and won the FA Trophy at the end of the following season, before leaving the Quakers shortly afterwards. One of Darlington's opponents of the 2010-11 season is where Chris will be on trial this coming summer.
Here, Chris Moore, gives a brief interview on parts of his footballing life.
EXILED GEORDIE - You've won both the FA Vase (2009) and FA Trophy (2011). What are your experiences, any comparisons etc, on these two momentous occasions?
CHRIS MOORE - Both were fantastic for their own reasons, the first time having come so close the year before to get there and win with all your mates was some feeling. Going with Darlington was also special, playing at a higher level in front of 25,000 and winning in the last minute of extra time takes some beating! Unfortunately I couldn't hang around to celebrate as I had to get back to the dental hospital to have a tooth removed!
EG - You were one of several players to be released from the Quakers, including final scorer Chris Senior, following the club's FA Trophy success. What are your thoughts on this and how it was handled?
CM - It had been a strange season for me so not getting offered a new contract was not a massive shock, and we found out just before our civic reception, but I guess I'd rather be told than be in doubt so although it cast a shadow over the occasion I've no problem with it. I think it could also work out for the best even though I enjoyed playing for Darlington.
EG - Mark Cooper and Ian Chandler....two very different managers, but what are they like both professionally and personally?
CM - I actually played with Chandler at Bishop Auckland and he took me to Whitley so we got on very well and he's had a lot of success at Whitley. At Darlington I was already at the club when Mark Cooper came. He has won a trophy in his first season and I expect them to kick on next season. The two have very different qualities, but both have achieved success in management.
EG - Gateshead have invited you for a pre-season trial with matches against Huddersfield Town, Harrogate Town and Carlisle United. How did this potential move come about and are your confident?
CM - I'm looking forward to going to Gateshead in pre season, I know a few of the lads there and play good football, so I guess having been given the opportunity it's up to me to perform and impress them. I can't ask for a better opportunity than that. I spoke to Ian Bogie a few days after the season ended so it was nice to have something to aim for rather than a summer of waiting for something to come up.
EG - The Northern League, Unibond League, Conference Premier, and albeit briefly, League Two. You have played at four different levels on the football pyramid, so, what are the differences between them? And what are your thoughts on each level?
CM - I certainly enjoy the higher quality of pitches in League 2 and the Conference! There are a lot of good players in the Northern League who could definitely play higher up the pyramid, though overall there is a difference in standard obviously the higher up you play. The higher I've played, the more I've enjoyed the football to be honest, and in many ways find it easier further up the leagues. I had an enjoyable season at Bishops in the Unibond, and it was obviously fantastic at Whitley. My time at Darlington has been mixed and saw 5 managers, a delegation and the FA Trophy in the space of a year. I was pretty happy with my performances when I played, though I don't think the Darlington
fans saw the best of me.
EG - A Gateshead contract aside, what are your thoughts on the future?
CM -Well I have a degree in Journalism and Marketing, though having worked in offices before I'm not sure it's for me. I've been doing my coaching qualifications over the last few years, and hope to develop as a coach and forge a career in the game when I'm finished playing. I've been coaching for around 5 years now, and have coached the under 9's and 19's and Whitley Bay over the last 3 years, and am getting involved with the Newcastle United Foundation, and I'm really enjoying it at the moment. Time will tell if I'm any good at it, hopefully I'll be better at coaching than playing!
The following is an extract from the forthcoming Whitley Bay book - Rising from the Ashes, contributed by Chris Moore, when he was a participated at the World University Games in 2009 -
The world university games in Belgrade in 2009 were a fantastic experience, staying in an Olympic village with athletes from all the other sports and countries from around the world. We had quite a few professional players in the team, is did the other countries, and this gave me the belief I could play at a higher level. We were unlucky not to get a medal finishing fourth after losing the semis on a penalty shoot-out. My highlight of the tournament was probably scoring a penalty in the quarter final shoot out with France which sent us through to the semis, and also beating the host nation Serbia, who had a very strong team.
(The above piece is the work of myself, Peter Mann, writing as The Exiled Geordie. This shall not be copied or used in any other publication unless the expression permission is given myself)
CHRIS MOORE
James Christopher Moore, a 27 year old geordie-born winger who was schooled in the shadows of SJP having been part of Newcastle United's Academy set-up between the ages of 16 and 18. Having then spent a year at Bishop Auckland, Mooresy joined Whitley Bay in 2005 and went on to spend five years at Hillheads. During his time with the Seahorses he won the Northern League Championship, the Northumberland Senior Cup and the FA Vase. Also, whilst there, he was away at Rutgers University in the USA for two and a half years, travelling back to the north-east of England for pre-season and holidays. He would join Darlington, then of League Two, in March 2010, and won the FA Trophy at the end of the following season, before leaving the Quakers shortly afterwards. One of Darlington's opponents of the 2010-11 season is where Chris will be on trial this coming summer.
Here, Chris Moore, gives a brief interview on parts of his footballing life.
EXILED GEORDIE - You've won both the FA Vase (2009) and FA Trophy (2011). What are your experiences, any comparisons etc, on these two momentous occasions?
CHRIS MOORE - Both were fantastic for their own reasons, the first time having come so close the year before to get there and win with all your mates was some feeling. Going with Darlington was also special, playing at a higher level in front of 25,000 and winning in the last minute of extra time takes some beating! Unfortunately I couldn't hang around to celebrate as I had to get back to the dental hospital to have a tooth removed!
EG - You were one of several players to be released from the Quakers, including final scorer Chris Senior, following the club's FA Trophy success. What are your thoughts on this and how it was handled?
CM - It had been a strange season for me so not getting offered a new contract was not a massive shock, and we found out just before our civic reception, but I guess I'd rather be told than be in doubt so although it cast a shadow over the occasion I've no problem with it. I think it could also work out for the best even though I enjoyed playing for Darlington.
EG - Mark Cooper and Ian Chandler....two very different managers, but what are they like both professionally and personally?
CM - I actually played with Chandler at Bishop Auckland and he took me to Whitley so we got on very well and he's had a lot of success at Whitley. At Darlington I was already at the club when Mark Cooper came. He has won a trophy in his first season and I expect them to kick on next season. The two have very different qualities, but both have achieved success in management.
EG - Gateshead have invited you for a pre-season trial with matches against Huddersfield Town, Harrogate Town and Carlisle United. How did this potential move come about and are your confident?
CM - I'm looking forward to going to Gateshead in pre season, I know a few of the lads there and play good football, so I guess having been given the opportunity it's up to me to perform and impress them. I can't ask for a better opportunity than that. I spoke to Ian Bogie a few days after the season ended so it was nice to have something to aim for rather than a summer of waiting for something to come up.
EG - The Northern League, Unibond League, Conference Premier, and albeit briefly, League Two. You have played at four different levels on the football pyramid, so, what are the differences between them? And what are your thoughts on each level?
CM - I certainly enjoy the higher quality of pitches in League 2 and the Conference! There are a lot of good players in the Northern League who could definitely play higher up the pyramid, though overall there is a difference in standard obviously the higher up you play. The higher I've played, the more I've enjoyed the football to be honest, and in many ways find it easier further up the leagues. I had an enjoyable season at Bishops in the Unibond, and it was obviously fantastic at Whitley. My time at Darlington has been mixed and saw 5 managers, a delegation and the FA Trophy in the space of a year. I was pretty happy with my performances when I played, though I don't think the Darlington
fans saw the best of me.
EG - A Gateshead contract aside, what are your thoughts on the future?
CM -Well I have a degree in Journalism and Marketing, though having worked in offices before I'm not sure it's for me. I've been doing my coaching qualifications over the last few years, and hope to develop as a coach and forge a career in the game when I'm finished playing. I've been coaching for around 5 years now, and have coached the under 9's and 19's and Whitley Bay over the last 3 years, and am getting involved with the Newcastle United Foundation, and I'm really enjoying it at the moment. Time will tell if I'm any good at it, hopefully I'll be better at coaching than playing!
The following is an extract from the forthcoming Whitley Bay book - Rising from the Ashes, contributed by Chris Moore, when he was a participated at the World University Games in 2009 -
The world university games in Belgrade in 2009 were a fantastic experience, staying in an Olympic village with athletes from all the other sports and countries from around the world. We had quite a few professional players in the team, is did the other countries, and this gave me the belief I could play at a higher level. We were unlucky not to get a medal finishing fourth after losing the semis on a penalty shoot-out. My highlight of the tournament was probably scoring a penalty in the quarter final shoot out with France which sent us through to the semis, and also beating the host nation Serbia, who had a very strong team.
(The above piece is the work of myself, Peter Mann, writing as The Exiled Geordie. This shall not be copied or used in any other publication unless the expression permission is given myself)
17 May 2011
Charity Event
Since becoming acquainted with Maria Douglass when doing work experience at the Evening Chronicle in Newcastle a few years ago, I became involved. Maria you see, had terminal cancer, an illness which has affected my own family, as well as thousands of others around the globe. From this acquaintance I met Maria's wonderful sisters, Julie and Barbara. What they were raising money for became a baby that I would like to assist with - Maggies is the outcome of that. And to assist, I have decided to organise what will either be the first of many, or a one-off, non-league charity talk-in event. Details of which can be found below, and to which, by following the link, can be accessed through facebook.
This is a culmination of favours from acquaintances, colleagues and friends and which I am hoping will be an extra special night for both the memory of Maria, the family, and most importantly, Maggies North East. So please, dig deep, buy a ticket (or three), and come listen to some legends of the non-league game here in the North East and help raise some money for a more than good cause................
The event on facebook can be accessed by following the link below -
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=196816237029672
This is a culmination of favours from acquaintances, colleagues and friends and which I am hoping will be an extra special night for both the memory of Maria, the family, and most importantly, Maggies North East. So please, dig deep, buy a ticket (or three), and come listen to some legends of the non-league game here in the North East and help raise some money for a more than good cause................
Charity non-league talk-in with funds raised going to Maggies Cancer Care Centres (see below).
Tickets will be 35 pounds for VIP and 25 pounds for standard. Please note that the VIP tickets are inclusive of a professional photograph and will be dependent on both availability and sales. Both sets of tickets are inclusive of a pie and pea supper. There will also be a programme (limited advertising space available, please contact for details) and an auction on the night.
Mr Joe Allon will be the compere for evening and guest speakers include Gateshead manager Ian Bogie, Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler, ex-Whitby Town and Blyth Spartans manager Harry Dunn, Bedlington Terriers joint-manager Keith Perry, Peter Kirkley of Wallsend BC, and Barry Hindson, amongst several others, including some FA Amateur Cup winners from the fifties!!
Others to be announced.
Contact myself at - petermann78@hotmail.com for tickets.
Clubs can group-book tables of 10, ask for further details.
Thanks and see you there.
Please visit and Like the Maggies page here on facebook -
Tickets will be 35 pounds for VIP and 25 pounds for standard. Please note that the VIP tickets are inclusive of a professional photograph and will be dependent on both availability and sales. Both sets of tickets are inclusive of a pie and pea supper. There will also be a programme (limited advertising space available, please contact for details) and an auction on the night.
Mr Joe Allon will be the compere for evening and guest speakers include Gateshead manager Ian Bogie, Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler, ex-Whitby Town and Blyth Spartans manager Harry Dunn, Bedlington Terriers joint-manager Keith Perry, Peter Kirkley of Wallsend BC, and Barry Hindson, amongst several others, including some FA Amateur Cup winners from the fifties!!
Others to be announced.
Contact myself at - petermann78@hotmail.com for tickets.
Clubs can group-book tables of 10, ask for further details.
Thanks and see you there.
Please visit and Like the Maggies page here on facebook -
The event on facebook can be accessed by following the link below -
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=196816237029672
13 May 2011
Book Writing
I'm constantly asked questions with regards to what I do and why I do it. Especially with regards to writing books. I mean, yes I write articles for Toon Talk fanzine and website (on Newcastle United and Gateshead Football Clubs), and have prior to that wrote for its predecessor - Players Inc (those were the days but the future sings a good tune). However, writing books is a different kettle of fish completely. But, people ask why books as well. I mean, with articles, and university, is it not taking on too much? Well, no, not really.
It all started back in 2003, the year after my brother Michael died of a heroin overdose. I started writing then as an avenue for channeling my then depressive tendencies. It was a way of taking my mind off the pain and hurt. That led to the writing of the, still unpublished, A Passion for Home, the history of Esh Winning Football Club. Now, Esh Winning, for those of you who don't know, id the place of my birth, a quaint little former mining village on the outskirts of County Durham. But so much has changed for me since even the writing of that book, and who knows, it might even get published one day.
Fast forward to the summer of 2010 and, with around five months to fill of holiday between first and second year at university and the idea came to me to write another book. I mean i have the tools, patience, and ability following several years of tutelage under Steve Wraith and the Players Inc banner, giving me confidence abound, and previously unknown for myself.
This particular idea came to me through my looking at old newspaper articles, and some that I wrote myself for the BBC's non-league website. This led to an idea of something on Whitley Bay Football Club. The more I looked into it the more the idea seemed to settle with me to write about, what eventually became the book title, Rising from the Ashes. And, I know some people have queried and criticised what has happened in the past, what with the unpublished Esh Winning book, and a failed attempt at a Brandon United one. However, there are reasons these never happened, and should not be reflected upon what is happening at present. The Bay book is presently having an extra chapter added to it following the history-making third successive FA Vase victory.
These have given me the confidence and ability to both go further and do more, not just with regards books, but also the articles and blogs to which I write, time permitting anyway.
On the book front, I am both honoured and indebted to be writing my boss, Steve Wraith's biography, entitled Every Boys Dream, and alongside this, thanks to finally persuading Rich Endean to go that extra step and write the story of the Big Blue Machine - A Sting in the Tale will be the history of the Durham Wasps Ice Hockey Team. Both of these are due at some point next year. This also means that, this coming summer, will be a more than busy one, especially with two books to write and the Bay one to finish off as well.
I'm thinking, upcoming blogs will be reviewing each of these books.
What do the readers think?
It all started back in 2003, the year after my brother Michael died of a heroin overdose. I started writing then as an avenue for channeling my then depressive tendencies. It was a way of taking my mind off the pain and hurt. That led to the writing of the, still unpublished, A Passion for Home, the history of Esh Winning Football Club. Now, Esh Winning, for those of you who don't know, id the place of my birth, a quaint little former mining village on the outskirts of County Durham. But so much has changed for me since even the writing of that book, and who knows, it might even get published one day.
Fast forward to the summer of 2010 and, with around five months to fill of holiday between first and second year at university and the idea came to me to write another book. I mean i have the tools, patience, and ability following several years of tutelage under Steve Wraith and the Players Inc banner, giving me confidence abound, and previously unknown for myself.
This particular idea came to me through my looking at old newspaper articles, and some that I wrote myself for the BBC's non-league website. This led to an idea of something on Whitley Bay Football Club. The more I looked into it the more the idea seemed to settle with me to write about, what eventually became the book title, Rising from the Ashes. And, I know some people have queried and criticised what has happened in the past, what with the unpublished Esh Winning book, and a failed attempt at a Brandon United one. However, there are reasons these never happened, and should not be reflected upon what is happening at present. The Bay book is presently having an extra chapter added to it following the history-making third successive FA Vase victory.
These have given me the confidence and ability to both go further and do more, not just with regards books, but also the articles and blogs to which I write, time permitting anyway.
On the book front, I am both honoured and indebted to be writing my boss, Steve Wraith's biography, entitled Every Boys Dream, and alongside this, thanks to finally persuading Rich Endean to go that extra step and write the story of the Big Blue Machine - A Sting in the Tale will be the history of the Durham Wasps Ice Hockey Team. Both of these are due at some point next year. This also means that, this coming summer, will be a more than busy one, especially with two books to write and the Bay one to finish off as well.
I'm thinking, upcoming blogs will be reviewing each of these books.
What do the readers think?
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