Three weeks is a long time in football, especially when you have not kicked a ball in anger and if you are a local weatherman, you may not want to show your face in around and Scotswood – the reason being their constant delivery of bad news in the past 21 days or so.
A period of time that has not only seen a slew of postponements across the North East but also the installation of a new management team at Newcastle Blue Star. Marc Nash and his coaching cohorts have only overseen 90 minutes of competitive action, another 90 cannot come soon enough.
Those 90 minutes would see Blue Star pick up an additional point at home to Billingham Synthonia in a fixture where another two would have been helpful and in that same three week spell, there has been change at the summit of the Northern League’s Division Two.
Blyth Town return to the top, Bedlington Terriers have squeezed into second. The former having played less, the latter having played more. The pair face each other on Boxing Day, another twist in this title race may not be far away.
However, such Christmas crackers are the focus for players and management elsewhere. Now it is time for third-place Blue Star to deliver a present or two to their own support and get back on the festive winning trail.
Not only has there been change in terms of league places, but there has also been change in terms of playing personnel. A raft of departures have seen the dressing room restocked with a raft of new faces and they cannot wait to make the Blue Star debut.
A debut that should take place this Saturday and with Washington making the trip to NE15, it is they who will not only play the role of opponents but they will also be just as glad to beat this ongoing snap of inclement conditions.
The visitors start the weekend lying second bottom of the table and have lost each of their last three league outings – the most recent being the 3-1 reverse at Chester-le-Street town but they know as much as anyone else, all unwanted runs have to end at some point.
Something which sets up this upcoming clash rather nicely. A warm welcome goes out to the visiting Washington team and support and for those who lend their voice to the home team, make sure to bring the noise throughout.