All change in terms of playing personnel, all change at the top of the table. That is how you would describe the past week regarding Newcastle Blue Star’s ongoing operation both on and off the field of play.
New faces, familiar footballing places and after making light work of Washington at Scotswood last Saturday, Marc Nash not only records his first win as manager of Blue Star, but he also returns the club to the summit of the Northen League’s Division Two.
While it is a position that he and his management team will be keen to keep hold off across a busy festive period and with the fixtures scheduled to come thick and fast, the first of them comes courtesy of a trip to Redcar Town.
A trip taken while sitting a point clear of both Blyth Town and Bedlington Terriers and with at least one or both of those sides set to drop points on Boxing Day – by virtue of meeting each other, the objective will be for Blue Star to earn the next three on offer.
Something that has often been the case this season and with 11 league awaydays already in the history books, nine wins and a single draw have been recorded. A total of 33 points up for grabs, a highly impressive 28 on the board.
In addition to that, it has been a rather top heavy schedule in terms of travelling thus far and with the visit to Redcar being the last of the road trips for 2023, a run of successive home fixtures are waiting around the corner.
Will that be the difference in terms of winning the league? Only time will tell and before Blue Star plot the demise of those who dare enter NE15, they must make sure they do not take their eyes of the ball on Saturday.
Redcar Town may be languishing just outside the relegation zone at present but as we all know by now, this division is one that has a habit of disrespecting the formbook. The kind of disrespect that means a shock is always lurking around the corner.
Something which sets up Saturday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Redcar Town for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.