Olivier Bernard recently bought Durham City Football Club and the former Newcastle left back has a long term ambition that Durham City be a feeder club for Newcastle.
Olivier Bernard – Chairman of Durham City FC
Olivier has admitted in the Evening Chronicle today that the standard of play at City, who were founded back in 1918, is currently not good enough, but his intentions are to build up the club and it’s playing staff so
that they can become a feeder club for Newcastle United.
Durham currently play in the Northern League and Olivier’s intentions are to get them into the football league, much like Gateshead FC have done recently.
Here is a personal quote from Olivier, exclusively for this story:
“My ambitions are to bring the glory days back to the North East. The fans live for football up here and if we can nurture future England players, then we will have done a good job. “
“Too many young players do not make the grade like they used to, so we would like to help the young players from the development squads reach their potential and live their dream of playing for their boyhood club.”
The aim is to promote local football at the grassroots level in the north-east, and this could be helpful to Newcastle, and other surround local pro clubs who want to bring in local players to their clubs.
We lost Alan Shearer to the Southampton Youth Academy and then had to pay a then world record fee of £15M to get him to Newcastle in the summer of 1996, so Olivier is keen to help find and groom local players.
Durham City FC crest
Durham is now looking at ways to promote the club from both local and International companies and businessmen.
Durham is a club ran solely by volunteers and need sponsorship to help with the running costs of the club, and Olivier can then begin the work of making Durham City into a much improved side over the next few seasons, and eventually into a feeder club for professional teams, including Newcastle United.
If you can help Olivier Bernard in this very worthwhile project for the region, please contact him via his colleague at “adrian.langley1@live.com”
And if you know of any individuals or companies who would be interested in sponsoring Durham City, please send this article to them.
Comments welcome.
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185 comments so far
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:28 PM
Comment #41DT…if you take away the spelling problems then it is a great phone 😉
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:29 PM
Comment #42JT…what can you use on android?
GeordieTwo
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:32 PM
Comment #43One player I’m interested to see when we play Man City is James Milner. He has continued to improve and mature as a player and Pellegrini often uses him as an impact sub now. We could certainly use him as a winger. Do you think Pellegrini would go for Sammi, Obertan, Gosling, Vuckic, and Marveaux for Milner (if they offered to keep paying half of Milner’s wages of course)? This is tongue in cheek but I rate him very highly now whereas we have quite a bit of dross which Joe is doing nothing about. Well done Joe, Director of F*** All.
GeordieTwo
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:33 PM
Comment #44This site has become really bogged down with add-ons. Something to keep an eye on Ed. I suspect my problems with spyware came from a football blog site so watch it mates.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:34 PM
Comment #45Tsunki…I thought about going to the Bartlett back when I studied Architecture! I lived in London just before I started to study 🙂
John Tudor
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Comment #46ad block plus is available as an app 4 androids
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:37 PM
Comment #47GT…Ed needs to work on the security on this blog – I have witnessed nothing like this ever…bought a Windows 8 phone because of it 🙂
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:38 PM
Comment #48JT…are you sure google hasn’t blocked it in google play?
John Tudor
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:44 PM
Comment #49dont know but i have it on my bb on side loader
70TWO
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:46 PM
Comment #50Premier mid-season review compiled by ‘whoscored’:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2014/jan/09/premier-league-midway-review-2013-14
Overall stats show we are 7th, we are getting through onto goal (6th), so if we could pass more accurately (10th) convert a larger proportion we could improve our standing. Making a few more tackles (7th) would also help.
lesh
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:47 PM
Comment #51GeordieTwo…… Like you and many others I’m sure, I wonder what has Kinnear actually done that’s of any value in the seven or so months he’s been at Newcastle United?
If anyone’s got any idea, perhaps they could enlighten us. Or if anonymity’s preferred, answers can be submitted to Ed – on the back of a postage stamp!
DokToon
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:48 PM
Comment #52this from nbc sports, stateside:
Newcastle United are set to add to their French contingent at St. James’ Park, as Montpellier attacker Remy Cabella has stated his desire to join ‘Le Toon’ during the window. Cabella, 23, is highly thought of his native land and could cost the Magpies $18 million but would be well worth it. He would add creativity, poise and composure to the attacking midfield slot and compliment the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote superbly.
70TWO
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:48 PM
Comment #53Edit:
….convert a larger proportion (8th)….
DokToon
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:50 PM
Comment #54lesh.. JFK has contributed much since his arrival… i mean, even MA has to enjoy his pronunciation of names…
70TWO
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:52 PM
Comment #55DokToon
I am realising the talk about transfers is like watching ripples on water, from the first drop of ‘news’ it can reverberate for days from one media source to the next.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:53 PM
Comment #56JT…you are a genius mate 🙂
…thanks! now I can you my tablet on the site again (just had to change a few things in settings and then I was able to download adblock plus
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:56 PM
Comment #57To everyone having problems with malware on this site download adblock plus 🙂
https://adblockplus.org/en/android-install
Tsunki
Jan 9, 2014 at 5:57 PM
Comment #58The problem with spyware,adware,malware of any sort is that it is prevalent on android because they are the biggest culprits for sharing your preferences and ID with its ‘partners’ which is why Google play store is populated with apps that snoop around your device for details they can use to sell stuff to you. I stuck with BlackBerry because of that, they are concerned more with business security than apple,google, microsoft… that’s why they have less apps, also why those companies slag BlackBerry off hoping they will bite the dust. Take a look at the permissions Google apps require – contact list and network access for a Torch app? Really? If you want to stop being targeted, get a BlackBerry or a windows phone they are much easier to secure.
Just my rant against the ad merchants. 🙂
DokToon
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:04 PM
Comment #5970two….
its tough getting nufc info here stateside, so im usually here to read what i can…
and i forgive you for your atni-american crack yesterday 🙂
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:05 PM
Comment #60Dok..are you still Texas based?
Transfer Sage
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:06 PM
Comment #61Jesper
Yes durham has a big university, 3rd most respected in the UK after Oxford and Cambridge and always up there in top league tables for academia.
Cabyebye
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:08 PM
Comment #62Can’t use this site on my phone any more either. And whoever said that nonsense about malware only working on “the site you use most” is complete BS.
Have had problems with Ad’s on my phone on Ed’s site before, but this one is taking the piss. I know it is not his fault directly, however he is being paid for the links on site and as a result must accept a certain level of responsibility for them.
It is a problem with the Ad Script – not Malware.
Transfer Sage
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:08 PM
Comment #63Ad blocker just won’t work on my iphone…tried so many different ones, malware and spyware scans, virus sans and still have problems with this site
tsunki
I agree, i use an iphone and i hate the things, nice and simple to use but everything requires access to everything, fine if it’s needed but as you say it’s all driven to advertise/sell products which is pretty poor when the phone costs you £500 or a heft contract over 2 years.
Vask
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #64I’m with you tsunki Blackberry’s are fit for purpose. Who uses all them apps anyway? Losers who ride the bus no doubt.
(Shameless name drop coming up)
I like Bernard, I used to be his postie. Kept himsel to himsel but didn’t tip at Christmas. I like what he’s doing over in Durham I wonder if they’re looking fr over the hill permanently crocked utility players. I wouldn’t mind going on loan to Newcastle if the need arose.
To be honest this is exactly what North-east football needs. Well trained lower/non league teams with a penchant for developing new young players.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:11 PM
Comment #65TS…yeah that was what I was told as well 🙂
…thought about attending the Bartlett though when I started to study Architecture! I actually think the University of Newcastle have a great faculty of Architecture?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:14 PM
Comment #66TS…for Iphone use adaway!
http://www.apkmobilestall.com/adaway-2-1-for-apple/
Transfer Sage
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:15 PM
Comment #67jesper
they are good for architecture in newcastle, really well thought of for town planning as well.
durham is a very traditional and old uni and very strong in sciences like physics, maths, chemistry, as well as theology and classics…has strong ties to china and other asian countries also.
DokToon
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:16 PM
Comment #68i am jesper…
Transfer Sage
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:16 PM
Comment #69cheers jesper
already tried it though to no success haha….i trailed forums for weeks looking at ways to stop it, i found the best solution….to stop using the site on my phone
Vask
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:19 PM
Comment #70Saying as we’re talking university I find that the older and more ‘well respected’ university is the more snobbery, stagnation and obstruction occurs for us ordinary folk from working class socio-economic backgrounds.
Yeah i can use words like socio-economic.
and what?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:20 PM
Comment #71Dok…you are not Jesper 😉 lol
…sorry I just couldn’t help i!
Which city? I road tripped the States once – went through Odessa, Fort Worth/Dallas, Houston and even went to Galveston; we though about visiting Austin Corpus Christi as well but didn’t have the time!
Really wanted to see Corpus Christi though 🙁
John Tudor
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:20 PM
Comment #72i find a claw hammer is the best tool in the box for script removal
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:21 PM
Comment #73TS…sorry to hear that mate 🙁
..does the apple app store have adblock plus?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:23 PM
Comment #74Vask…the University of Durham is supposed to be very working class like 😉
Transfer Sage
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:23 PM
Comment #75vask
I think it depends what you want to study really….some old universities are no better or worse than newer ones in a lot of areas.
The thing is a degree from one of the older, more prestigious universities is often worth more because of the name on the top of the script.
Vask
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:25 PM
Comment #76Jesp
Aye I know, you cannot move for coloquial accents and steel toe capped boots.
DokToon
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:25 PM
Comment #77jesper…
maybe i wish i was 🙂
im in houston.. i know IItiantoon is here in town, going to Rie university, have yet to meet up with him though…
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:26 PM
Comment #78TS…just googled architecture in the league table:
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Architecture
Newcastle is #8 🙂 (not bad)
DokToon
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:26 PM
Comment #79rice univ…
i love the message when i tried to amend the name…
“:you are posting too fast. Slow down”… lmao
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 9, 2014 at 6:27 PM
Comment #80The University of London (the Bartlett) is #3 (doesn’t look like Durham is good for architecture) lol