Hawks Injury Crisis Deepens

The Hawks injury problems were at a critical level today as Aldridge was added to the already lengthy list of crocked players.
Aldridge is reported to have broken his big toe is Friday's clash against Usworth. This means he joins Wilson (twisted knee), Houghton (groin) and Borthwick (San Fransico-itis) in the queue to see the Hawks physio. Return dates are yet to be determined. Wednesday's game against Nee-Gud appears to be in doubt unless the reserves can be called upon.

If you know anyone who can kick a ball then contact the Hawks. Your team needs you!

Hawks to Quit Washington 5-a-Side League

After much deliberation, H-ton Hawks have made the decision to withdraw from the Friday Night Washington 5-a-Side League. Team administrator Lee Borthwick informed the league of the Hawks intentions prior to Friday's defeat to Aparell Master.

Spiralling costs, player's other commitments and ruined Friday social lives were high on the long list of reasons to resign, and had lead to the constant struggle to find a team for Friday's matches.

Hawks web-monkey and official blogger Graeme Houghton commented, "It’s a sad to be leaving the league that brought about the H-ton Hawks, but unfortunately we all have busy lives that get in the way. It’s been fun despite the defeats and has reintroduced us all to exercise. It has just reached the time to call it a day in the Washington League. It's not the end for the Hawks as we'll continue to play in the Hetton Soccer-6 on a Wednesday and seek out other challenges."

The Hawks have informed league that will continue in the Washington League until a replacement is found, however this arrangement will only have a finite time span. As stated above, all other Hawks games and practice sessions are unaffected.

Save Neighbours on the BBC

Click on the link below and help keep the BBC the home of Ramsay Steet.

Online petition - KEEP NEIGHBOURS ON THE BBC

Read All About It

The local press have finally jumped the Hawks bandwagon. The region's top reporters have caught the Hawks bug and are following in the footsteps of Mr Sprouts Blogspot by producing a weekly match reports, that can be found in the Sunderland Sports Echo. Read the in-depth analysis of the Hetton Soccer-6 Leagues every Saturday evening.

Dave & Lauren's Wedding

Photos from the nuptials are now online. They can be found by clicking on the happy couple below.

Hetton 6-a-side League

The Hawks will make their debut in the newly formed 6-a-side League at Hetton School at 6.30pm on Wednesday 14th March.

Players to be there at 6.15 for a briefing on the rules.

Benicàssim Blog Entry

I've never got around to finishing it so I thought I migh as well publish it in it's incomplete state. This might inspire me to try and finish it.

You can view it HERE.

Enjoy

Help Raise Money for Kyu-Shin-Do-Ryu Judo Club

The Hawks very own Ninja Wilson requires your help.
By using the link below to buy stuff from the lots of well known and popular online retailers, you can help raise money for his judo club (Kyu-Shin-Do-Ryu Judo Club).
Such stores are HMV, Game, Play.com, Amazon, Marks & Spencers + many more are there
The purchases will cost you no extra than normal but the club receives a percentage of each your spend.

http://buy.at/ksdrjudoclub

So remember to visit the site when you shop online.

Also, if you want to make me money, please click on the adverts on Mr Sprout's Blogspot & the Val Thorens site. Get get a couple of pence for every click from the nice people at Google.

Snowboarding - Val Thorens 2007

Just in case you weren't aware that I'd been snowboarding in Val Thorens, well I have.  It was excellent fun, if not very cold and destructive to the body.  Since there was 18 of us that went (+2 extra in our chalet) we've decided to collaborate all of our photos and videos into one place.

www.valthorens2007.blogspot.com

Make the Hawks a Household Name

The following has appeared on the bbc web site. Get your thinking caps on for what we can write. Help make the H-ton Hawks famous by coming up with something that will get us chosen by the BBC. Just imagine the progress we can make if we have a team of professional coaches to help us..... and also the revenue we can get from advertising, this blog site and sales of official H-ton Hawks club strips and other memorabilia (I somehow don't think so - this is a joke if anyone from the BBC reads this). So get you thinking caps on and we'll try to win it for the Hawks (well it would be the first time the Hawks have won anything)

"Football team wanted

Is your team ready to line up?
Do you play football for a team in dire need of a helping hand?

Your defence has more holes than Swiss cheese, your club shower is piped in from the Arctic and your boss is a clown.

Our amazing competition can change all of that, fire you up the league table and make you stars on the BBC.

We want to take a team under our wing and follow them for the rest of the season, documenting every high and low along the way.

The story of your season will appear on BBC Sport Academy and 606 each week showing your results, match reports and who the crazy characters are in your team. Plus we'd love to feature you on BBC radio and TV.

Our aim is to improve your team and we are willing to recruit a full range of sporting experts to help out.

Whether it's a top manager, player, psychologist, or even a nutritionist, we'll send them to your club if you think it will help.

We want to show your team to the world and prove why the blood, sweat and tears at amateur level is the real deal.

All you have to do is tell us in no more than 250 words why we should pick YOUR team.

Please email your entries to us using the form below by Friday 22 December.

A shortlist will be drawn up before choosing the winning team. Please note that we can only accept entries from teams with players aged 16 and over.

Make sure you have read our competition rules before submitting your entry.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/get_involved/6191552.stm "

Mr Sprout - Blogger Upgrade

Apologies to all.
Blogger has been upgraded to a new version (out of my control).
While this offers access to some brand new features, some of the old stuff will need adapting... which will take time that I don't have at the moment. The posts will still be coming but may look a bit naff. Please stick with me over the coming weeks and I'll sort it all out.
Mr Sprout should be back better than ever
(disclaimer: May not be better than before)

Mr Sprout goes MySpace

For some strange reason, I've started up a MySpace page.
It will generally be a duplicate of this site.

The web address is www.myspace.com/htonia

If your signed up to MySpace, you can sign up as a friend (that sounds so desperate and lonely - I'm not a Billy-no-mates - Honest!)

Competition: Design The H-ton Hawks Badge

With the Hawks about to embark on their first full season in the Washington-5-A-Side Friday League, it is about time that they adopted a badge.

Your challenge is to design a badge/logo for H-ton Hawks football team.

Send your entry by clicking here or by emailing it to sproutnet(at)googlemail.com (at=@ - the change is to avoid me getting spam from web crawl programs)

Entries will be displayed on this post below this text.
Please give you view on the entries via the comments button. Don't forget to say which entry you're commenting on.

Entry 1


By Lee Borthwick

Fury at Footbal Fees

A shocking price increase for games in the Washington 5-a-side League has been imposed for the new season
Despite claiming to be one of the cheapest leagues in the area, the increased costs have prompted H-ton Hawks to re-examine their membership in the league.

A letter was issued to all teams. It reads as follows;

Washington 5-a-side
Leagues Association
10a Victoria Rd. Concord. Washington.
(0191) 4187204
20-10-06


Dear Manager,
It is with regret that unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control. the cost of the games (indoor) w ill increase by £5 per game. per team as from the 1st January 07. We have always tried to keep the cost of football reasonable to team members. However due to a big increase in court fees at venues and referee fees increasing also spiralling costs and loss of funding £50,000, we have no alternative but to increase the cost of football in the new seasons.

The court fees for the Friday league will increase in the new season November 06.

At present we are trying to raise more funding to reduce this cost back down and you will be informed if we are successful in doing so. We pride ourselves on been the only league trying to keep the cost down for individual members.

As from November 06, for the new season in the Friday league and 1" January 07, for the new season in the Sunday leagues increases in football will be as follows:

Riverside 7-A-Side League cost per game £22.00
Northumbria Centre 5-A-Side Leagues per game (indoor) £22.00
Northumbria Centre Men's Work 5-side League per game (indoor) £22.00

The Cost per member 7-a-side no subs =£3.14 per person
With 3 subs (outside) =£2.20 per person
The cost per member 5-a-side no subs =£4.40 per person
With 3 subs (indoor) =£2.75 per person

Annual registration fees will remain the same £25.00 per team, per season and fines will remain the same. This includes all cup games and your Durham Affiliation Fee is included in this amount.

Finally the committee have decided to come down hard on teams not finishing the season and will charge teams full costs until the end season if they leave without the secretary's approval, also shin pads and the right footwear must be worn or players will not be allowed to play.

I am really sorry about the increases but we are still one of the cheapest leagues in the area according to Durham Football Association and the research we've done.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for you're continued support and I hope you can understand why we have had no alternative but to increase the cost.

Yours in Sport

D.A.Munneke
On behalf of the management committee

H-ton Hawks: Name Poll

I've added a poll to the site on the bar at the side.

Cast your vote and give your view using the comments button below this post.

Injury Blow for the Hawks

The H-ton Hawks suffered a setback this weekend when the ankle injury sustained by Lee Borthwick in the Houghton Feast 5-A-Side Tournament turned out to be more serious than thought. After visiting hospital, it the injury has been confirmed as a break. Part of the ankle bone has been snapped off and could require surgery. Borthwick is to visit a specialist on Monday to advise if an operation is needed. He is expected to be out of action for at least 6 weeks. Updates on the situation will be posted when available.

Update: The break is not a serious as first feared. However, Borthwick will be unable to play for the Hawks for 6 weeks.

Great North Run 2006

Congratulations and well done to Robert who completed this year's Great North Run in around 2 hours 20 mins. He also managed to raise around £200 for Barnardo's.

Benicassim 2006 .... Blog coming soon (honest)

I'm currently working on my Blog for the roadtrip to Benicassim 2006.
It's taking far longer than I thought due to other commitments and the fact I'm writing far too much for each day's events. Oh well, I might have it published by the time Benicassim 2007 is on.

In the meantime, check out the photos by clicking here or the photo below.

Campervan Update

Well the VW Campervan is coming on leaps and bounds. Fingers crossed it should be ready within the next few days. Spain here we come!!!!


The fancy numberplate has been fitted.
It still requires the rear bumper to be attached though.


View from the front. Needs a bit of a clean.... and a front bumper.... and some windscreen wipers.


The comfy rear seat. Also a lovely looking sink.


We even have a fridge!!

Double Troutmaster

Well, he's done it again.
Troutmaster again.
Come on Paul... give someone else a chance