Well done Harmi - - The official of Robbie Elliott

Well done Harmi - 17/03/2004

The Geordie England international

Whilst it was a bad day on the football pitch, Sunday saw an exceptional performance in the West Indies by Steve Harmison. Harmi’s a big Newcastle fan and spent a few weeks training with the club prior to the winter tour. The lads took to him well and it was great to have him around. He wasn’t afraid to work hard in the gym and now he’s reaping his reward with figures of 7 wickets for 12 runs!! I hear he’s now one of the top ten bowlers in the world.His impact on the players at the club is best shown by the fact that as we were sitting on the bench during the Tottenham game, we were kept up to date with England’s performance against the West Indies by the press. Whilst most of us take an interest in cricket, it’s not usual to get a wicket by wicket update – even if it is England v the West Indies. But that’s the influence of Steve Harmison and it shows how well thought of he is. We all congratulate him and wish him all the best for the rest of the series.

Getting back to football and I’ve now spent seven games on the bench without getting on the pitch. It looks like that I’ll still be on the bench against Charlton and against Mallorca – but whether I get to take off my tracksuit…we’ll have to wait and see. The balance of probability states that I should have had a chance, but I have to admit that having a few of the lads return from injury and with Olivier having served his one-game European ban, my best chance was behind me. You never know,
football’s a funny game!!