Partick Thistle, Cliff?!!!! I think you've got me mixed up with a misguided Scotsman. Super Portsmouth, pride of the south, Div. 1 Champs in waiting, European qualification in 2004. And of course, on this side of the North Sea, the mighty Feyenoord, UEFA Cup holders and the only real club in The Netherlands.

Sorry Stote, I'm confusing you with the bloke we met in Holland, but then you're obviously in Holland, eh?? Alex will know the answer to this.'play up Pompey'...been there several times, probably the best vocal support in the league.

Cliff, We did indeed meet in Holland - in the dressing room in Rotterdam and you sold me one of your t-shirts which I've been wearing proudly ever since. By the way - can you do the Dutch one in a kid's size (8-9 y.o.)?

Cliff, I have to admit to being a Ross County fan (so Donald and I are supposed to hate each other, as he's a Caley b******). Also used to watch Coleraine FC (who sing 'We hate Derry City, we hate Cliftonville too...', but the less said about that the better!). Also spent six years of misery watching Halifax Town at the bottom of the bottom division - on Friday nights! Now that is a sign of madness. Bit of an armchair Leeds United fan too, but we'll not talk about WBA and the Ray Tinkler incident. The non-football fans on here might start getting annoyed. Strange how football promotes division amongst people, but music unites. I prefer the latter.

Spuds in Portstewart is long gone. Had some great nights in there, as my brother was in local band Axis (heavy rockers! he never saw the light) but the bevvy made up for the guitar solos. Aslo saw Shock Treatment, who were pretty good, as well as The Nerves, Pipeline and of course Xdreamysts, who were a good band but had sod all to do with punk. They only got a record deal cos of music company interest in The Undertones/SLF at the time.

Shock Treatment...now there's a blast from the past. One of my abiding memories of Belfast in the early 80's is that someone wrote 'Shock Treatment' in big letters on the side wall of a house at the top of Camden Street, and it was there for years. I also remember Prince Far I coming to Northern Ireland as Cactus mentions. This was a major event. I think he was brought over as part of the Belfast fringe festival, at huge expense, and no one went to see him, and the fringe went bust because of it. Apparently no one knew who he was - everyone thought he was 'Prince Far the First'.

And as for the Xdreamysts - weren't they on the good vibdes battle of the bands EP. Hooley must have pressed millions of those because he was selling them in the 10p box at Good Vibes for about 10 years afterwards.

Doninblack - at the time of the recent stranglers gig in Glasgow, you mentioned that the replacement for Hugh Cornwell was a bit of a plonker. Curiosity got the better of me and I bought the video of the Stranglers Live in the Albert Hall, with the new vocalist. This was my compensation for missing the glasgow gig. Well, you're not wrong about the vocalist - it was honestly embarrassing to watch, Christ he is bad. It reminded me of Vic Reeves in 'Pub Singer' mode. Really shocking.

Xdreamysts somehow managed to get a deal with Polydor Holland (I think, is that right Julius?) and released an album and a couple of singles that went nowhere. Their big bid for fame wasn't helped by their long hair and keeping songs such as 'Like a Rolling Stone' in their live set. They definitely confused everybody. The guitarist was always walking up the street with his waders and fishing rod so that didn't help the image either. Rock and roll!

p2, It's hard to believe they picked that guy. I couldn't bring myself to buy that video/CD, cos the idea of hearing No More Heroes etc. with strings fills me with horror. I've never seen it and hopefully never will. Thank God The Undertomes have got the right guy for the job. You people don't know how painful it is to see 'your band' reduced to a cabaret act. Sob

Remember City Rocker anoter one of our congregation of 'Nurdy Stalkers'. Well it seems he's gone and got himself signed to the Atlantic Label (yeh the Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin one) and has managed to record an album with the drummer from REM and Bob Dylan/Paul McCartney's producer. He's playing guitar with a singer songwriter but I've forgotten his name. I also have to admit to being a lifelong Cliftonville fan. I was there recently, there are more pigeons than fans and they can't yse the main stand because of them. Apparently they were thinking of getting a hawk to frighten the pigeons. I swear to god this is true!

I remember seeing a 'Spot The Ball' competition in the Belfast Telegraph, with a photo from a Cliftonville match. The amusing thing was that there was no ball (obviously) but also no fans in the background. 'Spot the fan' is the new craze.

Ornothology online reports: Hibs actually do use a hawk to keep the pigeons away. No truth in the rumour that they set it on the Hearts fans when they're losing.

Doninblack - I'm writing to you from Jordanstown which is another campus of the Univerity of Ulster. I went back to study, if only there'd been a PG Diploma in 'Nurdy Stalkiness' - I'd have been made. By the way Coleraine are now managed by Reds legend Marty Quinn as in 'Marty Quinn will kknock you B******s in!'

Year end at work - bit busy. Just quickly read latest postings and a few things spring to mind. Football divides - music unites - how about the SLF are shit/SLF are wonderful debates or the Clash or the Damned ....Stote007 - that's a long time to wear a t-shirt - doesn't it need a wash yet? City Rocker - isn't it Gavin someone or other who is the mystery singer songwriter? Did someone mention Hearts? Norman Rodger from TV21 is a big Hearts fan - goes to every game I think. Listening to a cd he sent me at home - Neil Finn live with Johnny Marr playing in his band. Excellent stuff - did someone mention The Smiths? Gotta go - might resurface briefly in a week or 2!

Have Cliftonville thought about building executive boxes for the pigeons, and serving free millet at half time? It's one way of keeping undesirables away from the real fans. My brother studied at Jordanstown. Memories of visiting him for the Thursday night sesh. Everyone on campus, on a weekly basis, got totally aresholed and nobody went to lectures on Fridays. I take it the tradition is still alive?

If there are any 'Tones tuning in I see King Tut's in Glasgow was voted best gig in the UK by Radio 1 listeners, and I remember John saying he'd like to play there. Everyone back to mine after....

King Tut's is great, but I reckon it's too small (200 capacity) for The Undertones, unless they did some kind of 'secret', unannounced gig (for Nerdy Stalkers only). IMO the ideal venue in Glasgow is The Garage (800ish, no seats, great sound). Also Edinburgh Liquid Room (similar) and maybe Aberdeen Lemon Tree. Any suggestions for venues elsewhere?

what a day today, my Brothers book was featured on page 17 of 'the sun'...the WHOLE PAGE!! hes been on 2 radio stations(local ones) and this afternoon LBC are sending a taxi to take him to London to be on air there.Also the book will be featured on 'Des & Mel' on Monday lunchtime TV and hes been told he'll get a call from the Richard & Judy show!!

If he's actually on the show I'll pay him to wear an Undertones t-shirt ;-))

Cliff, it's got to be a 'Humming, Leaping, Minging' t-shirt to kid them into thinking this is part of the slang.

Did anyone guess that I've got nothing to do at work at the moment. Getting paid to do nothing is ok for a while, but can get to be a drag. The net staves off the boredom.

Cliff - who is promoting your brother's book? Whoever it is, is doing a great job as it's certainly getting fabulous exposure. If he can, could your bro' write down as many of the contacts as he can, preferably the names of people who actually do the booking.

Hes just been on LBC radio, sounding shy and nervous bless 'im(it runs in the family).BTW, Lindsay, hes on Radio Leeds tomorrow...not sure why but there you go.

As far as I know its the books publisher Arthur, why what you up to you ol' dog you?

Looks like I might have the Rezillos to watch in three weeks time. The gig has been on/off for a couple of months, but looks like it is now on. The venue only holds about 200 so should be intimate.

Cliff, what's your Brother's book called?

My Brother is an Alien ?

thanks julius but the blades cd is on its way its called those were the days thanks anyway talk soon see ya

and your not alex

it's called 'dijja wanna say sumfing'..and then a sub title 'dictionary of Estuary English'.

Don't forget me when he's looking to do the TV version!!Wilke, check your email!!!!!!!

Just seen the article Cliff. Excellent publicity. Seems he missed out the word 'Tones' though = best band in world (in any language!).

Doninblack - can I have your job please?

Actually I think Lee needs it more than me.

I thought it might have been the publishers Cliff. Bill Borrows who was at the press screening has had a lot of similar publicity with his book on Alex Higgins. Thje pigeons at Cliftonville don't need special press boxes - they've got the whole of the main stand to themselves! It's been closed down because of their droppings as its unhygenic. The only people allowed in are journalists which is a metaphor for something but I'm not sure what.

What article Lindsay?

D'OH! Sorry I thought you meant you'd seen something on the internet.

In the Sun Cliff.

Thursday nights just got cancelled. ER's back on E4 - what an episode. I'm not a big TV fan but this is just unmissable.