Darts prodigy, curb fighter and retired YouTuber Calvo Spartan joins for a long awaited Q&A about darts, drink and shite football…
Mr Easton, tell us about your first Spartans related memories, and what turned you into a devoted Spartan?
Well like all things in football, it started with Dad taking me to my first Blyth game which was the day we beat Wakefield-Emley to win the Unibond League in 2006. I got lifted onto the pitch by a good friend of his and got told to leg it towards the crowd around the trophy lift. Must of been only 8 year old at the time.
Got took to the match more and more in the years followed then fell in love with the club more and more. Including when we beat Shrewsbury & Bournemouth. But the moment I truly become a devout Spartan had to be Hartlepool on that Friday night. That night we felt like absolute giants on the BBC and felt to myself, I want to go to every game home and away and represent the club everywhere.
Who would you put in your all time Spartans XI and why?
Bartlett, Liddle, Watson, Buddle, Hutchy, Robbie Turnbull, Green, Roberts, Bell and Nippa.
I’ve supported Blyth all my life but only really been a regular matchgoer since 2011/12 I think so there’s probably little bit of recency bias here. I believe if you had the likes of prime Nippa and Robbie together with Roberts for example and you’d be breaking goalscoring records whatever league were in. With a rock solid back 4 with Barts in between the sticks, you’ve got a near perfect Blyth team for me.
As a fellow away day vet, what would you say your top 3 stadiums that you’ve visited are and why?
First up I’d have to Matlock. It’s a lovely ground in a harmless town. Canny bunch of fans who actively wanted us to tip Darlo to the league title back in 2016 when I was there. So aye, they get my vote hands down. Looking forward to visiting there again this season.
Southport is another one. A place whenever the fixtures for the NLN came out, id always hope it landed on a Saturday because it’s usually a great day out. I’ve been there 3 times and I’ve seen 3 wins. Always thought their fans were no bother. There’s an off licence outside the ground so it’s perfect to stock up on cans for the journey home after a victory.
Lastly gotta be Boston’s new ground. Yeah it’s a standard design like every new modern build , however we end up in their clubhouse as there’s no pubs local and I always find myself comparing their clubhouse to ours. Thinking we have so much potential man. And their food is usually spot on. No complaints there.
Tell us about one of your favourite awayday story(s)?
I mean there’s plenty contenders for various reasons over the years. But for me it’s gotta be Stockport in the FA Trophy in 2019. It was just after the General Election and Blyth had turned Tory for the first time. It was nearly half way through the Clarky season and Stockport had started their season well so we knew we’d get our arses handed to us.
Basically everyone who travelled that day attempted to put some of their best posh accents on all day + talking down on the locals. Also that day I must have paid nearly a fiver for the worst cheeseburger you’ve ever seen. Ah yeah we also lost 4-2. I remember Pieface being absolutely steaming giving Cal Roberts grief for not running enough. Don’t think I’ve laughed more during an away day in my life.
As a young darts prodigy now, his long before we start seeing you on the council darts?
Well I’m just getting started really. I’ve always thrown but this is the first year I’ve decided to finally give it a crack. Obviously playing for Northumberland, is a big goal of mind of course. But at the minute I’m looking to tick various things off including league and cups. So there is a lot to look forward to across the next 12 months. Including us lot taking on Ashton when we head down to there place..
How are you feeling about the team at present, and what are your expectations ahead of the new season?
Can’t lie I’m concerned about the upcoming season. Things are obviously not looking good at all. Quite humiliating actually. Our recruitment has been so poor. As much I appreciate there has been a change of regime and people actually need to get their feet under the table, you can’t stand still in football and especially after a relegation. We’ve seen I’d say realistic targets pass us by and that’s frustrating to see.
The signings we have made are half decent, likes of Milburn and Woods are great but that isn’t enough. I’m expecting us to massively struggle and probably hover in and around the drop zone for the majority if not all season. The crowds will take a massive hit which should be concerning to the board. All this just hammers home our stunning fall. It’s a cut throat league and massively stronger from the last time we were in there. If we don’t get a move on, we’re in serious trouble.
With us entering a new league, it appears we’ll have a lot of new stadiums to visit, or at least some we haven’t been too in a while. Which ones are you looking forward to, and which ones are you dreading?
Like many of the lads, we like to tick the grounds offs as we gan along. Going into the NPL there’s a few I rather not go back to *cough Guiseley*. There’s a few I’m looking forward to going to for the first time. For example Whitby & Macclesfield. Matlock would be another notable mention too. Theres an inside joke with a few of the regulars regarding their Spoons. Back when we went in 2016 which is quite amusing. It was a lovely to visit anyways, very picturesque.
There’s a few I’m dreading, mostly the fellow North East clubs IE Morpeth & Stockton. Mainly because it will be a crap all day around. Starting off 2025 in Morpeth, it’s what dreams are made of isn’t it…
What would you say you love most about a Spartans matchday, and what keeps you coming back?
At this level you can’t expect to see Guardiola football , so you obviously look forward to the match in a different way. For me it’s getting down to the clubhouse to the see the lads, usually early if there’s football on. Get the football over with and look forward to afters. Usually end up the Sporty or the Masons. The rare occasion we win at home, sometimes we even branch out down Blyth on a Saturday night.
Away games I mean I never want to miss one for the reason you don’t know what to expect during the day. For example we’ve had someone be ‘resurrected’ on an away day before, so aye it’s never dull..
Lastly, we obviously have a new ownership group in and chairman. What are your hopes for the season and what would be one bit of advice you would like to give them?
I mean for advising the new chairman and ownership, just be transparent with the fanbase. Like it’s the only way we as fans can build up trust. Because at the moment we are constantly in the dark as supporters and I just hope this season we don’t disgrace ourselves as much I think we might.
Let’s consolidate this season and start building a proper team that will eventually get us back into the National North. That surely can’t be too much to ask for right?
