No such distractions for Newcastle, the Premiership's only 100 per cent side, whose despair at failing to qualify for the Uefa Cup was tempered by such draws. This afternoon's game may, moreover, have an undercurrent of hostility following the protracted wrangling over Andrei Kanchelskis's pounds 5m move to Merseyside.Joe Royle and his opposite number still form a mutual admiration society, at least publicly Evertonians might be less tolerant. The arrival of Kanchelskis has coincided with an upturn in fortunes, yet the manager felt the need yesterday to appeal for common sense: "Let's not inflame something that's not really a problem."United fly to Russia tonight in some trepidation over what awaits them in Volgograd. Now, fully 12 days after their last game, Ferguson must effectively start the season again, with Goodison Park hardly the ideal venue for a young side seeking to slip back into a rhythm. Following the equivalent hiatus a year ago, an unbeaten United stumbled to a rare loss at Leeds.

After all their summer chagrin, United no sooner reeled off three victories in six days than their players began dispersing around Europe. As manager of Manchester United, who visit Everton today seeking to avenge their FA Cup final defeat, he has cause to curse the way international matches disrupt the Premiership programme. Wearing his former Scotland supremo's tam, Alex Ferguson doubtless derived satisfaction from one midweek result. Nowadays we're a bit short of thespians so the exact centenary on 16 October will feature a curry evening. Other events include a 13-a-side football-rugby match against the rugby club (football first half, rugby second), a couple of discos and quiz evenings, culminating in the Centenary Dinner on 18 May.Prizes will be awarded at most events, though they probably won't compare with New Year's Day 1934 when, at the Grand Annual Carnival Whist Drive, prizes for the raffle included a box of kippers, a pair of rabbits and 2cwt of coal."Forza Southwold!" and happy 100th..

Many other characters have been involved with the club over the last 100 years, and anecdotes from the old boys are endlessly entertaining, if occasionally unprintable.Socially, the club has always been active, with past events including a Smoking Concert in 1904 when local people performed piano and violin solos and recited poetry. Michael Ladd played in the centenary five-a-side in May and at the finish he just had time for a wash and brush-up before reappearing in suit and chain of office for the presentations. The more outlandish names in the current squad are "Diddy" Barbrook in goal, who is thinking of doing a Higuita for the reserves against the Trowel and Hammer this afternoon, "Bygones" Burrage, who should have finished years ago and "Whiffy" (the aftershave king) Clifford.We must be unique in having a footballing mayor. A diminuitive striker of oriental origin studying English in Southwold, he scored against neighbouring Saxmundham when, having dribbled his way through the opposing defence and with only their giant custodian to beat, he ran between the keeper's legs and scored!Southwold Town, now in the Anglian Combination Third Division, have produced some outstanding Suffolk county-level players, some with outstanding nicknames to match, like "Pimple" Thompson.