Brooks Mileson Memorial Northern League Cup Final
Marske United v
Whitley Bay 6 May 2014, 7.15pm
St James’ Park
Newcastle upon Tyne price £1.50
The Northern League has produced a range of 125th anniversary souvenirs, chief among which is Northern Conquest – a universally acclaimed 128-page book that has spent six months at the top of the Amazon best sellers list in its category. It’s selling for just £3.99 and is available from any club. It may even be on sale, with luck, at today’s lunch. The book can also be obtained for £5.50 (including postage) from Brian Mulligan, 41 Mitford Court, Sedgefield, County Durham, TS21 2JE. We also have mugs, key rings, car stickers and lapel badges, all with the 125 logo and all at bargain prices from clubs or via Harvey Harris at hrvy.hrrs@yahoo.co.uk. Northern Ventures Northern Gains, the league’s full-colour, 24-page magazine, reaches its 25th birthday in October and costs a mere 30p – just as it did back in October 1989. Membership of the Northern League Club costs £10 annually and includes a lapel badge, grounds guide, subscription to NVNG and to Northern Wisdom magazines, competitions and much more. Details from Martin Haworth, 17 The Turn, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2DU.
www.northernleague.org @theofficialnl
3
Chairman’s welcome St James’ Park must have been a lot different in 1892-93, when Northern League football was last played here*– though keep an eye on that little asterisk. Back then the ground was just that, a public park. Now a truly magnificent stadium stands on the same site, and the Ebac Northern League is greatly honoured to be staging the League Cup here – and for the first time. (Remember that asterisk.) Sincere thanks to Mike Ashley and his fellow directors for making their facilities available – a wonderful way to climax a hugely successful 125th anniversary season. Thanks also to Alex Smailes and Rob Yorke for acting so diligently as intermediaries. Newcastle United came into being on December 6 1892, an effective take over by Newcastle East End – founder Northern League members three years earlier – of the defunct Newcastle West End club, who played at St James’ Park. The Magpies’ first Northern League game, the following day, was a 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough Ironopolis. United finished second in the six-club league – Sheffield United were third – and the following season joined the new Football League second division. So the setting for tonight’s match could hardly be more appropriate, or more happy. Thanks to generous sponsorship from a County Durham engineering company, we have also been able to host a pre-match meal for representatives of all 45 clubs, and other guests. It’s about being a true league and not just a loose affiliation of clubs, and that over 125 years is what the Northern League – first among equals – has become. Tonight we’re represented by Marske United and by Whitley Bay, two great clubs who in their own ways represent so much that’s good about Northern League football. Congratulations to both. It’s appropriate, too, to recall Brooks Mileson, in whose memory the competition is named. Engaging, flamboyant and ever-enthusiastic, Brooks
and his companies put around £500,000 into Northern League football over 11 years after the first sponsorship agreement was signed on the inside flap of a Marlboro packet. We remember him with great affection. So a momentous season draws to a close – just Wembley on Saturday to provide, it’s to be hoped, yet more icing on a very rich cake. Thanks to the very many people who’ve worked in so many ways to make all this possible and to John Elliott and Ebac, our magnificent sponsors. It’s come together brilliantly. Next season, of course, we’re going to have a pretty hard act to follow – but after 125 years we know that anything’s possible in the Northern League. Have a great night. Mike Amos Chairman, Ebac Northern League * Ah yes, that little blighter. It may be the first League Cup final at St James’ Park but not the first League Cup match. That was on Saturday December 16 when Heaton Stannington drew 2-2 with Bishop Auckland before a 1,283 crowd. That Heaton Stan included Colin Seymour, son of Stan Snr, may just have had something to do with their getting the ground. Bishops won the replay, Shildon the cup.
4 Robert Dean
Oli West
Position
Position
gk
Marske United Football Club Founded: 1956. Ground: GER Stadium. Joined Northern League: 1997. Honours: Wearside League winners - 1994/95. Teesside League winners - 1980/81, 1983/84. North Riding Senior Cup winners 1994/95.
Luke Olabode
Position
gk
def
Former Stokesley ‘keeper who admitted it was a “dream come true” to return to Wembley last season with Spennymoor Town as they lifted the FA Vase, five years after playing at the national stadium in an Umbro 5-a-side tournament. Dean, who had trials with Middlesbrough in the past, left ‘Moors in the summer to join Marske.
Young ‘keeper who was a junior at Hull City, joining his local side at the age of eight, before moving to Bridlington Town and then Marske. His season was curtailed last year after suffering a broken foot, however, his performances prior to that earned him the Supporters’ Player of the Year award.
Started his career at Darlington, spending a couple of years in their academy before joining Northern League football. After playing for Sunderland RCA’s junior sides in the past, the defender progressed to their first team and joined Marske in January from South Shields.
Adam Wheatley
Austin Johnston
Craig Gott
Position
Position
DEF
Position
mid
mid
Club captain who joined the Seasiders from Stokesley Sports Club for the 2011/12 season having progressed through the ranks of the North Yorkshire-based club. Scored in the FA Cup tie against Halesowen Town that helped see the club through to a final qualifying round tie at Southport.
Helped seal tonight’s final place with a superb hat-trick in the semi-final victory at Ashington to add to his goal in the quarter-final victory over his previous club Guisborough Town, where he had spent six seasons before returning to Marske at the start of this campaign.
Won the Northern League title with Darlington last season having joined them from Billingham Synthonia after spells with Spennymoor Town, Tow Law Town and Norton & Stockton Ancients. Moved to Marske this season as a result of work commitments impacting Evo-Stik League availability.
Chris McGill
Connor Smith
Jamie Clarke
Position
fwd A firm fans’ favourite amongst the GER Stadium faithful, and after leaving the club – and Saturday football - last summer, playing only on Sundays, was tempted back by Ted Watts in March to inject some fizz into the squad, which certainly worked in the sem-final against Ashington.
Position
fwd 17-year-old forward who has been a regular scorer for Grangetown Boys Club in the Teesside League this season. Initially signed for Marske last summer, and has returned in recent weeks to assist with the hectic fixture run-in and provide squad depth.
Position
fwd Well travelled forward who has scored goals for a number of Northern League sides as well as for teams in higher divisions. Highly respected striker who counts Gateshead, Durham City, Billingham Town, Ashington, Whitby Town and Darlington amongst his former clubs. Moved to Marske via spells at Northallerton Town and Seaham Red Star this season.
5 Alex Dougall
Paul Collins
Position
Josh Myers
Position
def
Liam O’Sullivan
Position
def
Position
DEF
DEF
Defender who recently returned to Marske United after spells playing for other clubs.
Signed for the Seasiders last November from Crook Town having previously played Northern League football for Bishop Auckland, Consett and Sunderland Nissan as well as having had spells playing abroad. Started his career at Darlington and currently works for Middlesbrough as a coach.
A junior team product of the Seasiders who captained his side at numerous age levels before joining the senior squad.
After spells with Stokesley, Dunston and Guisborough, arrived at the GER Stadium last summer and immediately set about contributing goals from the back, scoring against Whitley Bay in a 3-2 win last August and then scoring against Hebburn Town in the FA Cup and Team Northumbria in the league soon after.
Jamie Poole
Bryan Stewart
Glen Butterworth
Josh MacDonald
Position
Position
mid
Position
mid
Position
mid
mid
The Middlesbrough academy product was a member of the Blyth Spartans squad that reached the FA Cup third round in 2008/09, defeating Football League sides Bournemouth and Shrewsbury Town before being eliminated by Blackburn. Poole, a London Olympics torchbearer, joined Marske earlier this season from Guisborough Town.
Former York City player who played in both the Football League and the Conference for the Minstermen before landing in Northern League football. Played for West Auckland Town, Stokesley, Spennymoor Town, Sunderland RCA and Shildon before signing for Marske from Guisborough Town.
Integral part of the Seasiders’ historic FA Cup run to the fourth qualifying round, scoring in the win against Frickley Athletic and again when Marske were eventually defeated at Haig Avenue at the hands of Conference side Southport. Joined Marske after spells with Billingham Town and Guisborough Town.
Former Billingham Town player who has been instrumental during Marske’s cup run to St James’ Park, scoring against both South Shields and West Allotment Celtic in the earlier rounds. Spent time at Middlesbrough’s academy as a youngster.
John Alexander
Lev Yalcin
Ted Watts
Jon Boswell
Position
fwd Started his career with Darlington and played in the Football League for them before signing for Marske for his first spell at the club. Went on to play for Blyth Spartans in the Conference North before re-joining the Northern League with Newcastle Benfield, Norton & Stockton Ancients, Ashington and then, for a second spell, at Marske.
Position
fwd After leaving the youth team set-up here at Newcastle, the Middlesbrough-born Turkish U18 and U19 capped forward joined York City and became a regular for the Minstermen. Left for Whitby Town in 2006 and then entered the Northern League with Billingham Synthonia the following year. Has also played for Stokesley and Spennymoor.
Position
Assistant manager
Position
Manager After successfully leading Stokesley from the Wearside League to the Northern League Division 1, ‘Super Ted’ joined Marske in October 2012 after a stint scouting for Darlington and then led the club to the final qualifying round of this season’s FA Cup – the furthest the Seasiders have progressed in the famous tournament.
Ted’s trusty assistant has been with him for almost 20 years through thick and thin.
Shane Timmons Position
Physio
6 Marske United manager Ted Watts played for Northallerton and for South Bank, spent 13 years as manager of Stokesley SC and has been with tonight’s finalists for 18 months
Watts what To reach any League Cup final is great, to be at St James’ Park is unbelievable. I remember once looking up at it from the Quayside and hearing a Geordie lad describing it as The Citadel on the Hill. That’s what it means. We’ll probably arrive on the team coach a couple of hours beforehand, let the players walk around, see the dressing rooms, sit in the stand, take it all in. It’s a very special night. When I came to Marske United the brief was to keep them up and cut the budget. I said “thanks very much” but we did it, and got to last season’s North Riding Cup final as well. In the summer I rebuilt the team and we not only created a club record of the first 17 games unbeaten but reached the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, at Southport, making £27,000. That was fantastic for all of us, like playing at a real Football League ground, but to be at St James’ Park is unbelievable.
After the start we had, we had a lot of injuries and with playing twice a week, it took its toll. There were a few dissenting voices, but I always believed we could turn things around and we steadied the ship. It’s a project, and we had to keep the faith. We can’t afford to keep 24 players, like some of the bigger clubs are doing – and good luck to them – but tonight is the reward for a lot of hard work from those players we have. I’m delighted for them because I didn’t want things to peter out. Beating Guisborough in the quarter-final, the season they’re having, was an achievement in itself and so was winning at Ashington in the semi – but this is amazing. I’m confident that if we have a full squad, we can give a good account of ourselves. None of us will have experienced anything like tonight. I’ll just tell everyone to enjoy it. This is what football’s all about. Ted Watts
7
Andy Hudson looks at...
The road to Marske stuttered to first round victory at Stokesley, yet extended their start-of-season unbeaten run to eleven games by way of a 6-5 win on penalties after being held 1-1 by their lower division hosts with Oli West a penalty-saving hero. Whitley Bay had no such problems, stepping up in the second half to defeat Willington thanks to goals from Ash Davis and Paul Antony. A late Paul Chow goal at Nissan edged the Seahorses through against an improving Washington side, though the visitors struck the post twice early on. Marske had an easier round against second division opposition this time, running out 3-1 winners at home to South Shields with Josh MacDonald in scintillating form and netting the final goal. Marske then saw off second division high-fliers West Allotment Celtic to advance to the quarter-finals, MacDonald again scoring as the Seasiders won 2-0. In a difficult looking challenge, Bay emerged victorious from a trip to West Auckland Town when Alex Kempster struck the only goal of the game just before half-time. Local rivals Guisborough Town made the trip to Marske in the last eight and were blown away 4-1, Jamie Poole and Austin Johnston amongst the goals against their former club while ten-man Bay needed some late drama to sneak past Bishop Auckland, with Chris Reid scoring the winner three minutes from time after the Seahorses had twice led and been pegged back.
Marske United Round 1: Stokesley SC 1 Marske United 1 - Marske win 6-5 on penalties - 18th September 2013 Round 2: Marske United 3 South Shields 1 - 26th November 2013 Round 3: Marske United 2 West Allotment Celtic 0 - 25th February 2014 Quarter-final: Marske United 4 Guisborough Town 1 - 18th March 2014 Semi-final: Ashington 1 Marske United 4 - 21st April 2014
Whitley Bay Round 1: Whitley Bay 2 Willington 0 - 1st October 2013 Round 2: Washington 0 Whitley Bay 1 - 26th November 2013 Round 3: West Auckland Town 0 Whitley Bay 1 - 11th March 2014 Quarter-final: Whitey Bay 3 Bishop Auckland 2 - 8th April 2014 Semi-final: Whitehaven 2 Whitley Bay 3 - 21st April 2014
And so on to Easter Monday and semi-final day. Johnston scored a superb hat-trick as Marske travelled up the east coast to win 4-1 at Ashington, with Chris McGill netting the other goal. Whitley Bay travelled from east coast to west and after suffering an early Whitehaven onslaught, goals from Kempster, Chow and Jarrett Rivers took them to St James’ Park.
8
Four-minute Mileson As it will be this season, the 1997 FA Vase final was held on Saturday May 10 – Whitby Town v North Ferriby United. As always seems to be the case at Wembley, the sun shone brightly. A few yards away, across the staircase in the summer-clad royal box, a pony-tailed chap in a heavy duty overcoat grew ever more animated, in danger of becoming seriously overheated. It was Brooks Mileson, boss of what then was Arnott Insurance and Whitby’s munificent sponsor. Unexpectedly, the league had just lost its own principal backer. Though we’d never met, I asked him behind the scenes at half-time if he’d be interested in helping the Northern League. Brooks invited me to see him three days later at company headquarters, a large and lavish former colliery owner’s house at Fencehouses, near Sunderland. He was on his own: no advisers, no accountants. Within two minutes, he’d agreed the first sum optimistically essayed, signing the deal on the inside flap of a Marlboro Lite packet – that, supposedly, being all there was to hand. Brooks always had a Marlboro Lite to hand. He lived on fags and Lucozade. Thus began an 11-year love affair which culminated in an offer to sponsor the league in perpetuity and brought in around £500,000. It ended when Brooks became seriously ill. He died, aged 61, in 2008. He was a Sunderland lad, eldest of five, told he’d never walk again after an accident when he was 11. By 21 he was an international cross country runner with Billingham Harriers, as near as dammit four-minute MIleson. Business burgeoned, ultimately employing 1,000 staff with a £100m turnover. Brooks also took over Gretna FC – he blamed me for that, too – helping write the greatest Gretna romance of all. The former Northern League side reached the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish FA Cup final at Hampden, Brooks foregoing all the formalities to eat fish and chips with the faithful. He did wear his best jeans, though. “I’ve been mucking out the pigs in the others,” he said.
He asked for nothing in return, save for the ham and pease pudding sandwiches upon which he insisted when we met. He was both a joy and a genius, a philanthropist like no other whose magnanimity spread far beyond North-East England and beyond these shores. The Northern League Challenge Cup is proudly named in his memory. We recall him with admiration, with affection and with immense gratitude. All that’s in perpetuity, too. Mike Amos
9
A greasy, muddy slope
By Paul Brown
The first Northern League match at St James’ Park was played 125 years ago in September 1889 between the two Newcastle clubs: West End and East End. St James’ was the home ground of West End, and it looked very different to how it does today. There were no stands, and no real facilities of any kind, just a pitch surrounded by soil embankments. Supporters paid sixpence to get in, and the players got changed in a nearby pub. ‘The West End ground is most unsuitable to football,’ reported the Northern Echo. ‘Between goal and goal there is a most pronounced dip… a greasy, muddy slope of the most treacherous nature.’ If you look closely you’ll see that the St James’ pitch still has a slope today. It was the location that made St James’ special, perched above the town walls at the heart of Newcastle. Rivals East End played at Heaton Junction, just off Chillingham Road. Heaton Junction was in many ways a better ground than St James’,
Then and now - Newcastle East End’s ground in Heaton. West End were at St James’ Park
with a decent pitch, a wooden pavilion and even a press box, although it was a bumpy two-mile charabanc ride from Central Station. West End won that first Northern League meeting 2-0 in front of 4,000-strong St James’ crowd. But the club folded due to financial difficulties in 1892, leaving their prime location ground empty. ‘We are informed that the West End club has now ceased to exist,’ reported the Journal, ‘and the East End club will become the occupiers of St James’ Park.’ East End’s first Northern League match at St James’ was in October 1892 against Middlesbrough. They won 3-1. A few weeks later, East End changed their name – to Newcastle United. Paul Brown’s book about the formative years of Newcastle United is published later this year. You can find him on Twitter (@paulbrownUK) and at www.stuffbypaulbrown.com.
10
Paul Tully talks to a Northern League lad who made it very
Hit and Chris OF ALL the Northern League men to have made the grade professionally, Tynesider Chris Waddle has arguably gone furthest and achieved most. Felling-born Waddle joined Tow Law Town as a kid in the late ‘70s and his astonishing skills soon brought scouts flocking to Ironworks Road. Today, at 53, he looks back on a career that brought 62 England caps, three French league titles, two Wembley finals and the 1993 Footballer of the Year accolade. It took him to Newcastle United, Tottenham, French giants Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday and several lesser clubs in the twilight of a glittering career that closed in 2002 – but he never forgets the roots that grew on works pitches and in the Northern League before blossoming in the summer of 1980. Chris knows what tonight’s finalists will be feeling when they step inside St James’ Park. “It’s a pinnacle for players who will never make the top level to get in that changing room, get down that tunnel and walk onto that pitch – more of a pinnacle for Northern League lads now because the game has changed. “In my day there was a lot of talent in the Northern League, not much difference between that and the professional league and a steady stream of players who made that step up. “It’s easy now to get a cheap option from abroad, or on a Bosman. Players are earning silly money and clubs want the finished article – it’s all about being ready for the first team. “There are only a certain amount of clubs that will take on a Northern League player now, but back then there were a lot more – Newcastle took not only myself, but Alan Shoulder and Steve Carney from Blyth and Peter
Cartwright from North Shields. Keith Houghton from Blyth went to Carlisle.” Chris, like so many local players, had the blessed good fortune of working under the legendary Billy Bell, manager at Tow Law when the gangly youngster arrived in 1979 – armed with a road map. “I didn’t even know where Tow Law was!” admits Chris. “I’d been playing for Pelaw Social Club and Clarke Chapmans from Gateshead while working at the famous sausage factory. I’d got a bit disillusioned – I’d been at Coventry on schoolboy forms and Newcastle at 13 but I wasn’t impressed at the set-up at that time. I always wanted to be a pro but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere until somebody said Billy was always looking for players. Going to Tow Law was one of the best things that ever happened. “Billy was well ahead of his time, playing 4-3-3 and planning systems and so on. Things just clicked. He had desire, passion and knowledge and wanted
11
good indeed
to play good football. He could have gone much higher. He was eccentric at times, but good with players and I learned a lot. “There was a little pitch behind the ground where we used to work on Billy’s systems, but I was really an off-the-cuff sort of player. On the main pitch, there was a bit of a slope but the surface was always nice, good to play on. They were good times – even going to Penrith in the pouring rain on a Tuesday night!” His first Lawyers appearance was in a pre-season friendly at Frickley. “There were only 12 on the bus, including the assistant manager, so I got a game, made both our goals in a 2-2 draw, and the next week I played in the league. “Then people started turning up to watch – a lot of scouts and I was getting some good write-ups in the Evening Chronicle and the Pink. I met Barnsley manager Allan Clarke at Scotch Corner. He wanted to take me on trial but I didn’t have any holidays left at the sausage factory because I’d trained a couple of weeks at Sunderland. “In the end I got a year’s contract at Newcastle and once that ran out they said they’d see about a fee. Tow Law wanted a set of lights but the deal ended up as £500 plus another £500 after 20 first
team games. I was a bit disappointed that Newcastle didn’t give Tow Law a decent wedge, especially after they got £590,000 from Spurs for me in 1985, but that’s the way it was.” Chris, fresh from the Northern League, made his Magpies debut in a sparsely-attended second division home match with Shrewsbury in October 1980. United won 1-0, but after a 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea it was more than two months before his next league match. United manager Bill McGarry was sacked after a League Cup defeat by Bury and Arthur Cox, his replacement, played a significant part in Chris’s development. “I’d got 11 goals in nine games for the Reserves but don’t think I’d have got in the side under McGarry,” he declares. “Arthur came in and said he’d give everybody a chance, a clean slate. “I came out of the blocks very, very quickly and my confidence grew but I was very nervous against Shrewsbury. If somebody had said that I’d play 17 games that first season I’d have laughed. “I scored a couple against Sheff Wed in the Cup and things went from there. Kevin (Keegan) came in 1982, a year later Peter Beardsley arrived and we three formed that terrific forward line. People like Terry McDermott, who like Kevin had played in the European Cup, also came in. We got promoted in 1984, the rest is history. “So I was a Northern League lad who made it, and I guess did pretty well, but I’ve always said that if you’ve got a trick it will work whether it’s on Sunday mornings for Pelaw Social Club or Marseille in the Champions League.” Now, as St James’ Park stages its first-ever Northern League Cup Final, history is being made in a whole new way – Chris firmly believes it should be an annual template. “Because it’s a pinnacle for the players who are taking part, Northern League players should have this chance every year. The final should always be at St James’ Park, or one of the major grounds. “I live in Sheffield where the Sheffield and Hallamshire Cup is played at Hillsborough every year. Even the Sunday pub teams have their final at Bramall Lane – it’s brilliant for them. “It’s an incentive every year for the local amateurs. We should have that incentive in the Northern League, too.”
12
THE NORTHERN LEAGUE & THE TOON Newcastle United historian Paul Joanas a ‘draw’. South Bank beat Auckland nou and Northern League addict Paul Town 3-0 and Newcastle East End Tully review the League’s historic beat Darlington 2-1, between connection to our hosts Newcas1,500 and 3,000 at Chillingham tle United. Road, Heaton. They waited 45 Even in 1889, football on minutes for the start because Tyneside was flourishing after Darlington’s train was late. the pioneering clubs of Tyne Newcastle West End beAssociation and Newcastle gan a week later here at St Rangers brought the game to James’ Park when East End the burgeoning metropolis. crossed the city, between Development moved apace. 4,000 and 5,000 cramming The birth of the Football League the Gallowgate site. Previ– albeit restricted to certain arous meetings between these Newcastle West End’s eas initially – saw talk of a North rivals had been marred by John Barker, sent-off in the first Northern East league. The vast majority of over-exuberant, rough play. League Tyneside derby the region’s sides weren’t developed This game went further, violence at St James’ Park enough to have a crack at the Football erupting as the sides tried to kick League or subsequent Football Alliance, opponents into submission. Following although both Sunderland and breakaway club a “scuffle”, the first players sent off for Sunderland Albion soon bid to join football’s either side in a competitive game were East End elite. Most were content to remain local. captain James Miller and West End’s John Barker. The two leading Tyneside clubs, Newcastle West End won 2-0. East End (now Newcastle United) and rivals NewThe West Enders were in the running for the castle West End, were keen to support the North- title, while East End lagged. The race ended in ern League concept. On March 25 1889, 19 clubs early May. West End, the trophy virtually in their from Northumberland and County Durham were grasp, lost two of their last three fixtures – 4-1 at invited to a meeting at the Three Tuns Hotel in St Augustine’s and 3-0 at Darlington. At Feethans Durham. Seven attended. A second gathering on they fielded just ten men. April 2 at the North Eastern Hotel in Darlington The 6-2 home success against South Bank was again attracted seven clubs attended, although of little consequence. St Augustine’s, who won not the same ones. four of their last five, the Darlington club champiThough Morpeth Harriers had opted out ons on goal average. because most clubs would be in the south, East End and West End continued in the and both Sunderland clubs early Northern League until two refused to commit, ten clubs – factors changed Tyneside footDarlington St Augustine’s, Stockball. During the summer of 1892, ton, Darlington, Middlesbrough, West End ran into financial probSouth Bank, Newcastle East End, lems and folded. East End took Newcastle West End, Auckland their lease at St James’ Park and Town, Birtley and Elswick Rangwithin a year were elected to ers – enrolled. the Football League. Although The first three matches were the renamed Newcastle United played on September 7 1889. Birthad reached the ‘big-time’ they ley defeated Elswick Rangers 4-1, but continued to support the Northern Elswick protested and the result was logged League, fielding their reserve or ‘A’ line-up
13
Newcastle West End, tenants of St James’ Park and title contenders for the first Northern League programme
until they moved to a professional North Eastern League in 1906. The Magpies won a Northern League treble between 1902-03 and 1904-05. Newcastle United’s now vast stadium is one of the oldest football grounds in the country. The huge fortress looks over the city and is the only ground in constant use since the Northern League’s opening salvo. The first organised game was played in October 1880, with kick-abouts even before that. On Victorian Tyneside, there were no towering stands or plush corporate facilities – only a rough patch of the Town Moor at Castle Leazes with a marvellous backdrop of the listed Leazes Terrace. A football pitch was marked and roped off, some of the crowd in a small stand. Pathfinders Newcastle Rangers had moved to the site some years before, obtaining a short-term lease on a patch of grazing land. Rangers called the ground St James’ Park – after the nearby St James’ Street – and it quickly became the most important venue on Tyneside. The neighbourhood had been something of a “genteel resort” around the nearby strawberry fields (hence the famous Strawberry Inn) but,
amid industrial growth, much of the calm and tranquillity vanished, although a peaceful spot could be found in the Victorian Leazes Park, to the north of the new football enclosure. With Rangers moving out, Newcastle West End arrived during October 1886, the pitch then levelled and enclosed. A substantial 8ft high paling and a small stand were erected costing £200, giving the club a sort of identity from the rest of Castle Leazes. It was the start of something big, the ground also commonly called ‘Gallowgate’ due to its proximity to the old thoroughfare into the town. As an insight into the cost of watching Northern League football, West End charged 6d (2½p) for admission plus another 3d (1p) for the special reserve area. East End reduced prices for the Middlesbrough contest, charging 3d into the ground plus (like West End) a further 3d to the reserved enclosure. The new stand cost 6d, ladies admitted free.
14 PAUL TULLY recalls another unforgettable Northern League day at St James’ Park, and speaks to a man who played a key role in it
A DUBIOUS SHADE OF GREY ONE of St James’ Park’s – and the Northern League’s - most memorable occasions would never have happened but for the error of judgment made by a Great Yarmouth gentleman called Alf Grey. Mr Grey was the referee who wrongly awarded Third Division Wrexham a last-minute corner-kick in the frozen surrounds of the Racecourse Ground on Saturday February 18, 1978. Blyth defender John Waterson tackled Wrexham striker Bobby Shinton and the ball clearly ricocheted off the forward for a goal-kick. Mr Grey awarded a corner, and after a saga of a collapsing corner flag and a thrice-taken kick, Dixie McNeil nodded the equaliser. It was a shattering disappointment – but meant a fifth round replay at St James’ Park, home of a relegation-bound Newcastle who’d lost heavily to Wrexham in Round Four and thus sacrificed the chance of a fairytale North-East derby. Eight thousand fans had travelled to North Wales. Two to three times that would come to the replay, it was thought. It proved to be a serious underestimate, for St James’ Park’s best crowd of the season rolled up on a tide of Cup fever. Ninety minutes before kick-off, there were few indications of an over-capacity crowd. Thirty minutes later, a major surge brought huge queues stretching the length of the stadium car park, and doubling back. A downpour soaked the fans who, undeterred, clamoured to be in. One turnstile after another closed as the `house full’ signs went up. The match began with 42,000 inside, Wrexham scoring before an estimated 10,000 were turned away. The last turnstile was in the west stand centre paddock, desperate fans clambering over it and forcing their way inside before security men could lock the gate. On the pitch, the focus stayed on referee
Grey, who under FA rules had to take charge of the replay. Spartans striker Alan Shoulder believes the authorities got it wrong. “Alf Grey should never have been given the replay. After the first game mistake there was too much pressure on him,” he says. “Arfon Griffiths of Wrexham was very clever – in the build-up to the replay, he said Mr Grey would give Wrexham nowt because of the bad mistake he’d made down there and it shifted the pressure on the ref. He gave them a dodgy penalty in the first few minutes and at 2-0 we were on the way to defeat.” Terry Johnson’s late goal halved the deficit but brave Spartans couldn’t find an equaliser. The tie was lost – and with it the opportunity of a home quarter-final against mighty Arsenal. No non-league side had gone beyond the FA Cup fifth round, but none had ever come as close. Alan Shoulder, then 25, was a Durham pitman who’d spent five years with his local club, Bishop
Blyth vs Wrexham at St James’ Park
15 Auckland, before signing for Spartans during the cup run. “It caught the imagination of the whole country and certainly of the North-East,” says Alan. “We were only expecting around 20,000 at the replay. It was an incredible turn-out for what, after all, was a game between a non-league side and a Third Division side. “There was that sense we’d been wronged by the late corner at Wrexham; I think we would have felt better if they had scored a normal goal with, say, 10 minutes to go. It’s the only time I’ve truly thought: `We’ve been robbed’.” There was an ironic aftermath for Alan who in late 1978 signed for Newcastle United. “Bobby Shinton took the FA Cup-tie off us,” says Alan. “A couple of years later he signed for Newcastle and took my United shirt too!” After his part in wins against Enfield and Stoke City in rounds three and four, the emotions on that February night at St James’ are what he hopes tonight’s finalists will feel. “It’s hyper – you have that feeling of being on cloud nine and can’t wait to get out there. It’s like winning a game BEFORE the game. “That was my first time at St James’ Park and I couldn’t wait to get out. I was lucky enough to sign for Newcastle a year later and play many more times there but this will be the career highlight for the lads tonight. I’d like to think that they’ve been playing this cup final from the moment they won the semi – because, believe me, the occasion will fly by.” Although Alan’s two brothers were Newcastle fanatics – “tattoos, everything” – he never really supported any one North-East team. I went to St James’ with them a few times, and at Blyth we were taken to a game before the Wrexham replay to get the feel of the place but that was it. “The stadium is huge compared to
my day, with all the corporate areas and suites – it’s great for the Northern League to get to play its Cup final at such a venue.” Alan, 5ft 5in tall, played 106 times for United, scoring 38 goals and forming a lethal little-andlarge partnership with towering striker Peter Withe. Blyth team-mate Steve Carney also made the step up to Newcastle, when player flow from Northern League to Football League was steady and regular. “Now they have academies and the kids’ coaching and that’s brilliant for them,” says Alan. “They’re looked at from being five-to-seven-year-olds and there’s not the same chance of getting in from nonleague. When we were there, there was none of this talent spotting – the whole style was different. Alan was so keen to sign for Newcastle, bidding under Bill McGarry to return to Division One following relegation in 1978, that he didn’t bother asking about money. “Wages were the furthest thing from my mind,” he smiles. “I just wanted to sign and be a Newcastle player. When I got home the wife asked me what I was getting. I didn’t know! “Newcastle took a chance and I like to think I repaid them. I only cost £20,000 and reckon I did the business. There are players in the Northern League now who could probably do well in the professional game – if only they get the chance.”
16
The famous five Another quintet who link the Magpies with the Northern League STEVE HARPER
STEVE CARNEY A hero of Blyth Spartans’ FA Cup giant-killing team of 1977-78, and formerly of North Shields, central defender Steve cost Newcastle £1,000 in October 1979 and played 149 times for the Magpies. He later returned to the Northern League, playing for Tow Law, Blyth (again) and Newcastle Blue Star. Steve died last year, aged 55.
PETER CARTWRIGHT TWENTY-ONE seasons ago, locally-born goalkeeper Steve turned out for Seaham Red Star and was spotted there by Newcastle United. Two decades later, aged 39, he holds the record for Newcastle United’s longest-serving player after six spells out on loan. He is now playing full-time for Premier League Hull City.
FRANK CLARK An Amateur Cup winner with Crook Town in 1961, the Gateshead-born leftback joined Newcastle in 1962 for all of £200, and went on to clock up 487 appearances in 13 years under manager Joe Harvey before beginning a new titleand European Cup-winning life with Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough. Later became a manager, and Chief Executive of the League Managers’ Association.
Signed by Newcastle from North Shields for £2,000 aged 21 in 1979 following a storming performance at St James’ Park in that year’s Northumberland Senior Cup Final. After 69 appearances for United, Peter moved to Darlington in 1983 then Blyth Spartans in 1984, and became a mathematics teacher in the town.
FRANK BRENNAN Legendary Newcastle ‘50s cup-winning centre-half who ate centre-forwards for breakfast, the 6ft 3in Scot left the Magpies after a decade in 1956 to play for North Shields, where he became coach and then manager, leading the Appleby Park club to FA Amateur Cup glory with a 2-1 Final victory over Sutton United at Wembley in 1969. Big Frank also coached South Shields in 1972.
17 Whitley Bay player/manager Leon Ryan played professionally for Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe and Halifax, and in Finland before a successful Northern League career with the Seahorses, Durham City, Nissan and Spennymoor
Ryan air I’ve won the Vase three times, the league twice with Spennymoor, the League Cup two or three times and the Northumberland Senior Cup, but this is as excited as I’ve ever been about a cup final. It’s just so early in my managerial career. Most of the players are very young and inexperienced, local lads, so for them – especially the back-and-whites – getting to St James’ Park is immense, a dream come true. When I took over with Steve Foster in February we had a best case scenario and a worst case scenario, and even the best case wasn’t this good. Ian Chandler was manager for ten years and did fantastically, and it’s no disrespect to the previous management that sometimes things need freshening up. I suppose it’s like David Moyes - I followed a legend. It’s always at the back of your mind that there’s nothing more you can do, I don’t think anyone will win the Vase three times in succession again, but it’s a challenge to do even better than Chan and we’re not a million miles from that. We’ve only lost twice, once to
Newcastle Reserves and once to Celtic Nation when we were a bit outclassed on the day, It’s been good for me as a player, too. I’d got a bit flat, a bit stagnant, and being manager had lifted me. I’m a very confident sort of person and hope that confidence can rub off on the team. They’ve really bought into what me and Foz are trying to do but but I’m only 31 and certainly not thinking about hanging my boots up. There were a few doubters when we took over but I think we’re winning them round. I’m enjoying it, enjoying bringing the lads on, maybe just putting an arm around their shoulders and telling them they’re good players. Clubs where I’ve been have been very successful and I like to think I’ve played my part, but really it’s about putting smiles back on the faces at Whitley Bay, starting at St James’ Park. If we can do that, I’ll be happy. Leon Ryan
18 Mark Cook
Daniel Gladstone
Position
Position
GK
Whitley Bay Football Club Founded: 1897. Ground: Hillheads. Joined Northern League: 1958. Left 1989, returned 2000. Honours: FA Vase winners 2001/02, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11. Northern Premier League Division One winners - 1990/91. Northern League winners - 1964/65, 1965/66, 2006/07. League Cup winners - 1965/65, 1970/71. Northumberland Senior Cup winners - 1952/53, 1960/61, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1970/71, 1972/73, 1986/87, 2004/05, 2009/10.
Callum Anderson
Position
GK
def
Former Newcastle United, Hartlepool United and Gateshead goalkeeper who established himself at Harrogate Town before joining Universitario. Played in the top-flight in Peru before returning to the north-east, first with Blyth Spartans before transferring to Bay in February of this year.
Teenage goalkeeper who made his Bay debut at the end of 2013 having progressed from the reserves to the first team at Hillheads. Has been a back-up to Mark Cook this season, yet has earned good reviews when called upon to put on the number one shirt.
Progressed through the Bay set-up and was a squad member when the Seahorses lifted the FA Vase in 2009 before establishing himself as a regular and playing in the following two Wembley finals. Injury ruled him out of the Northern League Select squad to celebrate their 125th anniversary.
Craig Smith
Leon Ryan
Craig McFarlane Manager
Position
Position
Position
DEF
DEF
DEF
Another player who was a member of the reserve team at Hillheads before progressing to the first team squad. Established himself last season in defence and the local lad has continued to hold a place in the side this season.
Won the Vase as club captain in 2009 and 2010 before moving to Spennymoor Town and winning the league title and then the Vase for the third time last season before returning to Hillheads last summer. Appointed caretaker manager in February and then permanent manager last month.
Arrived at Hillheads from Bedlington during the 2008/09 season and started in each of the three Wembley Vase finals. As well as winning the Vase in 2011, McFarlane was both Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year. Was previously a Bay academy player before joining the junior set-up at Sunderland.
Craig Hubbard
Paul Chow
Andy Robertson
Position
MID
Experienced, goalscoring midfielder who played Northern League football for Spennymoor Town, Bedlington Terriers and West Auckland Town before joining Blyth Spartans in December 2012. Left the Spartans in March to move to Hillheads and cut down on travelling following the birth of his child.
Position
FWD “Feed the Chow and he will score,” sing the Bay fans about their captain and Mr FA Vase rarely fails to find the net. Bay signed the forward from Jarrow Roofing, and he’s won the Vase three times with the Seahorses. He’s the scorer of the quickest goal in a Wembley cup final, scoring after 21 seconds in 2010.
Position
FWD Young forward who has scored a number of goals for the reserves in the Northern Alliance this season, as well as making appearances for the first team squad and recently scoring three times in the Northern League when rewarded for his fine form with a starting berth.
19 Chris Reid
Chris McDonald
Position
Brad Brooking
Position
DEF
Thomas Bott
Position
DEF
Position
DEF
DEF
Emerged through the academy at Hillheads before leaving the club to play for Brisbane Athletic in Australia and then West Allotment before making a return to Bay in 2011 and establishing himself in the first team. Scored the winner against Bishop Auckland during Bay’s run to tonight’s final.
Young full-back who arrived back in the Northern League when Bay signed him from Wearside League side Jarrow in February. Was previously a member of the Jarrow Roofing squad when a teenager. Recently committed his longterm future to Bay with the signing of a contract.
Won the FA Vase with Dunston in 2012 and signed for Bay not long after the start of last season following a short spell with Hebburn. Prior to winning the FA Vase, Brooking played for Newcastle Benfield and Washington, as well as a spell in Australia with Brisbane Athletic.
Former Darlington junior who left the club to complete his scholarship at Bradford City before joining first Spennymoor Town and then Billingham Synthonia. Left Synners to sign for Bay as Leon Ryan’s first signing.
Jarrett Rivers
Stephen Buzzeo
Michael McMullen
Alex Kempster
Position
Position
MID
Position
MID
MID
Position
MID
Young, Spennymoor-born midfielder who spent his formative years in the academy at Middlesbrough before being released last summer and making the move to Whitley Bay. Marked his debut with a goal on the opening day of this season against Dunston UTS.
Moved to Hillheads in October 2013 having previously captained Bedlington Terriers and played for Shildon and Newcastle Benfield. Spent time with Ross County as a youngster where he was loaned to Newcastle Blue Star before signing for Gateshead.
Progressed from the reserve side at Hillheads into the first team squad before leaving Bay in late 2012 for Newcastle Benfield and then North Shields before returning to the coast and establishing himself as a first team starter at Whitley.
Joined the first team squad after progressing through the reserves and rewarded the faith shown in him by scoring the winner to fire Bay into the quarter-final at the expense of West Auckland Town and then their first goal in the semi at Whitehaven on their march to tonight’s final.
Steve Foster
David Berry
Glen Martin
Adam Taylor-Christensen
Position
Position
Assistant manager
Fitness coach
Appointed to assist Leon Ryan initially in a caretaker capacity. The duo were confirmed as the long-term management team last month. Foster was an experienced Football League player, serving Mansfield Town, Bristol Rovers, Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Darlington.
Former player at Hillheads who Leon Ryan appointed to his backroom staff upon taking over as manager in order to develop the players’ fitness levels.
Position
Physio Part of the backroom team for the three Wembley Vase finals and a hugely experienced, FA-approved, physio.
Position
Kitman Whitley Bay fan who as well as running the club’s social media accounts has now become the kitman at Hillheads. Formerly a promising goalkeeper himself as a junior at Dundee United before injury curtailed his playing career.
20
Official attendance For referee Paul Curry, tonight’s St James’ Park final will be one of the highlights of a 17-year career – but with a note of sadness. He expects it to be his last game in charge. Paul, from Morpeth, started on the Northern Alliance before four seasons as a Northern Premier League match official and five years officiating in the Conference premier division. He then returned to the contributory league – Northern League first division – where he has enjoyed the past five years. Paul’s joined by assistant referees Lindsey Robinson and James Westgate and by Marc Edwards as fourth official. Lindsey, a former player, qualified as a referee in 2008 and has just been promoted to ENL first division level – next season there’ll be four women at that level. “I used to get frustrated with referees,” she admits. “It wasn’t dissent but I was always having little words with them.” She’s 33, lives in Hebburn, works as a development officer with County Durham Sport and was also an assistant referee at the 125th anniversary match on March 25. James Westgate is 26, originally from York and
Lindsey Robinson
has supported York City since he was six. He now lives in Washington, teaches PE in Sunderland and took up Paul Curry refereeing four years ago. He referees in the Wearside League but has an ambition to make it to the Premier League middle. Marc Edwards admits that he started refereeing in 2003-04 after “falling out of love” with playing after being released from the Sunderland Academy. He spent four seasons refereeing in the Northern League second division before promotion to the first – contributory league level. He is also an assistant ref on the Conference premier division and works as a manager for a large social housing provider. The league is also pleased tonight to welcome Chris Kay, the FA’s referees’ appointments officer for the northern region.
James Westgate
Marc Edwards
21
A sparkling celebration The Ebac Northern League’s 125th anniversary season has been more successful than ever we could have imagined. A St James’ Park final is wonderful, but only the icing on an already-sumptuous cake. Its gestation may have been akin to that of a hairy mammoth – it must be two years since first we conceived the big idea – but it has grown into something wholly memorable. The return of the FA Amateur Cup was a wonderful day affectionately attended by many who remembered the first golden age, the launch by Gary Pallister of the Northern League exhibition at the National Football Museum was a huge success, Northern Conquest has not only met its near-£10,000 production costs but continues to make substantial profits for the league and we were honoured with a civic lunch from Durham County Council. The groundhops, wonderfully masterminded by Harvey Harris, have not only helped deliver what is likely to be an unprecedented 20 per cent gates increase in our milestone season but helped seal the huge and unique affection in which the Northern League is held throughout the country.
The Northern League celebrate a goal in the 125th anniversary match
Bob Rogers
Crucial to it all was locating the grave of Charles Samuel Craven, our founder back in 1889, and – ultimately, finding his granddaughter in Berkshire and grandson, in Hong Kong. Bob Rogers, the most personable and charismatic of men, flew over for a long weekend of celebrations which included a wreath laying and service at Charles Craven’s grave in Surrey, a simply superb church service in Durham and, later that day, a lunch to toast the anniversary. A match against an FA XI followed on Tuesday March 25, the exact anniversary of the inaugural meeting. Now we come to the first-ever League Cup final at St James’ Park, an exciting occasion for everyone connected with the league. Victory for West Auckland in Saturday’s FA Vase final would make an unforgettable season complete. We wanted it to be very special, to seal a very special place in the football fraternity and in the North-East of England, and I truly believe that we’ve delivered. Thanks to everyone who has helped make it all possible. Mike Amos
22
The cup that cheers
Spennymoor lift last season’s cup
Gretna, inevitably, are the only Scottish team to have won it, in 1991. It’s appropriate because Northern League benefactor Brooks Mileson later became owner of the Borders club and steered them towards the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish FA Cup final and Europe. Tonight’s winners may have slightly more modest ambitions – but they’ll know that they’ve played a key role in a night truly to remember. facupgroundhopper.blogspot.co.uk
The first Northern League Cup final was played at Bishop Auckland on April 30 1924, Cockfield beating Ferryhill Athletic 3-1 in front of a 2,500 crowd. Ferryhill, coincidentally, had beaten Cockfield in the Durtham Challenge Cup final the previous evening. Though Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, remained the usual venue for the final, it was Willington who most frequently got their hands on the trophy – five wins in the first nine seasons. The Bishops have now won the trophy seven times – but not since 1976. Shildon also have seven victories, the last in 2003 when the final was the last competitive match to be played at the former Feethams ground in Darlington and was decided for the first and last time on a golden goal. It was also the first time, until tonight, that the final had been played at a non-Northern League venue. Shildon, in 1938-40 and Dunston, between 1998-2000, are the only team with a hat-trick of League Cup wins. West Auckland enjoyed the biggest final win, beating league champions Crook Town 7-0 at Shildon in 1959. Four thousand packed the Dean Street ground. History almost repeated itself five years later when Crook, crowned champions the night previously, lost 4-0 to West. By then it was May 24. No Cumbrian side has won the cup, though Penrith have twice been finalists.
Tonight’s teams MANAGER Ted Watts
Robert Dean Oli West Luke Olabode Alex Dougall Paul Collins Josh Myers Liam O’Sullivan Adam Wheatley Austin Johnston Craig Gott Jamie Poole Bryan Stewart Glen Butterworth Josh MacDonald Chris McGill Connor Smith Jamie Clarke John Alexander Lev Yalcin
MANAGER Leon Ryan
Mark Cook Daniel Gladstone Callum Anderson Chris Reid Chris McDonald Brad Brooking Tom Bott Craig Smith Leon Ryan Craig McFarlane Jarrett Rivers Stephen Buzzeo Michael McMullen Alex Kempster Craig Hubbard Paul Chow Andy Robertson Referee Paul Curry Assistants Lindsey Robinson James Westgate Fourth Official Marc Edwards
Editors Mike Amos | Andy Hudson
Designer Nenad Mijaljević