SOUTH SHIELDS FC official match programme
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Aris: Shields and me a perfect fit Manager and captain on today’s game Time to bounce back Season 2015/16
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Issue #6 Tuesday 11 August 2015
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v BILLINGHAM TOWN
South Shields Football Club
Mariners Park Shaftesbury Avenue South Shields, NE34 9PH
A welcome from the committee
Time to bounce back
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Board of Directors Chairman
Geoff Thompson Vice-Chairman
Gary Crutwell Director
Michael Orr Director
Stephanie Robinson-Jones Committee Members Commercial Manager
Colin Docherty Treasurer
David Fall Vice-President and Historian
Bob Wray Secretary
Philip Reay General Manager
Mick Sharp
Media Manager
Daniel Prince Head of Junior Development
Martin Urwin
Merchandise Manager
Bob Scott Catering
Janet Davies Further Officials President
David Miliband Vice-President
Richard Bailey Gerry O’Reilly Darren Wright First Team Manager
Jon King
Match Programme Editor
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by Bob Scott, club merchandise manager
H
ello, and welcome to Mariners Park for this evening’s game against Billingham Town. Everyone – from the committee to the supporters – would like to welcome all connected with today’s visitors to the match, as we ready ourselves for our second league fixture of the season. From our point of view, we all hope Saturday’s result can serve as a wake-up call for everyone and a reminder at the challenge which lies ahead of us. Hopefully, we will bounce back today with maximum points, but I’m sure every game is going to be difficult, and Billingham will push us all the way tonight. The team did well in the second half on Saturday to get it back to 3-2, and we had chances to get something from the game, but it didn’t seem like it was meant to be. We just need to put that game behind us now, and another match tonight gives us a chance to do so. The hope of everyone at the club is that we will get enough points this season to win promotion. From my perspective, I don’t mind if we finish first, second or third, as long as we finish in one of those positions! I’ve been a supporter of the club for many, many years, and my dream has always been for a run in the FA Vase. Hopefully, one time in the not too distant future we will emulate some of our Northern League counterparts and reach Wembley in that competition. That’s my ambition as a supporter, and I’m sure the club has that ambition as well, but for now the priority has to be to get promotion. I sincerely hope you enjoy tonight’s game, and while you’re here at Mariners Park, please come and see me at my merchandise hut, where sales have been going extremely well over the last month or so, or make merchandise requests by contacting me directly on 07920 554 377. Perhaps I’ll see you at the hut tonight – but let’s hope we’re all celebrating our first three points of the season The Mariner come 9.30pm. Onwards and upwards.
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The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
CLUB INFO
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Manager’s Column
Another difficult test tonight by Jon King, manager
G
ood evening and welcome back to Mariners Park for today’s game against Billingham Town. We go into the game on the back of Saturday’s really disappointing 3-2 defeat against Northallerton Town as we got our league campaign off to a losing start. The whole thing was set up for us in our first competitive game back at the ground and with such a big gate, but we let ourselves down overall. Individual errors cost us, as you can’t give a team a three-goal head start like we did. We created plenty of chances, and were very good in wide areas with the likes of David Foley, Wayne Phillips and Barrie Smith. They put good deliveries into good areas and we got a goal from it, but it wasn’t enough. It was just disappointing that we gave them three goals the way we did, and there’s very little we can do as a management team to stop goals like that. Things went against us – we missed a penalty, and two sitters just before halftime – and I think they showed a little bit more desire at times, which was overall the case. They were given a three-goal head start, so there was something for them to protect. They wouldn’t have been expecting to come here and get three goals so quickly, so once they did that, they really had something to hang onto. They rolled their sleeves up and were hard to break down. Teams in the Second Division are not used to playing in front of crowds between 350 and 400, so it will be like a cup final for
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them when they come here. We need to deal with that and manage it, but we didn’t do that on Saturday. Northallerton will have seen it as a chance to spoil the party when they saw the big gate, and all of the balloons, and they did that.
Teams in the Second Division are not used to playing in front of crowds between 350 and 400, so it will be like a cup final for them when they come here I’d like to thank everyone of you who attended on Saturday, and I hope we can provide you with our first three points of the season tonight. It’s going to be another difficult test against Billingham, which I expect all of our games to be this season. Everybody will want to come here and beat South Shields, and it’s something we’ve got to deal with. We’ve got to find a way of getting a result. We’ve got a good and strong squad to pick from, and I’d expect there to be some changes to the starting line-up today as we look to get back to winning ways. Enjoy the game.
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Our season starts now by Leepaul Scroggins, club captain
I
Photo by Peter Talbot
mmediately after Saturday’s game, I drove down to Centre Parcs to join my family, but I couldn’t take my mind off the football. Driving down to Nottingham, it was all I thought about, and it was the first thing I thought about the next morning as well. The result spoiled my whole weekend, and I wish we could have played on the Sunday to
get it out of our systems. It was very disappointing after such a good pre-season to give three sloppy goals away so early on, which you can’t afford to do in any league. We were quite unlucky not to get back into it before half-time, as we had the chances to do so. I should have scored the penalty, and we had two great opportunities before the break which we didn’t take as well. It could and perhaps should have been 3-3 at half-time, but that wasn’t to be. Northallerton had a gameplan, and once they had something to hold onto, it was always going to be difficult. It was just a bad day at the office for us. You could see we were the better team and we played the better football, but you can’t make mistakes like we did and expect to get away with it. The good thing about football, though, is you quickly get a chance to put things right, and we have that opportunity tonight against Billingham Town. We don’t have a full week to scream about it. It has gone now, and although it would have been great to get off to a winning start, now we have to do that tonight. It’s going to be a long and tough season, and we expect a similar performance from almost every team which plays us. Nobody will roll over for us, and it’s up to us to be able to manage that. We have to move on from Saturday’s game and regroup for tonight, when fingers crossed we’ll get the three we need. Thepoints Mariner Our season starts here.
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The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
Captain’s Column
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Leepaul Scroggins and Jonny Wightman
New and old faces return After a summer in which the management team offered trials to numerous players and many were brought in, South Shields’ squad is now almost finalised. Of last season’s squad, eight players remain at the club, with Stephen Ramsey the most long-serving of those, having played 265 times for the Mariners. Barrie Smith also remains, and is closing in on 200 appearances for the club, while Ben Riding, Paul Kane and James Talbot are among the other players with a significant number of games under their belt for the Mariners to still be with Shields. Of those brought in, Joe Melvin, James Heptinstall and Adam Sakr are among the players to have undergone successful trials, and will now be hoping to impress in the league campaign. Some familiar faces were signed during the off-season, including captain Leepaul Scroggins and vice-captain Daryll Hall.Scroggins, who played for Shields between 2007 and 2011, already had 143 appearances and 53 goals for the club under his belt before rejoining, while Hall had played 26 times for the Mariners in the 2010-11 campaign.
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Jonny Wightman was another former Mariner brought back to the club, having scored 47 times in 167 appearances in his first spell, while Gilberto Chapim and Kenny Ball also returned. Chapim did not score a competitive goal in his first spell with Shields, but notched against Seaham Red Star in pre-season, so will hope that augurs well for the months ahead. Other new additions have included Gareth Young, Ryan Beal, Lewis Galpin, Wayne Phillips and David Foley, and supporters got a chance to get a first glimpse of them all during pre-season. The club would like to welcome all players, new and old, back to Mariners Park, and wishes them all the very best of luck for the season ahead. Supporters got a chance to catch a glimpse of the club’s new signings during pre-season, but now the league season has kicked off, they will all be hoping to show their worth. Saturday’s defeat to Northallerton Town was not the start any of them will have wanted, but a game just three days later offers them a tremendous chance to bounce back.
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Player interview
Aris: Shields is the perf Aris Lokonga Guerin started counting down the days to the start of the season from the moment he agreed to join South Shields in May. The tall frontman’s excitement at the challenge ahead was clear back then, but he has had to wait over two months for his first taste of competitive action with the Mariners. Guerin, originally from Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was sold the Shields dream in May, and in the weeks which have followed, some of the plans he was made aware of have already been carried through at Mariners Park. Many more players have followed him through the door, while improvements to the facilities mean Mariners Park is already looking a different place to two months ago. The whole package meant Shields was a club which was a ‘perfect fit’ for Guerin, formerly of the likes of Consett, Newcastle Benfield and Jarrow Roofing. The 24-year-old said: “The club has given me an opportunity to show what I can do, and I’ve been raring to go ever since I started speaking to (manager) Jon King and the committee. “Shields have lots of ambition, and it’s also a local club for me, as I used to live in South Shields with my family. “My mum still lives here, so it’s a club that I know, and it just seemed like a perfect fit. “I’ve played here before – albeit only for a very short spell in a pre-season a few years back – and there’s something good going on, so I wanted to be a part of it.” As Guerin touched on, he has had a short pre-season spell with Shields before, and has since gone on to gain significant experience in the Northern League. He added: “I came here once during pre-season and I was ready to sign.
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“It was before the club dropped out of the First Division, and things just didn’t work out in the end. “I went to Sunderland RCA, but the time has come and now I’m here, which is all that matters. “I’ve had spells with Jarrow Roofing, Newcastle Benfield and Consett in the Northern League, so I’ve got some good experience under my belt. “I’m 24 now and I’ve come to a point where I’m quite mature to make the right choice, and I think I’ve made the right choice to be at South Shields.”
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I’m 24 now and I’ve come to a point where I’m quite mature to make the right choice, and I think I’ve made the right choice to be at South Shields Guerin has rarely found himself out of Division One during his time in the Northern League, and has always been highly thought of at that level. He has even gained admiring glances from clubs much higher up the pyramid, having had trial spells with Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Port Vale in his late-teens. In dropping down to Division Two of the Northern League, therefore, the striker took some persuading, but he is convinced it is a decision which will
be vindicated. He said: “The most difficult thing for me was to drop down from Division One, but that changed once I spoke to the manager. “When I also spoke to (vice-chairman) Gary Crutwell, I knew straightaway that it would be a nice club to be at, and the ambition of the club for the future matches my own ambition, so that’s why I thought it would be a good thing to do. “I’ve dropped down, but next season we hope to be in the First Division, and all of the signs in pre-season have been positive towards that.” Guerin is certainly a player who doesn’t lack confidence, which was emphasised by his first pre-season goal in claret and blue. With Shields having been awarded a penalty in the away friendly against Seaham Red Star, he took responsibility and then chipped the spot-kick down the centre as the goalkeeper dived to the right. His assuredness was also underlined in the friendly against Newton Aycliffe when Shields were given another penalty, and Guerin grabbed the ball before captain Leepaul Scroggins took responsibility. However, he insists that confidence will never overspill into arrogance, which is a mindset he hopes will also be reflected by the Mariners team as a whole this season. Describing himself as a player, Guerin concluded: “I’m very fast, very strong, could be a target man and am very good in the air. “I’m also a good finisher, but the fans will get to know me as the season goes on. “I’m confident, but I don’t want to be too cocky either. Every league is hard, and I know that you can only get what you put in. “The more I work hard, train and prepare myself well, the easier it will be. “We’ve signed lots of goodThe players, so if we have a Mariner good team, I think we’ll do well together.”
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The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
rfect club for me
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Meet the opposition
Billingham Town History Billingham Town was originally known as Billlingham Social Club, and was founded in 1967 by Tom Donnelly and Robbie Cushley. Tom, who played in Town’s first game back in 1968, was secretary of Billingham Town since its conception until 2000, when he relinquished this post to become chairman of the club. He is now life-president. In 1968, Town joined the Second Division of the Stockton & District League, and won the league title at the first attempt, playing at Mill Lane and the legendary slope – the top of the corner flag was level with the crossbar. Town stayed in the Stockton League until 1973, and won the Division A League title three times and the League Cup twice, while also winning the Stockton Charity Cup twice. In 1974, they were admitted into the Teesside League, and remained members for eight years. During this time, they won the league twice (1978-79 and 1981-82) and were runners-up once. In 1975, they were beaten finalists in the Durham Amateur Cup Final, but won the competition in 1976 and 1982. In 1982, the club took the golden opportunity of joining the newly-formed Second Division of the Northern League, and changed its name to Billingham Town. After three years in the Second Division, Town gained promotion into the First Division, but were immediately relegated back. However, they bounced straight back in 1987, and lost to neighbours Synthonia in the final of the Durham Challenge Cup a year later. Another relegation followed in 1991-92, but they regained their place in the top flight in 1997-98, and remained there until suffering relegation in 2014. After being runners-up in the Durham Challenge Cup in 1988-89 and 2001-02, Town eventually won the cup in season 2003-04, when manager Alan
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Robinson led them to a 3-1 victory over then UniBond side Bishop Auckland. Since 1981, ground improvements at the Bedford Terrace ground have resulted in new dressing rooms, a cantilever stand, hard terracing behind one goal, hard terracing and covered accommodation opposite the main stand. Floodlights were installed in the 1992-93 season, with the official switch-on match against Middlesbrough. After severe gales blew down one of the pylons, Town installed new floodlights in 2003. In the summer of 2007, Hartlepool United invested in Bedford Terrace and completely re-laid the football pitch to a depth of several feet and installed new drainage. The new pitch measurements are now exactly the same measurements of Pool’s Victoria Park. Hartlepool play the majority of their reserve games at Bedford Terrace. In 2009, things turned sour with Hartlepool and when they took away the goalposts prior to Town’s first game of the season. Town’s committee hurriedly obtained some temporary posts, and the game against Bishop Auckland took place.
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The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
Billingham Town club honours: League Cup winners: 2007-08 Northern League runners-up: 2006-07, 1996-97 Durham Amateur Cup: 1967-77, 1978-78 Teesside League champions: 1977-78, 1982-83 Durham Challenge Cup: 2003-04. Runners-up: 1988-89, 2001-02 North Riding Senior Cup runners-up: 1976-77, 1981-82 Stockton & District League champions: Three-times winners Since then the problem has been solved amicably. In 2006-07, Town had their most successful league season under the management of Michael Watson, Lee Tucker and current South Shields coach Mark Scott, and just missed out on the league title after Whitley Bay won their last game of the season to beat Town on goal difference. Town could not keep the momentum going in season 2007-08, and finished 10th in the league, but beat Shildon 2-1 in the League Cup in an exciting game at Seaham’s ground, before the management team and the majority of the players walked away from Bedford Terrace, leaving the club with a mammoth task for the following season, when they Bedford Terrace
finished sixth-bottom. Since then, there have been a number of managers, while Town have rebuilt their clubhouse. Since the formation of the club and as a result of an extremely successful youth policy, Town have produced a number of players that have progressed to the professional game. Anthony Barrett (York City and Hartlepool United), Gerry Forrest (Southampton), Mark Hines (Grimsby and Peterborough), Dave Robinson (Halifax Town) and Tony Hall (Middlesbrough) are among them. Most notable, of course, was Gary Pallister, who played for both Town’s junior and senior teams, before moving on to Middlesbrough, Manchester United and England, and then returning to Middlesbrough until his retirement with a back injury. Most recently is Town old boy Neal Bishop, who originally played for Conference side Scarborough before moving to York City and then Notts County. During the 2012-13 season, Town found themselves playing a Durham Challenge Cup game against Stockton Town with five fit players and two injured players. The seven players turned out and Town were beaten 14-0 on the day. Relegation followed in 2014, and a mid-table finish was last season’s result in Division Two, while they reached the final of the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup. Town have appointed Barry Oliver as the new manager for the coming season. With no budget to work with, he is scouring the lower for players Theleagues Mariner who want to play at a higher standard.
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Under-13s stepping up a level Formed in 2013 to coincide with the formation of the South Shields FC junior club, Santos were placed in the Russell Foster Under-11 9v9 Premier Division. The majority of the team had played together for a number of years throughout the 7v7 format of mini soccer, and with the addition of a few more players, it didn’t take long for them to gel. In their first season, they were successful in winning
the Premier Division, and were runners-up in the cup, while they won two summer tournaments. That season was capped off with prolific striker Joe Oliver earning a contract with Newcastle United. The 2014-15 season, at Under-12s 9v9, the players were challenged to develop even more not only as a team, but as individuals and to try to improve on the previous season. After being crowned Premier Division champions for a second consecutive year and going one better by winning the cup with a 5-0 victory over Premier Division runners-up Riverside Panthers, the coach-
ing team were left in no doubt that they had taken them up on their challenge and raised the bar. Coach Graeme Neary said: “It was not just the fact they won things, but in the manner of how they got things done, playing a fantastic brand of football.” Following their successes in the league, they then went on to become Northern Champions League winners in June 2015, seeing off teams from all over the north of England. A number of new faces have arrived ahead of the coming season as the team prepares for 11v11. Due to the decline in quality at Under-13s level due to teams folding, the bots have been entered in the year above, in the Under-14s First Division. Neary added: “That will no doubt provide a more physical challenge to what they have been used to, but we are in no doubt they’ll welcome it with open arms and face upto the challenges ahead. “The arrival of Cameron Brewis, Ben Mitchell, Ethan Nicholls, Harry Wrathmall and Morgan Mulgrew adds quality and strength, as well as more balance to the squad. “They join an already talented squad of Harvey Neary, Dan Charlton, Ryan Wardle, Ryan Phillips, Matty Morton, Josh Crews, Jay Herald, Kyle Errington, and Brad Main in the challenges ahead. “We play our home games at Mortimer Community College on Sunday mornings, we would like to TheandMariner invite anyone to come and show their support.”
The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
Youth team news
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Position:
Ryan Beal
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Daryll Hall
Phil Gray
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Adam Curry
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James Heptinstall
Position:
MID
Leepaul Scroggins
Wayne Buchanan
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Ben Riding
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Lewis Galpin
Marin
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Here a
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Gilberto Chapim @SouthShieldsFC
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Lee Maitland SouthShieldsFC
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Please call 07854 858423 Position:
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Aris Lokonga Guerin
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are the
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Warren The Mariner Byrne
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History focus on season 1938-39
A moment in time with Bob Wray, South Shields club historian
The reformed South Shields FC, in only its third year since joining the North Eastern League, was crowned champions in 1938-39, with a record which reflected great credit on the players, coaching staff and committee. The crowd support augured well, with a 4,700 attendance at the first pre-season friendly fixture. Club president Councillor Edmund Hill paid tribute in his address at the annual dinner held at the New Crown Hotel for Shields’ winning of five trophies in the two preceding
seasons. Of the season itself, late fixture congestion was such that the club played 10 games in the final 19 days in order to complete the programme, and achieved a quite remarkably tally of 19 points from the 20 at stake, which by any standards is a magnificent achievement. A close look at the team’s goalscoring record reveals that in the early part of 1939, 94 goals were scored in 20 games, an average of almost five a game, which are quite remarkable figures, by far and away the best tally in the league.
League table Pos
P W D L GD Pts
1 South Shields 2 Workington 3 North Shields 4 Sunderland Reserves 5 Middlesbrough Res. 6 Gateshead Res. 7 Ashington 8 Horden CW 9 Blyth Spartans 10 Darlington Res. 11 Consett 12 Spennymoor United 13 Hartlepools Utd Res. 14 Carlisle Utd Res. 15 West Stanley 16 Jarrow 17 Walker Celtic 18 Throckley Welfare 19 Hexham Town 20 Annfield Plain
38 28 4 6 91 60 38 26 5 7 62 57 38 25 7 6 49 57 38 23 5 10 66 51 38 21 5 12 52 47 38 21 5 12 38 47 38 20 6 12 30 46 38 16 11 11 26 43 38 15 9 14 -15 39 38 14 8 16 3 36 38 12 11 15 -29 35 38 12 7 19 -13 31 38 12 6 20 -15 30 38 12 4 22 -3 28 38 11 6 21 -29 28 38 11 5 22 -35 27 38 11 5 22 -47 27 38 10 7 21 -70 27 38 8 8 22 -77 24 38 7 6 25 -75 20
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This testifies to the efforts of the club’s committee, which had spared no effort to build a team capable of winning the league championship, and reflected much credit on secretary and ‘unofficial’ manager Joe Edmondson. Several former Football League players were signed, including Bill Tabram, Jack Middleton and Arnold Swift, and high-scoring wins were recorded against Jarrow (7-0), Middlesbrough Reserves (6-3), Annfield Plain (10-0), Consett (7-0) and Ouston United in the FA Cup (9-2), while eight were
THE SECRETARY Joe Edmondson From its reformation in 1936, the club did not employ the services of a team manager, a situation which remained the case until April 1939. In essence, this was quite the same as the majority of years the club spent in the Football League, when a secretary/manager filled the role. Joe Edmondson served several local football clubs for 40 years, and had chaired the public meeting held in the Congregational Church Hall, in Ocean Road, in 1936 which led to the re-establishment of the town football club. He was heavily involved earlier with South Shields Adelaide Football Club, and was the youngest secretary in the history of the North Eastern League upon his appointment aged 21. For many years, he was associated with the South Tyne Alliance Football League, while he was also the driving force behind the two famous Corinthians and Tyne Dock junior clubs. In his early days with the ‘Laides’, he arranged the first of what became numerous big transfers when he set Jack Peart on the road to a successful professional career and fame by transferring him to Sheffield United.
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The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
SOUTH SHIELDS Swift, Coulthard, Anderson, Don, Tabram (captain), Hopkinson, Smith, Middleton, Victory, Wyness, Heslop. This XI was the usual first-choice team selection.
scored against North Shields. Former England amateur international Ernie Hoffman, who
had been with the club in 1919, was appointed as manager in April 1939, while the club also
THE STAR All of them No one player is individually deserving of the accolade ‘star’ player of the season, and the award should rather go to several, whose combined efforts fully deserve due notice for their outstanding performances and displays. Five players, in particular, contributed much to the title win in 1939. Jack Victory was an unsung amateur centre forward and a prolific goalscorer who turned down the advances of many scouts who offered to take him into the professional game. Jack Middleton was a speedy and skilful forward, who played for Swansea Town, Darlington, Blackpool and Norwich City before joining South Shields in 1938, despite interest from Manchester City. David Smith, a Shieldsman by birth, signed for Newcastle United, but eventually joined his hometown club in 1938, and at his best was a match-winner who featured prominently in the team’s attack. Bill Tabram, an outstanding Welsh centre-half who played for Swansea Town, Port Vale and Hull City, joined South Shields in 1937, which was the hometown of his wife, and the team was built around him. He was a real crowd favourite, and despite interest from Liverpool and Southampton, he remained loyal to the club. Arnold Swift, a former Hartlepool and Crewe goalkeeper, moved to the club in 1937, and was a splendid and very brave stopper with unusual ability and great nerve, with clean hands and who cleared smartly.
won the Durham Challenge Cup and the reserves the Durham Benevolent Bowl.
THE MATCH Shields 6 Middlesbrough Reserves 3 In what was a most successful season, numerous high-scoring games were played, but none were more entertaining than the magnificent victory at Ayresome Park in front of a 14,000 crowd. The Shields Gazette described this performance from the club as ‘stupendous’, and our men in the red and green colours really did fully deserve warm congratulations that day, against what was always very strong opposition. The home side scored first after three minutes, but Shields responded with a fine individual effort by winger Heslop, while forward Jack Victory had one of his best games for the club. The mercurial Smith put Shields ahead, only for Boro to level, but the away side really did shine in the second half as they went up a gear and took the game to the opposition. In the end, they routed Boro with four more splendid goals, with the attack described as ‘crisp’ as they produced their best show of the season so far. More good games were to come as Shields came
The Mariner
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Second half goals not enough as Shields start with a defeat Despite an attempted second half fightback, South Shields’ season got off to a losing start after three first half goals cost them dearly against Northallerton Town. In front of a crowd of 417 at Mariners Park, Northallerton took the lead on 19 minutes when Kyle Swankie took advantage of some Shields indecision at the back to fire into an empty net from 25 yards. The visitors scored a second goal in three minutes in the 21st minute when a ball was played from the left to Gareth Young, whose touch was too heavy, and Andrew Ramsbottom took it off him before converting. Two became three on 32 minutes as Colin Anderson slid a ball to Andrew Ramsbottom on the inside-right of the box, and he beat his man before rolling it into the opposite bottom corner to leave Mariners Park stunned. Shields needed something to bring them back to life, and they appeared to get just that when captain Leepaul Scroggins dribbled into the box on the left and was brought down for a penalty. However, Scroggins then sent the spot-kick wide of the lefthand post, and just about everything that could be going wrong for the home side was. Aris Lokonga Guerin missed two more glorious opportunities deep into first half stoppage time as Northallerton maintained their three-goal advantage at half-time. Shields started the second half brightly, with Scroggins denied by the goalkeeper before the goal the Mariners needed to get a foothold in the game arrived two minutes before the hour mark. Wayne Phillips curled in a cross from the right, and Scott got enough on a header to beat the goalkeeper as he scored his first competitive goal for the club.
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Photo by Peter Talbot
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MATCH REPORT The Mariners 2 Northallerton Town 3
Phillips later shot just wide for the Mariners, but it was almost game over with nine minutes left when a header by Jason Newell struck the post before bouncing across the face of goal and narrowly missing. Shields got a second goal back three minutes into stoppage time, when the ball was slid to Foley just inside the box on the left, and he beat his man before firing a shot which was too hot to handle for the goalkeeper, who pushed it into the air before it bounced in. Time was running out for an equaliser, and Shields couldn’t find it as Northallerton held on for the three points. SOUTH SHIELDS: Young, Smith, Curry (Turner 62), Buchanan, Galpin, McMahon (Chapim 56), Foley, Scroggins (c), Guerin (Melvin 69), Scott, Phillips. Subs not used: Beal, Sakr. Goals: Scott (58), Foley (90+3). NORTHALLERTON TOWN: Richardson, Muir, Sowerby (Tunstall 53), Ryder (Newall 75), Wood (c), Owen, Andrew Ramsbottom, Knox, Anderson, Aaron Ramsbottom (McLachlan 61), Swankie. Subs not used: Calvert, Reaks. Goals: Swankie (19), Andrew Ramsbottom (21, 32). Attendance: 417.
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Guest Column - Martin Urwin
Youngsters a big part of club’s future by Martin Urwin, South Shields FC junior chairman
T
his is a great time for any young player to be involved with South Shields FC. The resurgence of the club over the past few months has created a huge buzz. Credit must go to vice-chairman Gary Crutwell and the committee, who have kept the club afloat over a couple of very difficult years. They certainly pulled out all the stops to ensure the town still had a club playing at a high standard, and now with Geoff Thompson and his team also at the helm, the future looks increasingly bright. A whole new chapter in the history of South Shields FC is about to be written, and the junior section of the club could not be more excited, as this is truly an opportunity for football-daft local children to not only come together and show their support for their home town team, but to also become a big part of its future while honing their skills within its own youth development system. There is a real sense of community within the club at present, with the scent of the town’s proud and innovative history hanging in the air around Mariners Park, as witnessed by a crowd of over 500 spectators as our younger sides led out the teams at the club’s recent homecoming against Darlington. The young Mariners went on to impress in a game at half-time, resulting in happy faces all-round and lots of talk by the youngsters on just how they would feature in the first team in the years to come! The club’s Under-12s and 13s recently enjoyed
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the same experience at the first league game of the season. No matter the age group they work with, each South Shields FC coach is tasked with the foremost responsibility of developing the person, along with the player and the team. I am proud to say this was particularly evident at these recent events.
No matter the age group they work with, each South Shields FC coach is tasked with the foremost responsibility of developing the person, along with the player and the team As chairman of the junior section of the club, it is rewarding to witness first-hand the dedication and commitment of our coaching team and their appetite to develop their own skills to provide the best possible sports education to the young people of the town. While you are enjoying the game today, imagine the streets and parks of the town filled with local kids wearing South Shields FC shirts, turning out for their hometown club in local leagues and eventually progressing to represent the club at senior level. The future has already taken root in the present!
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The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
Away games preview
Away The Lads This afternoon’s game against Billingham Town is the second of four consecutive matches at Mariners Park in Ebac Northern League Division Two. Darlington RA will visit South Tyneside on Saturday, with Heaton Stannington to follow three days later. However, it will not be long until the Mariners are hitting the road, and the first away trip of the season will be at Willington on August 22. Ironically, Shields’ first away match last term was also against Willington, who defeated Jon King’s side 2-1 on the opening day. Willington’s ground can be found. It is an approximate journey of 25 miles. The club greatly appreciates all support at home games, and would also be grateful for any travelling support over the weeks, months and years ahead. Willington, who are County Durham-based, play at Hall Lane, and finished last season 11th in the table. The post code of the ground is DL15 0QC, and kickoff in the game will be at 3pm. To find the ground, follow the A194 and A1 to Chester-le-Street, before taking the A167 until you reach Neville’s Cross Bank, in Durham. Then follow
the A690 until you get to Hall Lane Estate, where Shields will follow up the Willington trip with a journey to Alnwick Town’s St James’ Park on Tuesday, August 25. The 40-mile journey to face last season’s 16th-place finishers starts with a trip through the Tyne Tunnel on the A19. In North Tyneside, follow the A19 until you reach the A1, which you should follow until you get to Willowburn Avenue, in Alnwick. You should then take the A1068 exit and continue on Willowburn Avenue Drive to St James’ Estate, where you will find the ground (NE66 1BG). Kick-off is at 7.30pm.
Mariners’ cup bids set to begin soon The league campaign is far from the only competition which will keep the Mariners occupied this season. Draws have already been made for the opening rounds of the FA Vase, League Cup and Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup, with the Durham Challenge Cup to follow later. Shields were given a bye in the first qualifying stage of the FA Vase, but will host the winner of the tie between Brandon United and Washington in
the next round at Mariners Park on October 3. In the League Cup, Team Northumbria will visit Mariners Park in the first round, and a home tie against Chester-le-Street Town or Northallerton Town will be the prize for the victors. Meanwhile, in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup, with both clubs being given byes in the first round, a tasty-looking South Tyneside derby between Shields and Hebburn lies in wait in the second round.
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Hall impressed with goalkeepers David Hall is delighted with South Shields’ strength in the goalkeeping department – and believes the battle for the No.1 jersey will bring the best out of the club’s stoppers. First-team coach Hall, who is involved in both outfield and goalkeeper coaching with the Mariners, has been impressed with what he has seen over recent weeks. Gareth Young and Ryan Beal both impressed in pre-season, while Steven Hubery also launched a claim for a starting spot. The battle for a starting place looks certain to be a closely-fought one, and it will be interesting to see how that develops in the weeks and months ahead. Hall will be tasked with
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keeping the goalkeepers on their toes in training, and hopes his routines will bring out the best in them. He said: “I’ve done a lot of work with the goalkeepers, particularly in training. “When we warm up, I like to try and do it a bit differently. “I’ve watched a lot of videos, and some of the general routines are a little bit slow and laborious for my liking. “I try to make the warm-up a bit of a training session as well, so they have the agility, they are quick off the mark, the mind is focused and the eyesight is correct. “We’ve got good goalkeepers here, so on the goalkeeping front, it’s looking really strong, and I’m sure they’ll push each other all the way.”
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Date Opposition result
Saturday, 08 August 2015 Tuesday, 11 August 2015 Saturday, 15 August 2015 Tuesday, 18 August 2015 Saturday, 22 August 2015 Tuesday, 25 August 2015 Saturday, 29 August 2015 Monday, 31 August 2015 Saturday, 05 September 2015 Tuesday, 08 September 2015 Saturday, 12 September 2015 Tuesday, 15 September 2015 Saturday, 19 September 2015 Saturday, 26 September 2015 Saturday, 03 October 2015 Saturday, 10 October 2015 Saturday, 17 October 2015 Saturday, 24 October 2015 Saturday, 31 October 2015 Saturday, 07 November 2015 Saturday, 14 November 2015 Saturday, 21 November 2015 Saturday, 28 November 2015 Saturday, 05 December 2015 Saturday, 12 December 2015 Saturday, 19 December 2015 Saturday, 26 December 2015 Saturday, 02 January 2016 Saturday, 09 January 2016 Saturday, 16 January 2016 Saturday, 23 January 2016 Saturday, 30 January 2016 Saturday, 06 February 2016 Saturday, 13 February 2016 Saturday, 20 February 2016 Saturday, 27 February 2016 Saturday, 05 March 2016 Saturday, 12 March 2016 Saturday, 19 March 2016 Saturday, 26 March 2016 Saturday, 09 April 2016 Saturday, 23 April 2016 TBA
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KEY: Started game =
Phil Gray
Adam Curry
Wayne Buchanan
Lewis Galpin
Michael Turner
Daryll Hall
Ryan Beal
Ben Riding
The Ma Gareth Young
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Fixtures and results
Came on
Northallerton Town (H) 2-3 Billingham Town (H) Darlington RA (H) Heaton Stannington (H) Willington (A) Alnwick Town (A) Ryhope CW (H) Hebburn Town (A) Easington Colliery (H) Billingham Synthonia (H) Stokesley Sports Club (H) Whickham (A) Brandon United (A) Team Northumbria (H) Chester-Le-Street (A) Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (H) Esh Winning (A) Thornaby (H) Birtley Town (A) Easington Colliery (A) Tow Law Town (H) Darlington RA (A) Crook Town (H) Billingham Town (A) Heaton Stannington (A) Alnwick Town (H) Hebburn Town (H) Stokesley Sports Club (A) Northallerton Town (A) Willington (H) Ryhope CW (A) Billingham Synthonia (A) Whickham (H) Brandon United (H) Team Northumbria (A) Chester-Le-Street (H) Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (A) Esh Winning (H) Thornaby (A) Birtley Town (H) Tow Law Town (A) Crook Town (A) Team Northumbria (H) League Cup @SouthShieldsFC
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Warren Byrne
Aris Lokonga Guerin
Lee Scott
Joe Melvin
David Foley
Paul Kane
Jonny Wightman
Stephen Ramsey
Adam Sakr
Lee McMahon
Wayne Phillips
Kenny Ball
Alex Kempster
Lee Maitland
James Talbot
Gilberto Chapim
Players what means what) Unused sub (notes = on Goal = symbol the number of goals he scored is written inside the circle
Red card =
The Mariner - issue #6 - v Billingham Town
as sub =
Leepaul Scroggins
Barrie Smith
James Heptinstall
ariner
South Shields’ squad with JP Danjoux (centre of front row), of club main sponsor Site For Eyes BACK ROW (Left to right): Jon King (manager), David Hall (coach), Mark Scott (coach), Michael Turner, Joe Melvin, Wayne Buchanan, Aris Lokonga Guerin, Ryan Beal, Gareth Young, Paul Kane, Daryll Hall, Adam Curry, Stephen Ramsey, Andy Morris (physio), George McLaughlin (first aid/kit man), Gary Middleton (assistant manager). FRONT ROW (Left to right): Warren Byrne, Gilberto Chapim, Lee Scott, Barrie Smith, Leepaul Scroggins, JP Danjoux (main sponsor), Adam Sakr, Wayne Phillips, Lewis Galpin, Lee McMahon, David Foley.
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Northern League Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
D1
Team Dunston UTS Shildon Durham City Morpeth Town Whitley Bay Washington Consett Guisborough Town Newton Aycliffe Jarrow Roofing BCA Norton & Stockton Ancients Penrith Seaham Red Star Marske United North Shields Ashington Sunderland RCA West Allotment Celtic Bishop Auckland West Auckland Town Newcastle Benfield Bedlington Terriers
P 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
W 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
F 8 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 2 4 3 3 5 8
GD Pts 8 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 1 3 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 -1 0 -1 0 -2 0 -2 0 -3 0 -3 0 -3 0 -5 0 -8 0
D2 HOME
AWAY
Pos Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Pts
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1
0 5 4 0 3 2 0 0 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 6
1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
6 0 0 3 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 3 2 0 4 0 5 0
5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -3 -3 -4 -5
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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Ryhope CW Chester-Le-Street Team Northumbria Hebburn Town Tow Law Town Darlington RA Whickham Northallerton Town Crook Town Billingham Town Thornaby South Shields Heaton Stannington Birtley Town Willington Billingham Synthonia Alnwick Town Easington Colliery Brandon United Ryton & Crawcrook Albion Stokesley Sports Club Esh Winning
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SOUTH SHIELDS Gareth Young Ryan Beal Lewis Galpin Daryll Hall Michael Turner Wayne Buchanan James Heptinstall Ben Riding Adam Curry Phil Gray Barrie Smith Leepaul Scroggins Gilberto Chapim Lee Maitland Adam Sakr Kenny Ball Alex Kempster James Talbot Lee McMahon Wayne Phillips Jonny Wightman David Foley Aris Lokonga Guerin Lee Scott Paul Kane Stephen Ramsey Warren Byrne
V Steven Bagshaw Jake Barrass Ian Bishop Lee Butterworth Joel Callender Daniel Cartwright Callum Croker Aaron Doyle Liam Gallagher Craig Lines Lewis Murphy Bradlee Popple Shaun Scotter Scott Stephenson Harry Taylor Michael Toth
Joe Melvin Manager: Jon King
Manager: Barry Oliver
Referee: Gary Hargrave Assistants: M Hamilton and L Reynolds
BILLINGHAM TOWN KIT SPONSOR
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TODAY’S FIXTURES Alnwick Town Esh Winning Ryhope CW Stokesley Sports Club Tow Law Town Darlington RA Whickham Chester-le-Street Town