Date: Tuesday 9th April 2019
Venue: St James’ Park, Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4ST
Kick Off: 7.30pm
Competition: Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
The Highwaymen make their second appearance in as many seasons at St James’ Park on Tuesday evening when they face North Shields in the final of the Techlow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup.
History
North Shields Athletic was originally formed in 1896, and played initially in the South Shields & District league. They progressed through the Northern Combination, Northern Alliance and North Eastern League and became a major force in North East Football, outside the Football League, moving to play at Hawkeys Lane around 1900. At least two players, Alan Grenyer and Harry Chambers went on to play for the full England team after starting their careers with North Shields Athletic.
Preston Colliery F.C. emerged after the Great War becoming North Shields A.F.C. in 1928, and the club won many honours over the years. They enjoyed tremendous local support with a record 12,800 watching the local derby with South Shields in 1936. Shields won the North Eastern League title and numerous cups but their moment of crowning glory came in 1969.
After joining the Northern league they won the F.A. Amateur cup by beating Sutton United in front of 47,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium. Shields were a goal down after only four minutes but won with second half strikes from Richie Hall and Brian Joicey – both laid on by Orrick, a shipyard worker from Byker.
The Club, which also won the Northern League Championship and Challenge Cup that same year, were declared joint holders of the European Amateur Cup the following season when the two teams against Italian side Almas resulted in a level aggregate score.
In 1982 “The Robins” won 1-0 at Halifax Town in the F.A. Cup 1st Round, Bede McCaffrey scoring the all important goal that year. Walsall were the visitors to Appleby Park in the next round and left with a 3-0 victory.
Having moved into the national pyramid by joining the Northern Counties East League, North Shields earned promotion to the Nothern Premier League by winning the title, but financial problems resulted in the club losing the Appleby Park Ground and then reforming to play in the VAUX Wearside League.
Since then “The Robins” have enjoyed considerable success, winning the treble of League, Shipowners Cup and Northumberland Senior Bowl in 1998/99. In 2000/01 they finished runners-up to Nissan but won the Monkwearmouth Cup and the Senior Bowl for the second time. They won the Wearside league by eight points in 2002 and the Monkwearmouth Cup again in 2003.
“The Robins” finally gained promotion back into the Northern League in 2004 and were promoted to Division 1 in 2014 under the guidance of Graham Fenton.
Route to the Final
Morpeth travelled to Heaton Stannington in the Quarter Finals and were made to work hard before triumphing 3-2. Jack Foalle opened the scoring the Highwaymen before Joe Kerridge struck for the hosts. Stuart Mott and Iulian Petrache put the visitors back in control before Connor Campbell scored a stoppage time penalty for the Stan.
In the semi-final, the Highwaymen hosted Newcastle United U23’s and in one of their most dominant displays of the season, Town comfortably beat the youngsters 2-0. Liam Henderson headed the hosts in front 2 minutes into the second half and that lead was doubled on the hour mark with Joe Walton converting from the spot following a foul on David Carson.
North Shields were at Benfield in the Quarter Finals and won through 5-3 on penalties. Jake Orrell had put Benfield in front but Paul Robinson scored with almost the last kick of the game to force extra time and then penalties. Gareth Bainbridge netted the winning penalty.
The semi-final saw North Shields travel to West Allotment and it was the Robins who booked their place in the final. Gary Day scored the only goal of the game on 30 minutes as he bundled the ball home following good play by Jordan Summerly.
Last Match
Morpeth bounced to back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over a workmanlike Stamford A.F.C. side. Ben Sayer curled home the only goal of the game on 72 minutes to preserve Town’s ten point lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Northern League East Division.
The Robins ended their season on Saturday with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Newton Aycliffe. Jermaine Metz grabbed the only goal of the game to condemn the Robins and give Aycliffe all three points. The result means that Shields finish the season in 9th position.
