South Shields F.C.
| File:South Shields FC.JPG | |||
| Full name | South Shields Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Mariners | ||
| Founded | 1974 (current incarnation) | ||
| Ground | Mariners Park, South Shields | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Chairman | Geoff Thompson | ||
| Manager | Jon King | ||
| League | Northern League Division Two | ||
| 2014–15 | Northern League Division Two, 15th | ||
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South Shields F.C. is a football club based in South Shields from 1974. It is the third club of that name. The club plays in Northern League Division One at Mariners Park, formerly known as Filtrona Park.
History
The club was formed in the same year as the previous club failed, after a second move to Gateshead by the previous club, and the sale of Simonside Hall, given to the club by supporters. The re-formed club under chairman Martin Ford was based at the council's Jack Clark Park, and began a 17-year crusade for a home of its own.
After two title winning seasons in the Northern Alliance, and an appearance in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase, Shields joined the Wearside League. Ultimately, chairman John Rundle and his family provided the long wished-for new ground at Filtrona Park, which was re-developed and first used by the club in 1992.
In 1994–95 the club won the Wearside League for the second time in three years, and were promoted to Northern League Division Two. It was promoted again to Northern League Division One the following season, but relegated back to Division Two in 1999–2000. Chairman John Rundle publicly threatened to fold the club if they went down, though he did not follow the threat through.
After several seasons in Division Two, John Rundle again threatened the club with closure in 2006, locking the gates at Filtrona Park before a home game. However, a new committee was formed, headed by chairman Gary Crutwell, and the club was saved. The club's performance then improved, and a fourth-place finish in 2007 was followed by promotion in 2008 back into Division One. In 2010, the club won the Northern League Cup, beating Ashington 6–5 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.
In the 2012-13 season, South Shields F.C. was relegated from Northern League Division One before being forced to move to Eden Lane, in Peterlee, after its lease on Filtrona Park expired.
The club spent the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons in Division Two of the Northern League, where they played again in 2015-16.
However, they are back at Filtrona Park - now renamed Mariners Park - after being taken over by new chairman Geoff Thompson. Among their current players are the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca, and ex-Hartlepool United forward David Foley.
Arca and Foley formed part of a Shields team which went on to win the 2015-16 Northern League Division Two title, in doing so securing promotion to Division One.
Honours
- Northern Football League Division Two[1]
- Champions 2015-16
- Runners-up 1995–96, 2007–08
- Wearside League
- Champions 1976–77, 1992–93, 1994–95
Records
- FA Vase
- Quarter-finals 1975–76
Stadium
The club played at Filtrona Park, in Shaftesbury Avenue, between 1992 and 2013. For the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons, South Shields played at Eden Lane, Peterlee after being evicted from Filtrona Park. In May 2015, the club secured a return to Filtrona Park - which was renamed Mariners Park - after new chairman Geoff Thompson bought the facility. On October 10th 2015, the ground had its biggest attendance for over 20 years by gathering a crowd of 1,045 for the Mariners' game against Ryton and Crawcrook Albion FC. The home side were victorious 4-0. Incredibly, two weeks later that figure was beaten again as a crowd of 1,115 packed into Mariners Park to watch Shields defeat Thornaby 4-3. On 14th November 2015, a new record crowd of 1,412 packed into Mariners Park to witness a 9-1 drubbing of Tow Law, the biggest victory of the 2015/16 season to date.
References
- ^ South Shields at the Football Club History Database