Month: February 2015

Durham Challenge Cup 3rd Round Result

Shildon AFC are through to the semi final of the Durham Challenge Cup after a comfortable 5 – 0 away win at Hartlepool FC on Saturday 7th February 2015.

It was one way traffic from the kick off with the Railwaymen passing the ball around at leisure, taking the lead on 17 minutes when a Billy Greulich-Smith header was knocked onto the bar by keeper Callum Hudson, rebounding back out for Micky Rae to head home.

Shortly after it was 2 – 0 when a Micky Rae cross found Billy Greulich-Smith who headed in from close range.

It was constant Shildon pressure but Micky Rae, Billy Greulich-Smith and Ben Wood all failed to add to the score.

Half Time:  Hartlepool FC  0  Shildon AFC  2

It was all Shildon in the 2nd half and just after the hour Lee Chapman’s free kick gave keeper Hudson no chance.

On 72 minutes Ben Wood made it 4 – 0 firing into the bottom corner and then a brilliant strike from 25 yards by Jack Taylor made it 5 – 0.

Final Score:  Hartlepool FC  0  Shildon AFC  5

Goalscorers:  Rae 17, Greulich-Smith 19, Chapman 64, Wood 72, Taylor 79.

Subs:  Taylor for Scroggins 64, Doninger for Rae 68

After the match manager Gary Forrest said “This was a comfortable win”.

Team

1) Kyle Hayes
2) Jamie Harwood
3) Lee Chapman
4) Sam Hodgson
5) Liam Atkin
6) Daniel Moore
7) Chris Emms
8) Lee Scroggins
9) Michael Rae
10) Ben Wood
11) Billy Greulich-Smith

Subs

12) Paul Connor
14) Mark Doninger on for Rae
15) John Brackstone
16) Jack Taylor
17) Darren Craddock

Goals

Michael Rae
Ben Wood
Billy Greulich-Smith
Lee Chapman
Jack Taylor

Man-of-The-Match

Durham Challenge Cup Preview

Hartlepool_FC

 Venue

Hartlepool FC
Greyfields Enclosure
Jesmond Lane
Hartlepool
TS24 8QT

Match Day

7th February
Kick Off: 13:30

Admission Prices
Adult – £ 4.00
Concession – £ 2.00

Current League Position – 9th Wearside League
P 26  W 10  D 6  L 10  F 53  A 57  Pts 36

Last Match Played
31st January 2015 – Wearside League
Hordon CW 2 Hartlepool FC 3

How they got here
10th January 2015
Hartlepool 2 Billingham Synthonia 0

Facts

Founded: 1980’s
Nickname: N/A
Record Attendance: N/A
Home Colours: Blue white stripe shirts, blue socks and shorts
Away Colours: Red Shirts, Shorts and Socks
Website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hartlepoolfootballclub/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hpoolfc
Facebook: 

Hartlepool FC History taken from www.pitchero.com/clubs/hartlepoolfootballclub/

Our club was formed initially as the Fens Hotel in the 1980’s, playing in the Hartlepool Church League and was formed by present general manager Tony Thomas, known to all as ‘Tommo’. We then became Arriva FC and moved to the Mowbray Hotel playing on the Manor College pitch.

As Arriva the club won several local cups, and after finishing runners-up in the Durham Minor Trophy we went on to win it the following year With a 5-4 penalty shoot out win over Horden CC at Peterlee FC.

In 2002-3 season, then known as Teesside Arriva, the club moved into Division 2 of the Teesside League gaining promotion after losing the title on goal difference in the last game of the season after hitting the bar in injury time which would have won the title and winning the Washington Trophy, with a 3-1 win over Spennymoor B.D At Chester-le Street with 2 from Kevin Auton and a Glen Watson Volley a Burness Bowl win over Darlington S.R.M at Wolviston goals from Niel Hay and Dave Clark secured a 2-1 win and finishing as runners-up in the Darlington Charity Cup.

Neil Hay won the Golden Boot for being the second Divisions Leading Scorer.
he also scored the club’s first goal in the Teesside League against Billingham Wanderers

A name change to Hartlepool FC then took place in the close season and in 2003-4 the club won the Teesside league and the Durham Trophy with a 1-0 win over Shildon B.R at Norton Glen Watson scoring a last minute winner and also finished runners-up the following year.
The club’s first goal as Hartlepool FC was scored by Paul Hill to win the game 1-0 at Whitby Fishburn Park in the first game in division 1.

In 2006-7 Hartlepool FC gained entry into the Wearside League, and in 2007-8 topped the table in March but several injuries cost the chance of the title. The first Wearside League game was a 5 hour round trip to Cumbria to play Windscale and after leading 1-0 at the break we went down 2-1. Sean Kinnersley scored the first goal on 28 minutes.

The first hat trick was scored by Chris Archer v Windscale at home. The youngest player to play was Matty Thomas at 15 years and 167 days in September 2009. The youngest scorer was Andy Ross at 17 years and 320 days while Jon Gibson played 35 out of the 39 games losing out on a full season due to a ban.

In 2005-6 Shaun Ross became the first club player to be given a chance to play professional football when he was given a one-year contract by fomer Pool’s boss Mike Newell at Luton Town FC. Although Shaun never broke into the senior team he did play for the reserves, but returned to us the following year after Newell left the club.

On September 27 2006 the club drew Hartlepool United in the Durham Challenge Trophy at Billingham Town. Although we lost 4-1 we put in a good performance against a team made up of reserves and youth team players who later went on to win the Trophy.

In 2007 club president Tom Harvey was presented at Victoria Park with a gold medal and mementoes from the FA and Durham FA after 50 years service with both associations. Tom, vice president of Durham FA, is also a director. In 2010 Tom was made a life member of Durham FA in recognition of his many years of outstanding service.

In 2005-6 we entered a reserve team in Div 2 of the Teesside League managed by Ron Dowson and Gary Benvin the following season they moved as the senior team into div 1 when we gained entry into the Wearside League and were runners-up in the Lou Moore Trophy, but due to costs and travel we resigned at the end of that season.

In 2005-6 season the club was awarded the F A Charter Standard Club Award
and at the end of the season chairman John Ward was awarded the D.F.A Charter Standard Merit award for work with the Club ,Manor College and Manor residents association.

In season 2004-5 we entered a team in the Durham Lomax u18 league managed by Tony Thomas and Paul Muir. After a good season the club lost 3-2 after extra time in the cup final v Willington who won all the trophies that season. An indifferent season followed as the players were then over age – an attempt to keep going the next season failed due to players moving up and work commitments.

In season 2005-6 Dave Lobb introduced his u16 team playing in the Teesside Alliance and they finished a very respectable 3rd in the league. The following season they won the u18 league title, the Challenge cup with a 3-1 win over Norton & Stockton at Hurworth and the Hartlepool Sports Council team of the year as u17’s. In 2007-8 they crowned it all of by winning the Durham u18 trophy with a 5-0 win over Crest at Billingham and only lost the title on goal difference to Marton after conceding a goal in the 6th minute of added time after leading 2-1. Andy Ross was the leagues leading scorer in 2006-7 and Billy Gatenby was the leading scorer in 2007-8.

In 2007-8 we entered a team in the church league managed by Ron Dowson and Darren Rowbotham which included all of the u18 squad. They won the Arnold Swift Trophy with a 2-1 win over Hartlepool Fens were runners-up in the league, and reached the senior Durham Minor Cup semi-final out of 120 teams. In 2008-9 they finished third in the league and reached the last eight in the Minor cup, again out of 128 teams.

During the Season Billy Gatenby and Paul Gibson notched up 122 goals between them playing for the u/18 team and several games for the Reserves

In 2006-7 Carl Paylor brought in an u11 team competing in the Russell Foster League but due to small squad called it a day after just one season.

In 2006-7 Andy Nixon brought over his then u13 team and in season 2008-9 were runners-up in the challenge cup after a great run in the county cup. While nearly all the team as Manor College won the county schools cup. This cup, known as the Londonderry Cup, is the oldest school cup competition in Britain and Manor were only the third team from Hartlepool to win it, beating Lord Lawson School in the final at Billingham. Fifteen out of the seventeen player Manor squad in that final have played for, or are still playing for, Hartlepool FC.

This squad moved on to competing in the TJFA U18’s league and was run by Chris Jones and John Marsden for two very successful seasons seeing the squad win the Division Two title in 2010-1 and the Division One title in 2011-2.

On June 12th 2010 Hartlepool FC set up a Girls Soccer School at TDSOB club base. These are ninety minute sessions which now take place every Saturday morning at 10-30. Thanks go to Dave Newton, Andrew Nixon, Anthony Thomas and John Marsden for getting this off the ground. The sessions are now administered by Kerri French and Head Coach Liam Clark.

In the 2010-11 season Andrew Ross won the Wearside League most Man of the Match Awards during the season .

In the 2011/12 season the side finished 12th in the Wearside League, under the stewardship of first Tony Thomas and then Chris Lax from October onwards. The season was most memorable for a scheduled Durham Challenge Cup game against then Blue Square Premier side Darlington. Unfortunately the Quakers entered administration and were unable to fulfil their fixture, meaning Pool got a bye to the second round where they lost 2-0 to Northern League Esh Winning.

On Thursday, May 10, Chris Lax left the club with immediate effect as manager, and club chairman for 12 years John Ward also left the club, after a decade and a two years of excellent, committed service to he club.

In 2011-12 season Mick O’Callaghan and Amy Cowan started a Girls u/11 9 a side team in the Russell Foster Summer league at the start of the season as did
Jonny Murray who formed a boys u/8 Team in the T.J.A.F.L in the same season they won the Hartlepool United Tournament and were beaten finalists in the League cup they then moved on to Greatham FC.

Two weeks after the departure of Chris Lax, on May 25, Wilf Constantine was brought in as the club’s new manager, with a coaching staff of his son Jonathan, Paul Pringle and Brain Rowe for the 2012/13 Wearside League season.

Sadly, due to health problems, Constantine was forced to step down from his role as manager in mid-September, leaving the club in a very healthy position of 8th. In caretaker charge was Pringle who steered the side to two successive wins.

On September 26 2012, the club announced their new manager as Gary Benvin who had formerly played for the club and managed the club’s reserve side in 2005/06. After a poor run Benvin was replaced by Eddie Routledge and his assistant Don Naylor in March 2013. The clubs Under 21 side clinched the inaugural DFA/Russell Foster U21 league with one game to play and having lost only one game all season.

At the end off the 2013-14 season Jack Gibson became the team youngest scorer at the age of 16 and 62 days.

After the departure off manager Don Naylor on October 4th 2014 the management team from Seaton Carew came on board on November 1st Terry Hill,Chris Birkbeck , Paul and Julie Hackwell and former Chairman John Ward
and secured a Durham Challenge Cup win over Silksworth to set up a 2nd round game at home Northern League Div 1 team Billingham Synthonia.

The club would like to thank Don for all his work keeping the club going during a bad period his hard work paid off as the club survived a financial scare with the Help of Nirimax Waste Disposal Company at the end of 2012

Secretary Chris Murray also deserves great praise during this time.
At the start off 2014-15 season Kevin Faints Seaton Carew u/17 team came on board to play in the Russell Foster Sunday League.

While Paul Beddow’s Greatham u/18 team came on board as our reserve team and play in the Durham Alliance league.
Jake Larkin scoring the teams first goal at Shildon Reserves in a 2-2 draw.

A major sponsorship deal with JDR Cable Company in February 2014 as secured the future off the club thanks to all that made this possible.

On January 10th 2015 the club reached the 3rd round of the Durham Challenge Cup for the first time after a 2-0 home win over Northern League Div 1 team Billingham Synthonia with goals from Craig Hutchinson and Matty Kelsey meaning a home tie with high flying Shildon in the quarter final.

League Cup 3rd Round Preview

 

15: 00 Tonight’s game against Billingham Synthonia has been called off due to a frozen pitchsynners

Venue

Shildon FC
Dean Street
Shildon
DL4 1EZ

Match Day

4th February
Kick Off: 19:30

Admission Prices
Adult – £ 6.00
Concession – £ 4.00
Under 12’s free with paying adult

Current League Position –  19th ENL1
P 28  W 7  D 3  L 18  F 44  A 73  Pts 24

Last Match Played
24th January 2015 – ENL 1
Billingham Synthonia 5 Ashington 2

Previous Round
2nd Round) West Allotment Celtic 1 Billingham Synthonia 3 AET

Last time we met

9th August 2014
Shildon 4 Billingham Synthonia 0

Facts

Founded: 1923
Nickname: The Synners
Record Attendance: 4,200 v Bishop Auckland 6/9/1958
Joined Northern League: 1945-46
Home Colours: Green & White Quarter Shirt, White Shorts & Socks
Away Colours: 
Website: http://www.synners.co.uk/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Synthonia
Facebook: 

Histroy (From Synners.co.uk)

Billingham Synthonia FC History

 

An introduction to ‘The Synners’

Billingham Synthonia F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. Members of the Ebac Northern League & established in 1923-24, they first contested the South Bank & District League, before joining the Teesside League. After the Second World War, Synthonia rejoined the Teesside League for a last term before joining the Northern League in 1945-46.

The name ‘Synthonia’ comes from a contraction of an agricultural product manufactured by ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries); ‘Synthetic Ammonia’ (a fertiliser). ICI was a company which was the principal employer in Billingham for many years and encouraged its employees to partake in a number of different sports. The Synners were connected to ICI until the early 1990’s when ICI sold off its Billingham operations.

The clubs first ground was on the south side of Belasis Lane, part of ICI’s original sporting complex. They moved across the road to their new Belasis Lane ground for the start of the Northern League campaign in 1945. A notable first in football occurred on this ground in 1952, when Synthonia took on an RAF Team in the first floodlit game in Northern England and the first Amateur team to play under lights. Before a crowd of 3,000, Synthonia won 8-4. They left the Belasis Lane ground to make way for a new ICI office block in 1958, moving to Central Avenue with a 2,000 capacity Cantilever Stand (the longest in the Country at the time) and a running track around the perimeter, the stadium opened on September 6th by Lord Derby. The first game against Bishop Auckland ended 2-2 with an attendance of 4,200, the club’s highest. The stadium was also used for an international athletics meeting.

The most famous Synner is Brian Clough, who appeared for the club in 1952-53 before going on National Service. Others include Aidan Davison, capped 3 times by Northern Ireland, who played for Synthonia during 87-88. Bernie Slaven, ex-Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland striker, played for the club after his retirement from professional football, along with ex-Middlesbrough and Northern Ireland winger Terry Cochrane. Another ex- Middlesbrough and Eire player, Curtis Fleming, played for Synthonia in 2006-07.

The Post-War Years

Synthonia played their first Northern League match on the 25th August 1945 with a 5-4 win away at Shildon. Scorers that day were G Hawes with a hat-trick, A Rhodes & H Wilson (Wilson is the 10th all-time Synners top goal-scorer with 114 goals).

After coming third in their inaugural Northern League season & ‘Dusty’ Rhodes scoring a club record eight goals in a match at South Bank on Christmas Day 1945, Synners went on to become runner-up on three occasions; 49-50, 50-51, 51-52. In 50-51 Billingham didn’t concede a home league goal all season, keeper Harry Armstrong preserving the record in a 3-0 win over Bishop Auckland in the last game of the season. The record stands to this day.

A first trophy as Northern Leaguers came in 51-52, winning the Northern League Challenge Cup Captained by Irving Johnstone. A ‘Biffer’ Smith goal saw a 1-1 draw with Tow Law, in the replay Wally Buffham scored the only goal in a 1-0 win. Buffham went on to score 106 goals for the club. A first league title came in 56-57, Bill McQuarrie (5th in the all-time goal-scorers with 138 goals) being top scorer with 39 goals in all competitions. Billingham also boasted FA Cup runs which saw them face Football League sides in the 1st Round proper on four occasions before the 60’s; Crewe Alexandra in 48-49, Stockport County in 49-50, Scunthorpe in 51-52 and Carlisle United in 56-57, as well as Boston United 57-58.

The 1960’s and 70’s

Synthonia continued to make an impact in the FA Cup, reaching the 4th Qualifying Round on three occasions in 66-67, 72-73 and 78-79. Although being Durham FA affiliated, they competed and fared well in the North Riding Senior Cup for a number of years; winners in 66-67, 71-72 and 78-79 as well as being runners-up in 69-70, 70-71 and 72-73.

This period also saw the introduction of the holders of the club’s two main records; Tony Hetherington (64-79) is the club’s top goal-scorer with 243 goals including a club record of 51 goals in 71-72. Andy Harbron (77-96), made his debut in a 4-3 win at Shildon on November 19th 1977 and is the club’s top appearance maker with 648, scoring 76 goals. Also into the Synners fold came goalkeeper Eric Chamberlain (68-86) who amassed 454 appearances and John Alderson (73-86) who featured 434 times. Peter Cook (76-87) netted 156 goals, and is the 4th all-time Synners top goal-scorer.

The 1980’s and 90’s

After being runners-up in the Durham Challenge Cup in 81-82, the club enjoyed a purple patch with a host of League and Cup success, despite being relegated to Division 2 in 85-86. Promoted back to Division 1 at the first attempt in 86-87, the 2nd Division title was claimed losing just one league game. The following 87-88 season saw League Cup success over Shildon with a 2-1 win in the Final; goals from Richie Allen (2nd highest all-time goal-scorer with 195 goals) and Neil Granycome. FA Cup success also returned to the club as they reached the 1st Round for a 6th time and a ‘home’ tie against Halifax Town at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Ground. The Shaymen ran out 4-2 winners, but knew they’d been in a game. Synners’ scorers that day were Allen and Martin Hewitt. The early 80’s also saw the introduction of another 400+ appearance maker in David Parry (82-93, 417 appearances).

The 88-89 season saw the 1st Division title claimed for a second time with the firepower of striker Allen and Charlie Butler (3rd Synners all-time goal scorer with 183 goals); the start of a formidable partnership. A first Durham Challenge Cup success was also obtained with a 4-1 win over neighbours Billingham Town in the final, goals from Granycome, a Butler brace and David Shearer. A third Northern League title was secured in 89-90 and a third Northern League Cup was also claimed in a 5-2 win over Whitby Town in the Final. Further FA Cup progression also ensued with a 1st Round tie away at Lincoln City where Synners narrowly missed out with a 1-0 defeat at Sincil Bank.

This period also saw the emergence of three more 400+ Synthonia appearance makers with Barney Malone (1987-2008, 420 appearances), Glen Corkain (1989-2003, 443 appearances) & Sean O’Brien (1989-2002, 438 appearances) joining the Synners ranks.

More success in the Durham Challenge Cup followed in 90-91 with a 1-0 win over Eppleton CW at the Victoria Ground, Hartlepool; Tony Lynch the goal scorer. Synthonia were runner-up in the league again in 92-93. The following 93-94 season Andy Fletcher (6th Synners all-time goal scorer with 125 goals) debuted as Synners reached the Quarter-Final of the FA Trophy in a run which included wins over Conference sides Kettering Town & Macclesfield Town. Billingham exited after taking Woking to a replay with Butler scoring in the first tie away. The home game saw a 2-1 reverse, Allen the scorer. The 93-94 season also saw the introduction of Dave O’Gorman (1993-2004, 461 appearances).

Another Northern League runner-up came in 94-95. Tony Wood (9th Synners all-time goal scorer with 121 goals) debuted in the 95-96 season, the same season also saw the fourth of Synthonia’s Northern League title’s with a narrow 2 point gap ahead of Bedlington Terriers. A last game of the season 4-0 win over Dunston Federation gave Synners the points to be champions; goals coming from Paul Roberts, Mick Rowntree, O’Gorman and Fletcher. Two further runner-up spots in the league (96-97 & 97-98) came as the century came to a close.

The 2000’s to Present

Lee Flanagan made his debut in 2001-02 and went on to score 124 times for the club (7th all-time scorer). The early part of the new millennium saw Billingham runners-up twice in the Durham Cup (02-03 & 05-06), runners-up in the League Cup (02-03) and a runners-up spot in the Northern League (04-05). This period also saw the latest player to join the 400+ appearance club; Michael Cater (02-12) making 403 appearances. Also making his debut was James Magowan (04-14), coming in at 8th in the scorers charts with 122 goals.

The club’s best FA Vase run came in the 2006-07 season, reaching the semi-finals only to lose out 5-4 on penalties against AFC Totton. The away leg saw Synners gain a 2-1 advantage with goals from Shaun Hope and Colin Iley. The return leg Totton won 2-1, before a crowd of over 2,300 at Central Avenue; David Wells scoring Billingham’s goal. Wells is also a 100+ goal-scorer with 109 club goals.

More Durham Cup success followed; Synners winning the trophy in 08-09 with a 1-0 win over Northern Premier League side Durham City with a Magowan goal; the following 09-10 season retaining the trophy in a 2-0 win over Ryton, Danny Earl & Dan Newby the scorers.

Synners record win of 11-0 was recorded on November 8th, 2014 in a Durham Challenge Cup 1st Round game at Seaton Carew, scorers were Michael Sweet (4), Kris Hughes (2) Bryan Stewart (2), Nathan