Category: News

Shildon 1-3 Hamilton Academical

Two goals in the final nine minutes and two penalties were the difference between the sides as Shildon took on Scottish Premiership opposition at Dean Street. The Railwaymen took the lead through Paul Connor and almost held on to it until half time but a 45th minute penalty, converted by Jason Scotland, brought the visitors back into the game. Shildon received an intense lesson in defending in the second half and held out until late in the game, but two goals in the final nine minutes, including another penalty, gave the top flight Scottish side a deserved but hard fought victory.

Tom Clegg took the photos, available below and on flickr.

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Pay what you can to see Shildon v Hamilton Accies

Shildon have secured a late addition to their friendly schedule in the form of Scottish Premier League opposition. 

Hamilton Academical FC will be the visitors to Dean Street next Saturday, 26th July in a special Community Friendly.

Instead of the usual entry fee, Shildon are opening the gates and asking the community to ‘pay what you can’ for this game.

A club spokesperson said: “If all you can afford is 50 pence, you will still be able to gain entry to this match against prestigious opposition. We would like as many people in the community as possible to come along to Dean Street and enjoy this match against a side playing at the very top level in Scotland. It is not often games like this come along and we would like as many people in the community as possible to have the opportunity to see this match.”

Hamilton Accies created a sensation in Scotland last season when they famously relegated Hibernian in an end of season playoff, consigning the Edinburgh club to the Scottish Championship alongside their city rivals Hearts.

Having lost the first leg of the match 0-2 at New Douglas Park, Hamilton travelled to Edinburgh and Easter Road with a monumental task ahead of them.

An early goal from Jason Scotland gave the visitors hope, but as the clock ran down, it looked like Hibs would survive. Then, in the last ten seconds of normal time, up popped Anthony Andreu to level the aggregate scores and take the match to extra time. 

With no further score in the tie, the match went to penalties and it was Accies who prevailed, winning the shootout 4-3 to record one the most sensational results in modern Scottish football history.

Now Shildon will have the opportunity to play the Premier League new boys in what will be the sternest test of their pre-season schedule. Kick off at Dean Street is scheduled for 1pm and the club hopes that with a pay what you can entry fee, the community will turn out in numbers to support the Railwaymen.

New home and away kit unveiled

Shildon will be sporting a new home and away kit over the next two seasons, modelled here by last season’s Player of the Year, Darren Craddock; club captain, Mark Hudson; goalkeeper, Lewis Graham; forward, Ben Wood, and new boy Adam Rundle.

New major sponsor Victus Solutions UK will sponsor the home kit for the first team, reserves and under 18s while Blue Diamond Machine Tools, owned by club chairman Brian Burn will sponsor the respective away kits.

Identity Consult will sponsor the kits for all of the Development Centre teams and all the club’s sides from the under 7s to the first team will wear the same Errea kit, supplied by Motif8.

The kit is now available for pre-order, with payments accepted in cash at the club shop or electronically via Paypal. Email clubshop@shildonafc.com for ordering and enquiries.

Shildon 0-1 Stranraer

Shildon unveiled their new home kit against Stranraer on Friday night in their third pre-season friendly of the new campaign.  It was also their first match of the new season back at Dean Street and although they fell to a single goal two minutes from time, the Railwaymen can be hugely satisfied at matching the Scottish League One side for almost the entire game.

Indeed, the better chances were created by Shildon before the visitors took the lead. Lewis Graham produced an excellent save, stopping a driven shot low to his left side in the early moments of the game before ‘Bobby’ Moore poleaxed a Stranraer defender with a rocket from 25 yards.

After an even first half, Paul Connor could have opened the scoring at the beginning of the second, holding off a number of defenders superbly before skewing his show narrowly wide of the far post from a tight angle.

It was a game of few real chances as both sides cancelled each other out in a competitive midfield battle with the deadlock not being broken until two minutes from time. A well worked move set the Stranraer manager’s brother, Chris Aitken away and he made no mistake, stroking the ball past the onrushing Lewis Graham from the edge of the box.

As Shildon pressed forward in search of a last gasp equaliser, it was instead Lewis Graham who produced another wonder save at the other end as the visitors broke away to prevent an even more unfair scoreline.

Stranraer manager, Stephen Aitken was very complimentary of the Railwaymen’s performance, acknowledging that the side had improved and strengthened since the two met each other during last pre-season.

And certainly the lads can take plenty of confidence from their performances so far in pre-season and will not have had that dented last night, even if a draw would have been a fairer result.

Shildon team: Graham, Richardson, Harwood, Atkin, Craddock, Hudson (Hodgson), Moore, Rundle, Wood, Ruddy, Connor (Garvie).

Railwaymen trek from Britain’s highest pub

You have to be either crazy or a Shildon fan to be setting off from Britain’s highest pub at 10am on a Sunday morning to walk 8 miles across country to Bowes.

In this case our intrepid adventurers are indeed Shildon fans: Norman Smith (also a club director), Wilf Tray, Amanda Scaife and Tom Clegg all set off this morning on a reconnaissance mission to check out the way to Bowes in preparation for their real trek – a sponsored walk in the August Bank Holiday from Tan Hill Inn – Great Britain’s highest pub – all the way back to Dean Street; just a small matter of 28 miles!

The four will make the walk to raise funds for the football club and for each of their chosen charities. (Today’s walk was a freebie!)

Two more will be joining the walk in August and we will bring you information about them in a later update.

Look out too for more details of the sponsored walk and how you can sponsor the walkers in the local press and here on our website in the coming days and weeks.

As for today, we can report that the adventurers made it safely to Bowes and are now all back home enjoying a well earned Sunday dinner!

Tow Law 2-5 Shildon

The close season officially ended today for the Railwaymen and their hosts, Tow Law Town, and for Shildon the new season began with a five star display at the Ironworks. 

Shildon dominated possession and took a two goal first half lead before some lax defending allowed the Lawyers back into the game with two cheap replies.

But the Railwaymen got back on track and scored three more without reply to open their 2014-15 season with a thoroughly deserved 5-2 win.

Two of Shildon’s four close season signings made debut starts, with the returning Daniel ‘Bobby’ Moore in centre midfield and Adam Rundle on the left wing both performing well.

The Durham Challenge Cup winners were on the front foot from the kick off but it took until the 25th minute for Billy Greulich-Smith – the county cup goal hero – to open the scoring with a simple tap in after good work down the right side.

In the 40th minute the lead was doubled when Paul Connor, who looked dangerous throughout the first half, cut inside on the right before curling a left-footed shot past the keeper’s right hand and into the far corner of the net.

But what looked like a straightforward victory was complicated by slack defending either side of the first half.

Just before the break a simple through ball put Scott Thomson clear, and with the defence static, the midfielder has the simplest of tasks to lob the ball over the onrushing Lewis Graham in the Shildon goal.

And just after the break, confusion in the Shildon defence was followed by confusion over the outcome of Simon Ord’s cross-cum-chip, which fortuitously sailed over Lewis Graham and into the far corner of the net. At first it appeared to have been ruled out for a foul, but the referee then seemed to change his mind and award the equalising goal after all.

The goal came as Shildon’s second half substitutes were still finding their feet, but Shildon took the lead again after Sam Garvie had his taken from under him by Tow Law’s keeper. Mark Hudson stepped up to coolly slot home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way (pictured above).

It was then the turn of Michael Rae to score his first Shildon goal on his second half debut. Shildon’s forwards pressed the Tow Law defence into losing the ball before sending Rae through to slide the ball easily past the keeper for Shildon’s fourth.

Shildon were playing some scintillating passing football on this hot Saturday afternoon and had two goals ruled out for narrow offside decisions. Both deserved reward for the excellent build-up play that preceded them.

But there was time yet for the Railwaymen to add a fifth goal. Another excellent move down the right culminated in a 16 yard drive by Sam Hodgson which nestled in the corner of the net and saw Shildon off to a comfortable start to their pre-season.

Next up will be a sterner test at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday evening before the side’s first home friendly next Friday – a rematch from last season as Scottish League One side Stranraer visit Dean Street.

Shildon: Graham, Harwood, Richardson, Craddock, Brackstone, Moore, Ruddy, Hudson, Rundle, Greulich-Smith, Connor. Subs: Emms, Rae, Wood, Garvie Hodgson, Atkin (unused).

See photos from today’s match by Tom Clegg on Flickr.

Friendly entry fees announced

Shildon have announced that entry fees for friendly matches will be £4 adults and £2 concessions. Under 12s are free with a paying adult.

Shildon’s three home friendlies begin with the visit of Scottish League One side, Stranraer FC on Friday 18th July.

Next up at Dean Street will be another Scottish side the following Friday, this time Scottish Juniors club, Tayport FC on Friday 25th July.

The third and final home friendly will take place the following Wednesday evening, 30th July, when the Railwaymen will host Heaton Stannington.

All home friendlies will kick off at 7.30pm.

See details of all Shildon’s pre-season friendlies here.

An Evening With Gary Forrest and Mark Hudson

Where: Shildon AFC Social Club
When: Saturday 19th July
What time: 7.30pm

Local Northern League football expert, Pete Sixsmith will be the host when Shildon AFC manager, Gary Forrest and club captain, Mark Hudson, make themselves available for a night of football conversation with a question and answer session about the forthcoming Northern League season.

The event gives Shildon fans old and new the opportunity to quiz the gaffer and captain about the club’s plans for the coming season and to hear stories from their time in football.

Mark Hudson has played at every level of the game, starting his career in the English Premiership with Middlesbrough. Last season he held aloft the Durham Challenge Cup – Shildon’s first major silverware for a decade and the first time the County Cup has been back at Dean Street for 41 years.

The trophy, which will be on display on the night, is the first in Gary Forrest’s reign as manager, and the club expects to go from strength to strength now that the hurdle of the first silverware has been overcome.

Gary will be talking about the new players coming into the side and revealing his ambitions for the season and how they coincide with the recent three-year plan published by the club.

A spokesperson said, “There are a limited number of tickets for the event, which are selling quickly, so be sure to book yours as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Tickets are just £12 and include complimentary pie, peas and a pint.

“With his deep knowledge of the Northern League and football in general, we are delighted that Pete Sixsmith will be hosting this event and we’re sure he’ll mange to get Gary and Mark to reveal some interesting stories from their time in the game.”

The event takes place at Dean Street clubhouse on Saturday, 19th July from 7.30pm; the day after Shildon play Scottish League One side, Stranraer FC in a home pre-season friendly. Tickets can be booked by calling 07538 789464.

Reserves announce friendlies

For the first time, Shildon Football Club will have a reserve side this season, playing in the Durham Alliance League and based at Sunnydale Leisure Centre.

The reserves will be joined in the league by reserve sides from Spennymoor Town and Bishop Auckland along with a minimum of 14 other sides. Playing last season as Durham Stonebridge, the side finished fourth in the league.

The side has announced a series of pre-season friendlies which will give Shildon fans the opportunity to go along and see the latest additions to the growing number of teams representing the club and the town this season.

The friendlies will be played at Sunnydale Leisure Centre with dates and kick off times as follows:

Sat July 5th: Shildon Reserves v  Silksworth CWFC, 2pm
Wed July 9th: Shildon Reserves v  Rutherford FC, 7pm
Sat Jul 19th: Shildon Reserves v  Easington CWFC, 2pm
Wed July 23rd: Shildon Reserves v  Ashbrooke Belford House, 7pm
Sat July 26th: Shildon Reserves v  Sunderland West End, 2pm
Sat August 2nd: Shildon Reserves v  Swallwell, 2pm

Entry to all reserves games – friendlies and league matches – is free.

Shildon Reserves’ league campaign will kick off on Saturday 9th August. Fixtures are not yet available. You can also follow the Reserves on twitter at their account @ShildonReserves where they will be tweeting all their news and live matchday scores.