Category: News

MATCH PREVIEW: Shildon AFC vs Thornaby FC

Full steam ahead for the Railway men

Shildon welcome Thornaby FC to Dean Street this Saturday to raise the curtain on the new league season.

The home side head into the weekend’s meeting on the back of a mixed pre-season period, but will be hoping that come kick off, the drive for promotion can get off to the perfect start and catalyst what many are hoping will be a memorable campaign. 

Club Sporting Director Martin Gray believes one crucial factor in the potential success of the coming season are the clubs summer dealings.

“The recruitment process for us has been very strong to not only bring great quality in as players but great experience that is vastly needed in this division.”

“The likes of Chay Liddle and Danny Craggs, they’re two players both with experience of winning this league.”

Shildon’s league campaign may not have reached the heights they were hoping for last season, but victory in the Durham Challenge Cup Final at the Stadium of Light in May certainly gave cause for celebration heading into this year’s campaign.

A celebration that Chairman David Dent expects to propel the side forward this time round.

“we can’t waste the opportunity that lies ahead and winning the Challenge Cup needs to be used as a catalyst for kicking on.”

“It is an opportunity that I believe we can grasp.”

While Martin Gray feels it’s time for the work on the pitch to start reflecting the efforts and expectation made off it.

“it’s a fresh start, there’s expectation just like any club but what the chairman has put in financially as well as the group of people he’s brought together to help support financially, we understand what is expected from us and that is to be challenging come end of the season for promotion.

Local physio great fit for Shildon AFC

Shildon AFC are delighted to welcome a local physiotherapist to the team this season.

Adam Summerbell aged 19, from Shildon, is a gym instructor and owner of Admire Fitness in Crook. He has qualified in personal training and sports massage and is currently studying sports therapy and rehabilitation at Teesside University.

The appointment will see Mr Summerbell able to offer the correct support for injuries, rehabilitation and muscle imbalances to improve their performance.  

Mr Summerbell said: “this is an amazing opportunity to be able to help Shildon AFC reach their full potential, I will be working hard to improve their performance from a physio point of view, with the aim of impacting on games, and increasing their chances of promotion”

He went on to say:” By the Autumn I am happy to announce that I will be running a clinic from Dean Street, Shildon which will offer the community a physiotherapy service for sporting injuries and niggles.

David Dent, chairman of Shildon AFC said:” Adam is a great fit for Shildon AFC and the community.  Not only are we offering his professional level of physio support to our players but we are opening this up to the wider community of Shildon.  I am personally looking forward to what Adam can bring to the team from his already growing knowledge base”

Follow @Official_SAFC on Twitter for information and news or visit Shildon afc.com.

Player Sponsorship now available

Every fan has their favourite player and, ultimately, the players are what the fans come to see. With the management team, they bear the burden of responsibility for bringing success to the club.

Here at Shildon, the players are the embodiment of the team spirit that runs through the club and the relationship between the players and fans here is very special.

Last season the team performed magnificently on the park culminating in winning the Durham Challenge Cup at the Stadium of Light. To associate your name with a member of the Shildon Football Club squad is to associate yourself with hard work, fair play, high performance and team spirit.

We offer the following opportunities to sponsor your favourite member of the squad:

Home or Away Shirt £ 30 
Invitation to the end of season party.
A photograph taken of you and your chosen player.
Your name listed against the player profile in both the matchday programme and on the official website.

Management team £ 30 
Invitation to the end of season party.
A photograph taken of you and the management team.
Your name listed against the management profile in both the matchday programme and on the official website.

 

SHILDON AT HOME IN FA CUP AND FA VASE

By Archie MacKay from Shildon & District Town Crier

Shildon Football Club have been drawn at home in both their opening FA Cup competitions this season.

In the FA Cup, the Railwaymen will face an old foe in Garforth Town AFC, who they met previously at the same Extra Preliminary Round stage of the competition in the 2013/14 season.

On that occasion, away from home, Shildon comfortably progressed to the next stage, winning 4-1 with goals from Ben Wood, Sam Hodgson, Jamie Harwood and Darren Richardson.

If they progress on this occasion, they will host another familiar name in Colne FC, who they last met in 2014/15 in the FA Vase, also away from home and also progressed, winning that tie 3-2 after extra time having come from behind twice in the game. A Ben Wood double and a Paul Connor goal sealed the win in a hugely entertaining game.

Meanwhile, the Railwaymen will face near neighbours, Tow Law Town in the FA Vase with the winners drawn away to the victors in the match between Easington and Holker.

The last competitive game between the Railwaymen and the Lawyers took place in the 2014/15 League Cup when Shildon ran out 0-4 winners. Manager Daniel Moore was the man of the match that day, scoring twice with Ben Wood and Adam Rundle also on the scoresheet.

The FA Cup tie between Shildon and Garforth, kicking off at 3pm, will take place at Dean Street on Saturday 10th August with the winners receiving prize money of £2,250.

The FA Vase First Qualifying Round tie against Tow Law, also at 3pm at Dean Street, will take place on Saturday 31st August. The winners receive prize money of £550.

Open training session at Dean Street

With the cancellation of the Blackpool v Spennymoor friendly, the Shildon players will be having an open training session held at Dean Street on Saturday from 1pm.

Why not come along and watch the coaching staff put the players through their paces before our game this Tuesday at home to Spennymoor.

There will also be opportunities to meet, ask questions and have your photo taken with the players and management.

Season tickets will be on sale as well as the ability to renew your Supporters Club membership. The supporters club will also be taking names for the bus travelling to watch the pre-season match at Carlton on the 20th July.

Everyone who comes along will also get a free pie with their first drink.

Three sign long term deals

Three of our current squad have now committed there futures to Shildon by signing new long term deals.

Midfielder & Captain Ben Trotter (26), Full Back Aidan Heywood (21) and Centre Half Dominic Curl (19) have all signed new contracts.

Our Full squad for the 2019/20 Season to date is

Ben Trotter
Matty Robson
Daniel Craggs
Kurt Matthews
Shaun Newbrook
Nathan Steel
Aaron Duell
Ben Reay
David Palmer
Dom Curl
Dale Mulligan
Billy Greulich-Smith
Bryan Wood
Zak Atkinson
Dane Eltringham
Chay Liddle
Aidan Heywood
Jack Vaulks
Jordan Lavery

New Signing |Kurt Matthews

The 4th signing of the season is Kurt Matthews

Kurt who can play on either wing or as a central striker has spent the last 2 seasons at Newton Aycliffe. As a schoolboy he also played at Leeds United

Speaking to the website Daniel Moore said of the signing ” Kurt is an ambitious young player that will grow and develop with us and is keen to make an impact at the club. His pace and athleticism in wide and central areas gives us a great option going forward “

On both of today’s signings he said ” I’m delighted to get Chay and Kurt on board and look forward to working with them. I think we have assembled a group now that should be challenging  for promotion so it’s down to the staff and the players to deliver that. “

Welcome to the club.

Chay Liddle signs for the Railwaymen

Chay Liddle has agreed to sign for Shildon AFC from Marske United.

The defensive midfielder becomes the third pre-season signing,

Chay signed for Marske United from Billingham Synthonia in the summer of 2017, is an intelligent defensive midfielder who reads the game well. He played a key part in their title-winning campaign of 2017/18.

His previous clubs also include Spennymoor Town & Guisborough Town.

Shildon Manager Daniel Moore said “Chay seems to have been around forever but at 27 he still has the best years ahead of him. He is professional in his approach and he understands what it takes to win trophies and promotion. He will add very good qualities down the spine of the team.”

Welcome to the club Chay.