Shildon AFC Appoint New Manager

Following the shock resignation of Ian Clark, Shildon AFC are pleased to reveal their interim management structure.  Former Player, Chris Hughes has accepted the position of First Team Manager for the rest of the season, when the position will be reviewed.  Chris will be supported by Alex White who will be Player Coach, whilst Chris and the Club actively look to reinforce the management team over the coming weeks.

Chris said “Thank you to the players, supporters and board members who have made me feel welcome since I returned to the club.  I am really looking forward to continuing the work that has been started with the players.  It is important we have some consistency for the club now so that we can get the results we need to move up the table.  In the short time I have been back at Shildon, it is clear to see there is a strong group of players who want to do well for the club.  It is important we use their togetherness and abilities to build on Tuesday night.  All of the focus is now on getting a positive result this weekend.”

David Dent, Chairman of Shildon AFC said “ This has been an unsettling 48 hours for everyone at the Club. I’m absolutely delighted therefore that Chris feels now is the time for him to step up into this position to take the Club forward.  I’ve known him for a number of years, founded the Clubs Development Centre with him, seen him progress from player, to coach and latterly to Assistant Manager and feel it’s time for him to have the opportunity to manage the Club.  He’s an A licence Coach, was highly thought of at Middlesbrough FC’s Academy, he has the respect of the players, but more importantly he has integrity and I trust him implicitly.  I know he believes in the Club’s development plan and is here for the right reasons.  Now is the time for stability, Chris will therefore get the backing of myself and the Board, and the resources at his disposal to establish ourselves within the NPL this season and hopefully he will continue in the role for many years to come.”

Shildon AFC Manager Leaves

Shildon AFC can confirm that their recently appointed Manager, Ian Clark has left the Club and returned to Marske United. Ian has informed the Club that on reflection he doesn’t want to take up the challenge of being a Manager and wishes to return to a coaching position at his former Club. As a Club we are obviously disappointed at Ian’s decision but we wish him all the best for the future.

The Club will release further statements on the Management situation in due course.

Railwaymen Appoint New Manager

Shildon AFC is delighted to announce the appointment of Ian Clark as First Team Manager.

Ian is a former professional footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Hartlepool United and Darlington.  He also played for Scarborough, Stockton, Harrogate Town, Gateshead, Spennymoor United, Norton & Stockton Ancients, Horden Colliery Welfare, Guisborough Town and Thornaby.

Most recently Ian was Assistant Manager at Marske United, helping them gain promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division in the 2021/22 Season.

Ian commented on his appointment:  “I am absolutely delighted to be asked to manage Shildon AFC.  This is a fantastic opportunity to first and foremost move Shildon away from the bottom of the league but then to try and create a structure and legacy for the club to move forward.  It was a hard decision to leave Marske as they have been a big part of my life for the last 7 years.  I can’t thank the club enough and I hold the staff there in the highest regard, leaving Carl (who is by far the best Manager and friend I have worked with and learnt so much from) was such a big decision, and if I am half as successful we will be on the right track.  I would like to thank all the players I have worked with past and present for their hard work and dedication as they were a huge part in the success we had.  However, it is a new chapter and one I can’t wait to get started. The ambition for the Shildon AFC is huge and I want everyone from the whole club to pull together and to play their part.  There is a good cohort of players who did very well last season and we need to get them playing back to that level, enjoying their football and ultimately winning games”.

We can also confirm that Chris Hughes will continue as Assistant Manager with Alex White continuing as Player/Coach.  Chay Liddle and Ben Trotter will of course continue to play important roles as senior players for the Club.

David Dent, Shildon AFC Chairman said, “Firstly, I would like to thank Alex, Chay, Chris and Ben for helping the Club over the past few weeks.  It’s massively appreciated.  I’m absolutely delighted to have secured the services of Ian who understands the potential of the Club and wants to play a part over the next few years in realising our ambitions .  From our first conversations I was impressed with his knowledge of players and the Northern Premier League, his coaching acumen, but more importantly his desire to win games of football.  His first target is to get us up the League and then we will jointly develop our plan to take the Club onto another level, both on and off the pitch”

Ian will be introduced to the players and staff before our game on Saturday and will officially take charge of the team on Sunday.

We would like to extend our thanks to Marske United FC for their help in this matter.

Welcome to Shildon AFC Ian.

We’re backing Play Safe


Shildon AFC is lending its full support to Play Safe – an ongoing national campaign led by The FA to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding in football.

Although it runs throughout the year, Play Safe really comes to the fore over football’s National Safeguarding Weekend, which this year is 1st & 2nd October 2022.  The main focus this year is on parents and carers, with two key messages to convey:

 – Awareness of the vital safeguarding role parents/carers play in football; and

 – Encouragement to take the short, new and free online safeguarding course that’s been created specifically for parents/carers. You can access the course here.

Importantly, encouragement to take the new course has come from FASSSAG – The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group:

“We have inputted into the course and helped frame its key messages from our collective experiences. It’s vitally important to us that every parent/carer understands they role they need to play in football. Taking this course can make a real difference – we are asking every parent/carer to commit to help ensure football is ever-safer.”

The support of FASSSAG has been welcomed by FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham, himself a parent and youth football coach. “The FASSSAG has been important in helping us create our new strategy moving forwards and we really appreciate their input into the new course.  I have taken the new course and encourage all parents/carers across football to take it too.

“Ultimately, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We all need to ensure that everyone involved in football – particularly children and young people – has a consistently safe and positive experience of our great game.  Play Safe reminds everyone of that responsibility and keeps safeguarding front of mind, which is exactly where it should be.”

Play Safe is being run in partnership with the NSPCC and has the full backing of the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship. It’s also supported and being run across every other level of the game.

Shildon AFC Management Team Departs

Following an indifferent start to the season, Shildon AFC regrettably have relieved the Management Team of Jamie Tunstall and Deano Browne from their duties at the Club.

Alex White and Chay Liddle have been installed as Interim Player Managers and they will be supported by former player and Middlesbrough FC Academy Coach, Chris Hughes. Club Captain Ben Trotter will also support in the interim.

The Club would like to place on record their thanks to Jamie and Deano for their professionalism and hard work since joining the Club in the Summer and we wish them every success in the future.