Tag: Durham Challenge Cup

Durham Challenge Cup defence gets underway

by Archie MacKay

Shildon’s defence of the County Cup gets underway tonight as they visit Ashbrooke Belford House in the First Round of the tournament they won last season for the first time in over 40 years.

Two late Billy Greulich-Smith goals in the final against Spennymoor, the second in injury time, saw the Durham Challenge Cup hoisted by the Railwaymen for the first time in a generation.

If ever the old cliche of “their name was written on the cup” could be said to be true, it was surely Shildon’s name on this cup last season.

The side had to negotiate extra time in each of the first three rounds, surviving a penalty shoot-out at Norton in the first round in which Keith Finch had to save two penalties to keep Shildon in the tournament and avoid a humiliating early exit. His display was later rewarded with the Performance of the Season Award from the Supporters Club.

Further extra time wins against Seaham Red Star and Dunston were followed by a comfortable 3-1 home win against Consett in the semi-final to set up that now famous summer showdown against Spennymoor at Billingham Synthonia.

Tonight’s opponents play in the Wearside league at Silksworth Park in Sunderland. The club currently lies 10th in the Wearside League with 20 points from their 17 games played. They enter this tie on the back of two away wins in the league where they have scored seven and conceded two.

Admission to tonight’s match is just £3 adults and £1 concessions. Kick off is 7.30pm. Directions to the ground and a clickable map can be found here.

Durham Challenge Cup Draw

Shildon have been drawn away to Sunderland Ashbrooke Belford House of the Wearside league.

First Round to be played by Saturday 1st November 2014

Full Draw as follows
14 Sunderland RCA v Stockton Town
15 South Shields FC v Easington Colliery AFC
16 Jarrow Roofing BCA v Tow Law Town
17 Hartlepool FC (Wearside) v Sunderland Silksworth CW
18 Sunderland Ryhope CW v Consett AFC
19 Norton & Stockton Ancients v Wolviston FC
20 Durham City v Annfield Plain
21 Dunston UTS v Washington FC
22 Whickham FC v Bishop Aucland FC
22 Seaton Carew (WEAR) v Billingham Synthonia
23 Willington FC v Billingham Town
24 Hebburn Town v Seaham Red Star
25 West Auckland Town v Hartlepool United
26 Spennymoor Town v Darlington 1883
27 S’land Ashbrooke Belford House v Shildon AFC
28 Gateshead FC v Sunderland West End

 

Photograph by Tom Clegg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Player Presentation Night

Event: Shildon AFC Players’ Presentation Night

Venue: Elm Road Club, Shildon

Time: Doors open at 7.30pm

Entry Fee: £3

Live Music: The Last Fakers

After a memorable season, the time has arrived for Shildon’s footballers to be celebrated and rewarded for a third place league finish and for bringing the Durham Challenge Cup back to Dean Street for the first time in 41 years.

The Players’ Presentation Night will take place at Elm Road Club this Friday, 16th May from 7.30pm with awards given out for the Players’ Player of the Year, Directors’ Player of the Year, Club Top Goalscorer and Supporters’ Club Player of the Year.

Live music will be provided by successful and popular local band The Last Fakers, fresh from playing the world famous Cavern in Liverpool the previous evening.

A cover charge of just £3 will include the opportunity to have a photo taken with the team and with the Durham Challenge Cup, won in dramatic fashion on Good Friday with two late Billy Greulich-Smith goals against Spennymoor.

There will be opportunities to win prizes with football cards and a raffle, which will include a top prize of a Shildon shirt signed by all the team and the night will be rounded off with a video disco.

Supporters who sponsored the club’s players this season receive a special invitation to the presentation evening where they will be gifted with the players’ shirts.

Shildon are Champions!

The 41-year wait is over and Shildon AFC are once more Champions of Durham!

A stunning late comeback with two Billy Greulich-Smith goals snatched the Durham FA Challenge Cup from Spennymoor Town’s grasp at Central Avenue Stadium in Billingham this lunchtime.

Spennymoor took a 1-0 lead into the interval when Keith Graydon scored just before the break and it must have looked like their name was on the cup when Ben Wood’s goal just after the restart was ruled out for offside.

With 15 minutes remaining, Spennymoor could have wrapped the match up, but the woodwork prevented them doubling their lead.

It was a chink of hope for Shildon, and with just eight minutes remaining, the Railwaymen forced their way back into the game when Billy Greulich-Smith equalised.

And with extra time looming, up popped Billy again to turn the game on its head and give Shildon the lead with seconds remaining!

The three minutes of injury time were the longest in many a Shildon fan’s lifetime, but there was no way back for Spennymoor and when the referee blew the final whistle, Shildon were crowned champions of Durham!

The fans and players will undoubtedly celebrate well into the night and will be looking to ensure it is not another 41 years before the feat is repeated!

For now, congratulations to Gary, Stuart, Phil, Keith, Dean and Amy and all the lads for a magnificent effort and thank you to all the fans who turned out to support the side, as well as all the fans looking out for updates around the world on a day that will be written permanently into the history of Shildon Football Club.

And in case you all missed it first time around, here it is again: Shildon are the 2013-14 Durham Challenge Cup Champions!

After the game, Wilf Tray caught up with the winning goalscorer, Billy Grulich-Smith and manager Gary Forrest. This is what they had to say:

https://shildonafc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Billy-Gary.mp3

Shildon dares to dream!

When Shildon defeated their local rivals, Bishop Auckland to win the Durham Challenge Cup for the second time in 1925-26 (the first victory coming in 1907-08 as Shildon Athletic) little did they know that it would take another 41 seasons (the intervention of the Second Word War cancelling all competitive football for several years) before they would see their name etched on the cup again.

In the 1971-1972 season, the patient Shildon fans once more celebrated with their players as they proudly held the trophy aloft after overcoming Durham City.

Now another 41 seasons have passed and Shildon are once more in the final, this time against another local rival, Spennymoor Town. If history was written by numbers, then those numbers are surely aligning themselves for the Railwaymen.

The players have given their all this season, reaching heights that no one would have credited them with after a stuttering start to their league and cup campaigns. But if any group of players deserved some reward for their efforts this season, it is surely this group of Dean Street’s finest for many a year.

Gaffer, Gary Forrest, has taken the club from relegation candidates to league and cup challengers and now, on the eve of an historic day, the fans dare to dream!

A new chapter in the history of Shildon Football Club is ready to be written, and this group of players are ready to write it. We wish them every good fortune on the field of play tomorrow as they attempt to turn theirs and our dreams into reality.

The Durham Challenge Cup Final will kick off at 10.45am on Good Friday at Billingham Synthonia’s Central Avenue Stadium. Entry is just £5 and £2 concessions.

Dare to dream with the Railwaymen!

 

Gary Forrest interview

Last night Shildon played their last home match of a wonderfully successful season. To date the side are second in the league and halve the best away record of any side. After the match, Archie MacKay spoke to Gary Forrest about the game, the season and the forthcoming Durham Challenge Cup final on Friday:

https://audioboo.fm/boos/2077174-gary-forrest-interview

Shildon v Consett AFC: DCC SF

Tom Clegg’s photos from Shildon’s Durham Challenge Cup semi final victory over Consett AFC. The Railwaymen progressed to their first cup final in six years with a 3-1 victory over the Steelmen.

Consett took a first half lead but were pegged back by Ben Wood’s 35 yard equaliser. Two second half goals from Darren Richardson and Mark Hudson sealed the comeback win to set up a thrilling final against Spennymoor Town at Heritage Park on Good Friday at 10.45am.

[fsg_gallery id=”24″]

Mark Hudson interview: DCC Semi Final

Shildon captain, Mark Hudson reflects on the Railwaymen’s Durham Challenge Cup semi final win over Consett and looks to the league campaign ahead.

The semi final victory means Shildon will play in their first cup final since 2007-08 with local rivals, Spennymoor Town the opponents.

The final date remains to be officially confirmed, but is expected to be played on Good Friday, 18 April, at the Eppleton Colliery Football Ground, Hetton Le Hole, with an 11am kick off

Mark Hudson DCC Semi Final