Tom Clegg’s photos of Shildon’s historic 2-1 triumph over Spennymoor Town in the Durham Challenge Cup Final on Good Friday, 18th April, are now available to enjoy on Flickr:
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Tag: Durham Challenge Cup
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:
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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:
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.
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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