Tag: Shildon AFC

Supporters Club Meeting with David Dent

On Friday 21st February in the Blue Diamond Social Club, Shildon AFC Chairman David Dent, Director Alan Boddy & New Academy Director Darren Tait, will address fans on the current situation on and off the field as well as providing an insight into what will be required should the club gain automatic promotion from the Northern League.

Anyone interest in going along, whether a current supporters club member or just interested in learning about the future plans for the club are requested to arrive by 6:50 for a 7pm start.

The supporters club meeting will be held immediately after.

 

New Elite Football Academy

King James I Academy, Bishop Juniors FC and Shildon AFC have signed a partnership agreement which aims to  provide opportunities for young people, not only in education and football but also providing apprenticeship opportunities in the travel industry. Students will have the opportunity to pursue their academic and sporting interests through unrivalled academic pathways to a variety of Universities and into training and employment. 

Shildon AFC, who have aspirations for promotion to the Northern Premier League, will become official partners of Bishop Juniors. That, when combined with their own Development Centre, will see over 350 young people associated with the Club. The creation of a very real pathway from Bishop Juniors to the First Team is in place, with two of Bishop Juniors Under 17’s already making First Team debuts this season.

Shildon AFC’s official training facilities are now located at King James I Academy where they have access to strength and conditioning suites, classrooms, football pitches and the superb 3G pitch. 

The partnership agreement is a long term commitment and it will see the development and growth of a post-16 Football Academy where scholars can take advantage of day to day coaching from ex-Northern League players and coaches, strength and conditioning, video analysis and the opportunity to train with the First Team. The partnership will also see the formation of a Reserve side for Shildon and the development of facilities at both King James and at Dean Street.

David Dent, Chairman of Shildon AFC said, “This is a really exciting partnership which gives the Club access to a unique Junior set up whose emphasis is very much on player development delivered by UEFA B Coaches. It also allows us to put in place very real player pathways and we have already seen Bishop Juniors players join our First Team squad. King James I Academy provides us with not only a first class training base, but also a Football Academy that will provide talented young footballers with the opportunity to be part of the First Team and Reserve Teams that we are planning to create. It’s not just about football; our partnership with Hays Travel and our plans for a Travel Academy based at King James will provide young people with guaranteed interviews with Hays and the opportunity to develop their career with the fastest growing independent operator within the travel industry.“ 

Nick Grieveson, Head Teacher from King James I Academy said, “We welcome the opportunity to be able to work in partnership with Shildon AFC, Hays Travel and Bishop Juniors in order to provide our students with even more exciting, educational opportunities. We very much appreciate the support provided by two high profile clubs and by Hays Travel. Students now have the opportunity to develop their careers in football and travel and to pursue their ambitions from a young age. I am sure that our partnership will help to support the next generation of young people on their way to successful futures in two growing industries with organisations that epitomise the best of the North East.”

Darren Tait, Club Secretary and Football Development Officer for Bishop Juniors FC said, ‘’We have had a very close working relationship with King James I Academy for over four years now, and this has been extremely beneficial for both parties. The opportunity to further develop with this new partnership with Shildon AFC is really exciting for us all. After our first conversation I was very impressed with the Shildon Chairman and his ambition, but more importantly, the genuine plans he has in place at the Club. We are hoping that the planned formation of our adult team, which will serve as a Shildon Reserve Team, will also offer young players a realistic pathway into adult football.’’ 

NEW SIGNING | Joe Posthill

Midfielder Joe Posthill has agreed to transfer from Thornaby, subject to paperwork approval by the league.

Joe is an attacking player who is consistently up and down the field and a great player to have in any team, he started out at the Hartlepool United Academy and was also previously at Stockton Town. 

Daniel Moore said “Joe is a talented young man and he will bring something additional to the squad. As a club we have an ethos on providing a platform for young players to develop. I really hope Joe enjoys his time with us and I’m sure he will get the supporters excited.”

 

Chairman’s Christmas Message

This time last year I said the Club was in transition and that we were rebuilding on and off the pitch . Well what a difference a year makes! Whilst we are not getting carried away, and we know that no one ever gets promoted at Christmas,  we are certainly in the mix and that’s down to our Management Team of Dan, Mark and Matty, our players obviously, our sponsors  and also down to a lot of people who go unnoticed at the Club but without them I know we wouldn’t be in this position 
 
We’ve invested heavily into our First Team and we are prepared to strengthen the squad after Christmas but only if someone comes along who we believe can improve it. Some hard decisions have had to be made along the way but they were made in the best interests of the Club and team and I think we are now realising the benefits. What’s  really pleasing is still seeing young players like Brandon Mallaburn, Matty Bateman, Jack Naylor being part of the squad and getting game time. We forget that Jack Vaulks, Aidan Heywood, Dom Curl and Aaron Duell  are still only young but what careers they have in front of them and hopefully progressing through the Leagues with Shildon AFC. Ben Reay, came through Shildon Development Centre and has been selected for England Schoolboys which is a fantastic achievement and we look forward to playing our part in his future development as does David Trotter, Manager of Witton Park who Ben plays for on a Sunday. 
 
Our Manager, Dan Moore deserves a special mention. I was in agreement with him when he decided to retire this season allowing him to concentrate on developing as a Manager. On reflection I should have encouraged him to keep playing because he has been a revelation since he put back on his boots and it’s like signing the best Centre Half in the League who’s a leader on the pitch as well. He’s also found the time to do some more FA badges as well which will hold him and the team in good stead 
 
I’ve said previously that an Academy is important to the Club moving forward, you can see the introduction of young players into the First Team, our Development Centre is moving forward under Andrew Finch and I will have some exciting news for you in the New Year about a partnership we have signed up to which gives the First Team a training base but more importantly access to a post 16 Academy and a Junior set up with 200 players attached to it which when combined with our Development Centre gives us  over 350 kids associated with the Club. This I believe is the future of our Club moving forward 
 
The community remains massive to me as does our partnership with Livin who not only are Club sponsors but help give us greater reach into the community.
 
We’ve held two hugely successful Holiday courses which are free for the kids and we plan to continue to do this. We’ve also as a whole Club made a donation recently to Shildon Alive to their Food Bank and I would like to thank our supporters and Players who have all contributed to this. 
 
We are now partnering with Hays Travel and Livin in providing opportunities to go and gain a career in the Travel industry. Anyone who applies through the Club will be guaranteed an interview which is absolutely fantastic 
 
We want to take this Club onto to play at a level that it’s never played at in over 125 years. That will mean  investment in our facilities, our whole Club  structure and our playing squad. I will speak more about this at a later date other than to promote our 12th man appeal where supporters can give as much or as little as they want and I will ringfence the monies for our Manager to go and improve  our squad for this season and next season. Should anyone be interested in this please contact me directly. It’s really important and gives you the chance to directly help. It is after all your Club and I’m just running things for you 
 
Being Chairman of Shildon AFC is never dull, there are lots of challenges but I think we are getting there, lots of positives have come out of this year such as a memorable night at the Stadium of Light when we won the Durham Challenge Cup. I now want us to create some history and get this Club promoted. I hope we can achieve this in 2020! 
 
Have a lovely Christmas everyone and here’s to a successful New Year 

Shildon AFC working in partnership with @HaysTravel and @weare_livin Futures

Could you be the next apprentice of the year working for Hays Travel?

Come to the open night at Shildon AFC, Dean Street to find out how you can be guaranteed an interview.

The evening will be held on Thursday 28th November from 6:30pm in the Blue Diamond Social Club, Dean Street, Shildon..

Hays award-winning apprenticeships offer you the opportunity to earn a salary, gain valuable on-the-job experience and achieve a nationally recognised certificate.  

Their experienced learning and development coaches would be on hand to give you expert advice, one-to-one support and award-winning training throughout your apprenticeship.

Many of their team leaders and managers started their career as apprentices and there are many development opportunities at Hays Travel for you to progress in your career.

On the apprenticeships John Hays, Managing Director and Founder says “We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship programme and value the wealth of energy, diversity and innovation our apprentices bring into Hays Travel”.