Shildon took the lead in their pre-season Eric Powell Charity Cup match at Guisborough Town, but the home side proved too strong for the much-changed Shildon, who gave some of their young reserves the opportunity to taste first team football. Two unstoppable free kicks and another goal gave Guisborough a 3-1 win and the trophy. Tom Clegg’s photos are available here and online at Flickr.
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Tom Clegg’s photos from Shildon’s home friendly against Stranraer are now available to view here and at Flickr. Shildon lost to a late Stranraer goal but held their own for the majority of the game:
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Shildon have secured a late addition to their friendly schedule in the form of Scottish Premier League opposition.
Hamilton Academical FC will be the visitors to Dean Street next Saturday, 26th July in a special Community Friendly.
Instead of the usual entry fee, Shildon are opening the gates and asking the community to ‘pay what you can’ for this game.
A club spokesperson said: “If all you can afford is 50 pence, you will still be able to gain entry to this match against prestigious opposition. We would like as many people in the community as possible to come along to Dean Street and enjoy this match against a side playing at the very top level in Scotland. It is not often games like this come along and we would like as many people in the community as possible to have the opportunity to see this match.”
Hamilton Accies created a sensation in Scotland last season when they famously relegated Hibernian in an end of season playoff, consigning the Edinburgh club to the Scottish Championship alongside their city rivals Hearts.
Having lost the first leg of the match 0-2 at New Douglas Park, Hamilton travelled to Edinburgh and Easter Road with a monumental task ahead of them.
An early goal from Jason Scotland gave the visitors hope, but as the clock ran down, it looked like Hibs would survive. Then, in the last ten seconds of normal time, up popped Anthony Andreu to level the aggregate scores and take the match to extra time.
With no further score in the tie, the match went to penalties and it was Accies who prevailed, winning the shootout 4-3 to record one the most sensational results in modern Scottish football history.
Now Shildon will have the opportunity to play the Premier League new boys in what will be the sternest test of their pre-season schedule. Kick off at Dean Street is scheduled for 1pm and the club hopes that with a pay what you can entry fee, the community will turn out in numbers to support the Railwaymen.
Shildon will be sporting a new home and away kit over the next two seasons, modelled here by last season’s Player of the Year, Darren Craddock; club captain, Mark Hudson; goalkeeper, Lewis Graham; forward, Ben Wood, and new boy Adam Rundle.
New major sponsor Victus Solutions UK will sponsor the home kit for the first team, reserves and under 18s while Blue Diamond Machine Tools, owned by club chairman Brian Burn will sponsor the respective away kits.
Identity Consult will sponsor the kits for all of the Development Centre teams and all the club’s sides from the under 7s to the first team will wear the same Errea kit, supplied by Motif8.
The kit is now available for pre-order, with payments accepted in cash at the club shop or electronically via Paypal. Email clubshop@shildonafc.com for ordering and enquiries.
Shildon unveiled their new home kit against Stranraer on Friday night in their third pre-season friendly of the new campaign. It was also their first match of the new season back at Dean Street and although they fell to a single goal two minutes from time, the Railwaymen can be hugely satisfied at matching the Scottish League One side for almost the entire game.
Indeed, the better chances were created by Shildon before the visitors took the lead. Lewis Graham produced an excellent save, stopping a driven shot low to his left side in the early moments of the game before ‘Bobby’ Moore poleaxed a Stranraer defender with a rocket from 25 yards.
After an even first half, Paul Connor could have opened the scoring at the beginning of the second, holding off a number of defenders superbly before skewing his show narrowly wide of the far post from a tight angle.
It was a game of few real chances as both sides cancelled each other out in a competitive midfield battle with the deadlock not being broken until two minutes from time. A well worked move set the Stranraer manager’s brother, Chris Aitken away and he made no mistake, stroking the ball past the onrushing Lewis Graham from the edge of the box.
As Shildon pressed forward in search of a last gasp equaliser, it was instead Lewis Graham who produced another wonder save at the other end as the visitors broke away to prevent an even more unfair scoreline.
Stranraer manager, Stephen Aitken was very complimentary of the Railwaymen’s performance, acknowledging that the side had improved and strengthened since the two met each other during last pre-season.
And certainly the lads can take plenty of confidence from their performances so far in pre-season and will not have had that dented last night, even if a draw would have been a fairer result.
Shildon team: Graham, Richardson, Harwood, Atkin, Craddock, Hudson (Hodgson), Moore, Rundle, Wood, Ruddy, Connor (Garvie).
The close season officially ended today for the Railwaymen and their hosts, Tow Law Town, and for Shildon the new season began with a five star display at the Ironworks.
Shildon dominated possession and took a two goal first half lead before some lax defending allowed the Lawyers back into the game with two cheap replies.
But the Railwaymen got back on track and scored three more without reply to open their 2014-15 season with a thoroughly deserved 5-2 win.
Two of Shildon’s four close season signings made debut starts, with the returning Daniel ‘Bobby’ Moore in centre midfield and Adam Rundle on the left wing both performing well.
The Durham Challenge Cup winners were on the front foot from the kick off but it took until the 25th minute for Billy Greulich-Smith – the county cup goal hero – to open the scoring with a simple tap in after good work down the right side.
In the 40th minute the lead was doubled when Paul Connor, who looked dangerous throughout the first half, cut inside on the right before curling a left-footed shot past the keeper’s right hand and into the far corner of the net.
But what looked like a straightforward victory was complicated by slack defending either side of the first half.
Just before the break a simple through ball put Scott Thomson clear, and with the defence static, the midfielder has the simplest of tasks to lob the ball over the onrushing Lewis Graham in the Shildon goal.
And just after the break, confusion in the Shildon defence was followed by confusion over the outcome of Simon Ord’s cross-cum-chip, which fortuitously sailed over Lewis Graham and into the far corner of the net. At first it appeared to have been ruled out for a foul, but the referee then seemed to change his mind and award the equalising goal after all.
The goal came as Shildon’s second half substitutes were still finding their feet, but Shildon took the lead again after Sam Garvie had his taken from under him by Tow Law’s keeper. Mark Hudson stepped up to coolly slot home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way (pictured above).
It was then the turn of Michael Rae to score his first Shildon goal on his second half debut. Shildon’s forwards pressed the Tow Law defence into losing the ball before sending Rae through to slide the ball easily past the keeper for Shildon’s fourth.
Shildon were playing some scintillating passing football on this hot Saturday afternoon and had two goals ruled out for narrow offside decisions. Both deserved reward for the excellent build-up play that preceded them.
But there was time yet for the Railwaymen to add a fifth goal. Another excellent move down the right culminated in a 16 yard drive by Sam Hodgson which nestled in the corner of the net and saw Shildon off to a comfortable start to their pre-season.
Next up will be a sterner test at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday evening before the side’s first home friendly next Friday – a rematch from last season as Scottish League One side Stranraer visit Dean Street.
Shildon: Graham, Harwood, Richardson, Craddock, Brackstone, Moore, Ruddy, Hudson, Rundle, Greulich-Smith, Connor. Subs: Emms, Rae, Wood, Garvie Hodgson, Atkin (unused).
For the first time, Shildon Football Club will have a reserve side this season, playing in the Durham Alliance League and based at Sunnydale Leisure Centre.
The reserves will be joined in the league by reserve sides from Spennymoor Town and Bishop Auckland along with a minimum of 14 other sides. Playing last season as Durham Stonebridge, the side finished fourth in the league.
The side has announced a series of pre-season friendlies which will give Shildon fans the opportunity to go along and see the latest additions to the growing number of teams representing the club and the town this season.
The friendlies will be played at Sunnydale Leisure Centre with dates and kick off times as follows:
Sat July 5th: Shildon Reserves v Silksworth CWFC, 2pm
Wed July 9th: Shildon Reserves v Rutherford FC, 7pm
Sat Jul 19th: Shildon Reserves v Easington CWFC, 2pm
Wed July 23rd: Shildon Reserves v Ashbrooke Belford House, 7pm
Sat July 26th: Shildon Reserves v Sunderland West End, 2pm
Sat August 2nd: Shildon Reserves v Swallwell, 2pm
Entry to all reserves games – friendlies and league matches – is free.
Shildon Reserves’ league campaign will kick off on Saturday 9th August. Fixtures are not yet available. You can also follow the Reserves on twitter at their account @ShildonReserves where they will be tweeting all their news and live matchday scores.
Durham Challenge Cup winners, Shildon AFC have announced that admission fees for the 2014-15 season at Dean Street will be frozen at last year’s prices.
Season tickets, which are on sale now, will again cost just £90 for adults and £50 for concessions and juniors – that’s less than £4.50 per game for adults and less than £2.50 per game for concessions.
Full admission prices for league matches will be £6 and £4 with under 12s gaining free entry when accompanied by a paying adult.
Cup matches are not included in the season ticket and full admission prices for FA Cup and FA Vase games will be £7 adults and £5 concessions. Domestic cup matches will be priced at the same as league matches. The same offer also applies to under 12s.
To purchase your season ticket, contact Jeff Ridley on 07909 992731. Alternatively, contact Club Secretary, Gareth Howe on 07976 822 453 or by email at gareth.howe3@btopenworld.com.
Shildon’s Northern League Division One fixtures for the 2014-15 have been published. The Railwaymen will open their campaign with a home match against Billingham Synthonia, evoking memories of last season’s Durham Challenge Cup triumph at the Synners’ home ground.
The Cup winners will visit newcomers Jarrow Roofing on August 23rd while Second Division Champions, North Shields will visit Dean Street on 10th September. The visit of the third newcomers, West Allotment Celtic will have to wait until 25th October.
Expected title challengers and local rivals, West Auckland Town will host Shildon on 4th October, while the first game against last season’s runners up Celtic Nation will take place at Dean Street on November 8th.
Meanwhile, the first two rounds of the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup have also been drawn and Shildon will entertain Second Division Whickham at Dean Street in the First Round.
The winners of the tie will then face a trip to the winners of the first round tie between Tow Law Town and Brandon United.
Dates of the ties are yet to be arranged.
The full League fixtures list is reproduced below:
Sat Aug 9th 2014 Billingham Synthonia H
Tue Aug 12th Dunston UTS A
Wed Aug 20th Morpeth Town H
Sat Aug 23rd Jarrow Roofing BCA A
Mon Aug 25th Crook Town H
Sat Aug 30th Bedlington Terriers A
Wed Sep 3rd Guisborough Town A
Sat Sep 6th Newcastle Benfield H
Wed Sep 10th North Shields H
Sat Sep 13th Marske United A
Tue Sep 16th Ashington A
Sat Sep 27th Sunderland RCA H
Sat Oct 4th West Auckland Town A
Sat Oct 11th Consett H
Sat Oct 18th Bishop Auckland A
Sat Oct 25th West Allotment Celtic H
Sat Nov 1st Penrith A
Sat Nov 8th Celtic Nation H
Sat Nov 15th Whitley Bay A
Sat Nov 22nd Newton Aycliffe H
Sat Nov 29th Durham City A
Sat Dec 6th Dunston UTS H
Sat Dec 13th Morpeth Town A
Sat Dec 20th Guisborough Town H
Sat Dec 27th Crook Town A
Sat Jan 3rd 2015 Bedlington Terriers H
Sat Jan 10th Billingham Synthonia A
Sat Jan 17th Jarrow Roofing BCA H
Sat Jan 24th North Shields A
Sat Jan 31st Ashington H
Sat Feb 7th Newcastle Benfield A
Sat Feb 14th Marske United H
Sat Feb 21st Sunderland RCA A
Sat Feb 28th West Auckland Town H
Sat Mar 7th Consett A
Sat Mar 14th Bishop Auckland H
Sat Mar 21st West Allotment Celtic A
Sat Mar 28th Penrith H
Sat Apr 4th Celtic Nation A
Sat Apr 11th Whitley Bay H
Sat Apr 18th Newton Aycliffe A
Sat Apr 25th Durham City H