Tag: The Railwaymen

Seven up Shildon march on in FA Cup

Shildon ensured their progression in the FA Cup with a seven goal thrashing of local rivals Crook Town on Saturday.

A hat trick from man of the match Micky Rae (pictured scoring his first and Shildon’s second) was complemented by goals from Adam Rundle, Ben Wood, Mark Hudson and a late own goal to cap Crook’s miserable day but leave Shildon in seventh heaven.

Shildon will now travel south to take on Padiham of the Evo-Stick North, who were beaten 0-2 in their opening league match at home by Spennymoor Town on the same afternoon.

The Supporters Club is already taking names on a first come first served basis for the coach journey to cheer the lads on in the next round. Traditionally seats fill up very quickly, so get in touch by calling 07784 975451 as soon as possible to book your passage to Padiham on Saturday 30th August – just a fortnight away.

SHILDON: Finch, Harwood, Richardson (Emms), Hudson, Craddock, Atkin, Moore, Rundle, Rae, Wood (Garvie), Ruddy (Greulich-Smith). SUBS (not used): Brackstone, Hodgson, Taylor, Connor.

Photo: Tom Clegg

Shildon 1-3 Hamilton Academical

Two goals in the final nine minutes and two penalties were the difference between the sides as Shildon took on Scottish Premiership opposition at Dean Street. The Railwaymen took the lead through Paul Connor and almost held on to it until half time but a 45th minute penalty, converted by Jason Scotland, brought the visitors back into the game. Shildon received an intense lesson in defending in the second half and held out until late in the game, but two goals in the final nine minutes, including another penalty, gave the top flight Scottish side a deserved but hard fought victory.

Tom Clegg took the photos, available below and on flickr.

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Pay what you can to see Shildon v Hamilton Accies

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.

New home and away kit unveiled

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.

Tow Law 2-5 Shildon

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).

See photos from today’s match by Tom Clegg on Flickr.

New season’s fixtures released

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

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.

Three-year plan to be unveiled

The blueprint for the future of Durham Challenge Cup winners, Shildon Football Club will be presented in an open public meeting at Elm Road Club next weekend.

The meeting will take place at 10.30am on Saturday 10th May and a special invitation is extended to all Shildon supporters and to all of the club’s sponsors.

Shildon AFC Director, David Dent, whose company founded the Shildon AFC Development Centre, will outline the football club’s ambitions for the next three years.

Mr Dent will speak about where the club is now, the obstacles it must overcome to achieve continued success, the Board of Directors’ vision for the future, how it means to achieve that vision and what that means for the wider Shildon community.

Speaking about the presentation Mr Dent said: “This has been a tremendously successful season for the football club. We came third in the Northern League Division One behind two clubs that have invested heavily in recent years and of course we won the Durham FA Challenge Cup for the first time in 41 years in front of a crowd of over 1,000 spectators on Good Friday.

“We see this success as the first of many trophies we want to bring to the club, including the league title, which Shildon has not won since the 1930s.

“On Saturday 10th May, I will outline our vision for the future of the club and we want to reach out and engage with the entire Shildon community. Football is a sport like no other. It has the ability to bring entire communities closer together and we hope in the coming years to make Dean Street a place that all of Shildon will be proud to visit to support their local club.

“Shildon Football Club is not just the team that plays in the Northern League top flight; we now have sides at every age group from under six to under 18 together with a Reserve side.

“The community will play a vital part in the future development of the club and we look forward to seeing as many people as possible at Elm Road Club on Saturday 10th May. I am confident the public will be as excited as we are about the club’s future plans.”

The presentation will be immediately followed by the Shildon AFC Supporters Club’s next meeting. Anyone who wishes to remain behind is welcome to join proceedings, and to join the Supporters Club should they wish.

There will also be an opportunity at the meeting to sign up to a regular electronic newsletter from the football club.