Media/communications specialist with 11 years of experience in the sports industry | NQJ qualified journo | 2017
@JPIMediaLtd
Trainee Journalist of the Year
What a day, what a season and what a group of people we have on and off the pitch.
So proud of everyone concerned and privileged to be a small part of it.
Feeling very emotional after all the battles of the last five years and the elation of today. We got there!
It's going to be a proud, proud moment to see the name of
@SouthShieldsFC
in the first round draw and another indication of just how far this great club has come in such a short period of time.
Massive credit to the players, staff, fans, sponsors and everyone behind the scenes.
The Mariners have done it. Into the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1973. Set your clocks for the FA First Round draw.
#UTM
#EmiratesFACup
#SSFC
#SSFCvsFCHT
I’ve passed the
@SouthShieldsFC
media channels into some very talented hands for the next two months, starting tonight. I received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go travelling and am grateful for the club’s support on it.
Pinch yourself stuff this. Eight years on from Peterlee, playing a league game at the home of Scunthorpe United.
An incredible journey and a moment to be proud, however tonight's game goes ⚓
Thrilled and (pleasantly!) shocked we got our hands on this award today, it's brilliant recognition for our social media and everyone who contributes to it.
In reality it's all down to the followers for being so interactive so keep following, keep engaging, keep supporting!
Editing clips, scheduling social posts, sending match reports and preparing the next day's work at 11pm on a Saturday night, but wouldn't have it any other way.
Love being involved with
@SouthShieldsFC
and this big weekend is just beginning 🔋⚽️
Good win from the lads but it's all about
@Luk3daly7
tonight. A top lad who didn't deserve this incredibly bad luck. Everyone at the club will be with him every step of the way back and nothing will give us greater pleasure than the day he's tearing teams apart again.
Latest: FA chairman Greg Clarke told Premier League clubs today the governing body will not sanction 'no relegation' or voiding the season (as revealed in The Times last week). He also suggested the clubs plan what to do if the season cannot be completed.
Social engagement is through the roof on the
@SouthShieldsFC
channels this morning 🔥
Loving the positivity and release of emotion after so many near misses and frustrations over the last five years 👏
The next 10 days could be some of the most exciting in
@SouthShieldsFC
's history.
Fri: DCC final
Sat: Playoff final
Next Wed: Academy in national final
Next Thurs: Academy in national final
Next Sat: Super playoff final?
Five finals in just over a week would be quite something.
Felt down earlier thinking about what today might have been, football-wise.
But the sun's out and I still have my health, as do my family and friends, and that's the most important thing. We know there are far more important things than football right now (and always).
(1/2)
Looking forward to seeing
@Bazzasmith17
in a
@SouthShieldsFC
shirt for one last time on Saturday.
This end of season photo became a bit of a tradition over the years 😂 A club legend and a top person who thoroughly deserves his day on Saturday 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
#PackThePark
#SSFC
Almost 2am and just arrived home from last night's
@SouthShieldsFC
game.
This season is a big challenge and commitment for everyone at the club but I'm loving it!
What a way to win a game of that magnitude and what a feeling.
Been such a busy week - it's hard to describe just how much goes on in preparation for a game at Mariners Park!
Looking forward to relaxing for a few hours and then back to work tomorrow - love it ⚽️
6th Great North Run ✔
Previous PB: 2hr 17 min ❌
New PB (today!): 1hr 55 min 51 secs ✔
Wow, blown away by that! A massive massive thanks to
@ChrisMaywrite
for running alongside, pacing me and keeping me motivated throughout. Loved that.
That was for you, mam ❤
The end of a very productive shift at
@SouthShieldsFC
.
Lots of positive things happening and in the pipeline which we'll hopefully feel the benefits of for years to come.
Time to push on again!
#UTM
Brilliant crowd at Mariners Park today. A lot of hard work went in by a fair few people to attract that sort of crowd, it's safe to say it has been a busy week 😅
Shame about the result but keep the faith in the lads and they go again Wednesday 👊
It was a day (and week) full of stress, uncertainty and hard work, but thankfully it was a successful day on and off the pitch.
So proud of everyone associated with the club for the way the situation was dealt with. Sincerely hope we are back on Tuesday but let's wait and see.
We love football and we loved today. A tremendous match between two entertaining sides in front of two sets of magnificent supporters. This sport brings people together.
We don't know what the immediate future holds but we hope to see you all soon. Stay safe everyone ♥️
You meet a lot of people in football but you'll not meet too many better than
@carlfinnigan
.
Thanks for all of your help over the last three years and all the very best going forward! It's been a pleasure.
It's never as good as it seems, and it's never as bad as it seems either. Full faith in the
@SouthShieldsFC
lads, just 4 days after knocking a higher division side out of the FA Cup let's not forget. Onto Tuesday ⚽️
Well isn't this exciting? An exhilarating couple of weeks of build-up ahead I'm sure and then national exposure for this fantastic club on BBC One. Can't wait!
We are thrilled to confirm that our
#EmiratesFACup
first round tie against
@FGRFC_Official
has been selected for live coverage on BBC One 😍📺
The match will kick-off at 12pm on Saturday, November 5th.
Ticket details to follow as soon as possible.
#SSFC
#OurTownOurDestiny
I'm taking part in this year's Great North Run and will be raising funds for
@bloodwise_uk
in memory of my mam, who passed away three weeks after being diagnosed with leukaemia in December.
Any donations would be hugely appreciated ❤️
📰 A joint letter signed by more than 60 clubs across the country has today been sent to the
@FA
questioning the decision to void the season at steps three to six of non-league, and at various levels of the women's game.
Please read the letter here.
What a feeling. Last year's PB beaten by 12 minutes. The wall never came. Can't describe how good this event makes you feel. That was for you again, mam 🏃♂️❤
#GreatNorthRun
@bloodcancer_uk
Massively excited about the week ahead. Memories like this are a reminder of what a privilege it is for our club to be involved in games of huge importance like Tuesday's.
Whatever happens this week, we are on an incredible journey and have built a club to be proud of, together.
ON THIS DAY: In 2015, we played our final game at Eden Lane, Peterlee, as we beat Stokesley 3-1 to finish 15th in Northern League Division Two.
A week later, Geoff Thompson became chairman and returned the club home.
What an incredible journey the last seven years have been.
Probably the lowest day we've had in the last four years but even that statement shows how much we've achieved.
This season wasn't a failure - our first season at this level and we were ultimately undone by two very good, streetwise teams. Lessons learned, we'll be back 💪
The pitch is looking as beautiful as ever at Mariners Park for tonight's game. Could tonight be the night three in a row is confirmed?
Follow
@SouthShieldsFC
for all the latest - or better still, get yourself along if you can!
#PackThePark
Someone has just anonymously donated £100 to my JustGiving page in memory of my Mam, who would have turned 63 today.
Whoever it was, I hope you are reading this so you know how grateful we are!
We love and miss you every day, Mam ❤
Good luck to all those set to take to the field for
@SouthShieldsFC
tonight. A massive opportunity for some of our
@SSFCacademy
players and a richly deserved reward for the season they've had.
Go get us some more silverware, lads!
It's always easy to criticise officials but what a piece of refereeing this was to allow play to continue and not instinctively whistle after the foul on Connor Bell. Brilliant composure from Luke Daly too.
When football returns I don't think I'll have ever rooted for someone not playing for the team I support as much as I will
@MarcusRashford
.
Now we've built him up though, let's not knock him down at the first opportunity the second he steps a toenail out of line. Let's be better
Tomorrow is another huge day in SSFC's history and is sure to be an emotional one for so many involved with the club.
To see the stand go from the shell it was to now - wow!
The club's growth under the remarkable vision of
@GeoffTChairman
continues to astound me. Incredible!
How exciting is this? 😍
The final touches are being added to our new bar in the main stand ahead of its grand opening at 12pm tomorrow 🙌
Still a bit of work to do but we hope you're as excited as we are! Who will be first at the bar? 🙋♂️
#SSFC
#OurTownOurDestiny
Two days later, still just love this
@KevWilson19
picture. Captured the moment perfectly 👊 The job of a media officer is made so much easier by brilliant photographers like Kev and Peter 👏
Proud of how all at
@SouthShieldsFC
handled the occasion last night, on and off the pitch.
Games like that are a huge challenge logistically but I think we did as well as we could so people couldn't see the furious paddling going on underneath the surface!
Onwards and upwards.
Will always remember the monthly meetings at the Little Haven Hotel and the countless brick walls we hit before Geoff became involved, and then the joy we felt as the club was revived.
They were strange times but I'll always cherish the camaraderie and it remains in place today.
Let's celebrate the club's committee during the Peterlee years, without whom there simply wouldn't be an SSFC today.
Alongside great people like Darren Wright, Janet Davies, John Gray, Jon King, Stephen Ramsey, Colin Porter and before them Kevin Law, they kept our club alive. 👏
Well hello there,
@TheVanaramaNL
👋
A pulsating afternoon at 1st Cloud Arena as Aaron Martin and Jed Abbey shine with debut goals in a superb 3-1 win over Alfreton Town.
Here's our on the whistle report 👇
#SSFC
#AlwaysReady
A huge step forward and such a controlled performance in the circumstances. These players and staff stand on the brink of club history and deserve as much support as possible as they strive to get over the line. Non-League Day next Saturday...don't miss it!
Matchdays are sent to test us
@SouthShieldsFC
but we just about got through today unscathed! It might look smooth from the outside but you'll never know how much paddling takes place underneath to make it look that way 😂
Brilliant performance from the lads to top it off 👏
And I don't feel guilty for thinking about football because we all need that release, that something to look forward to and something to focus our minds on every once in a while during this time of tragedy.
Hope everyone is healthy and getting through this as best they can.
A pleasure to interview a bona fide
@SouthShieldsFC
legend today, Steve Harkus.
149 goals in 138 games between 1991 and 1995, wow!
The full interview will be in Saturday's programme so get yourself a copy if you're at the game!
Brilliant stuff from the
@SSFCacademy
lads, who kept their cool in a feisty game to earn the first bit of silverware since the academy was formed. Some brilliant play on a difficult pitch today.
There's a bright future ahead for these players if they stay on the same track 👏
Character in abundance from the young lads tonight and a great result to avenge last year's defeat. The future's bright!
Brilliant to see the uniformed SSFC style of football reaping benefits at all levels.
FULL-TIME: South Shields 3-1 Spennymoor Town.
The young Mariners deservedly progress in the
#FAYouthCup
after a spirited and hard-working display at Mariners Park.
📸 Peter Talbot.
Pleased with this one 🤝
@aztecprint
.
Geoff, Lee and the team have been an absolute pleasure to deal with yet again this season. Proud of the programmes we've been able to put together.
We also still have our club and so much to look forward to when this global crisis is over.
We'll have that 3pm anticipation again, we'll have that winning feeling again and we'll have that togetherness again. We will have glorious days of celebration at Mariners Park again.
BREAKING: The FA and Leagues at Steps 3 to 6 have reached a consensus that the 2019/20 season for Steps 3 to 6 will be ended with immediate effect and all results will be expunged.
We now have almost twice as many investors as the number we are allowed into the ground at the moment. This club man ❤
Can't wait for the day the place is bouncing again but can't overstate how big tomorrow could be.
Join our incredible journey by taking the opportunity to become a shareholder of the club! With almost 500 people already on board,
#AreYouIn
?
Sign up here:
Capital at Risk. Approved by
@Seedrs
.
Little bit of a football quiz on the way back from Stalybridge which has been eye-opening to say the least.
Jak doesn't have a clue which clubs play at Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford and George reckons Everton play at Anfield 🤨
Reckon
@DillonMorse17
has been overtaken 😂
Finally back in the house after an excellent day, ended in the traditional fashion with an Ocean Road curry with Messrs Crutwell and Lawson.
What a day - right up there with the very best I've experienced in over eight years at
@SouthShieldsFC
. Lads and fans were 🔥🔥🔥
What had appeared to be the slow death of "top" level football has torpedoed to its conclusion today. It's provoked many emotions in me but mainly sadness.
Thankfully my main focus switched to non-league and
@SouthShieldsFC
long ago. My love of football very much survives there.
Just been reliably informed
@DillonMorse17
has just been asked for ID when trying to buy Red Bull! So Dill, you might have to retire that joke you've recycled every week for the past six months about me being ID'd now 🙈😂
Loved yesterday. Top performance from the lads in tough conditions/circumstances, a corker of a goal to win it, brilliant travelling support and a fantastic atmosphere on the coach. Competitive football's back 👌
Onto Tuesday...
Spent the last couple of hours just scrolling, smiling and watching the goals which we frustratingly can't show yet.
Best get on with some work now so people have something to look at tomorrow 😅
It has been another busy morning for our
#ProjectEFL
ambassadors, who have been visiting children at Bede Burn Primary School, in Jarrow.
Such a brilliant group of children and they asked some fantastic questions!
We hope to see them all at Saturday's game against Warrington.
Brilliant to see the enthusiasm of all the children again today and the impact the club is having in the community.
We're looking forward to our visit to Stanhope Primary on Wednesday and the first literacy workshop at The Word!
#ProjectEFL
Our
#ProjectEFL
ambassadors have been at Sea View Primary School this morning to speak with Year 5 and Year 6 pupils and invite them to Saturday's game.
Once again, some fantastic questions were asked and it was great to see the enthusiasm in the room!
It would be impossible to meet a nicer person than Richard. Part of the furniture at SSFC and had time for absolutely everyone. He's going to be a huge miss around the place 😢
It is with huge sadness that we announce the passing of club vice-president Richard Bailey at the age of 86.
Richard was a massive part of our club and will be sorely missed by everyone at SSFC.
Rest in peace, Richard:
Delighted with how this year's kit launches have gone. Properly planned and executed, brilliant feedback and record sales.
A real team effort - onwards and upwards!
Just over halfway through our away kit launch day in the club shop!
We still have a range of prizes available on Mariners Roulette, including a free away shirt, matchday hospitality, 50% off club shop vouchers, Sunday lunch and more!
Visit us before 6pm.
📸
@KevWilson19
Great catch-up with
@DillonMorse17
this morning to discuss all things SSFC for Saturday's programme.
He talked about everything from the incredible feeling of scoring the winner on Saturday to his dream of being a pro footballer again...with Shields.
Get a copy on Saturday!