Sport North East ISSUE 01 | Page 32

North Shields FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/SPORTNEMAG North Shields FOOTBALL CLUB North Shields FC has been a regular fixture near the top of the Northern League in recent years and attract some superb crowds to their matches. Sport North East Magazine recently caught up with Club Representative Edward Painter to find out more about the club. Atmosphere He told us, “I feel that the general mood around the club is positive, especially after reaching yet another Northumberland Senior Cup Final. People are once again seeing that North Shields are one of the biggest clubs at this level and that if we can maintain this level, only the sky is the limit.” This Season “I think it has been a good year overall for the club, especially after seeing a number of changes amongst the playing staff. After our manager Marc Nash brought in a good number of young players, we at the time of writing this find ourselves in fourth place in a league which has gotten stronger and stronger as time has gone on. I think that shows how good a job that Marc and his team have been doing!” 2019 “Our aim is to win the league, as simple as that! I’m sure that I am 32 Issue 01 echoing the thoughts of a number of clubs in this league but I know that North Shields always aim to be up at the right end of the table. We have shown this season that we have the beginnings of something special going on at North Shields, so next season will be all about winning the league.” Youth “Youth development is very important indeed. Whilst we do not have a current youth setup at the club, we have brilliant links with New Hartley Juniors who represented us in the FA Youth Cup this season, getting as far as the First Round proper before losing to Football League Club Bury FC. Marc also works with Tyne Met College as an academy head coach, with a number of their youngsters having featured for the side this season, such as Cam Cunningham and Josh Skivington. The work that we do with younger players enables the club to have a very bright future.” Integration “What Marc has done regarding the younger players has been to ensure that they are playing some sort of regular football, whether that be with Tyne Met College or with the First Team. We have even struck up partnerships with clubs like Alnwick Town and Heaton Stannington where a number of our players have flourished. We also organise a number of mid- season friendlies where some of the younger fringe players are given the opportunity to play men’s football and develop their own game as an individual and as a team player. We now have Jack Cooper, Cam Cunningham and Josh Skivington regularly playing their part in the first team and long may that continue.” Community “We do see ourselves as a community club although we also recognise that more can be done. Our committee has seen a number of changes recently, with new members being brought on board