The Sandancers, First their was Phil Brown then Joe McElderry and now Danny Simpson!!

This story has inspired me to start a LLM game :)
 
Christsmas Tidings brings Joy, Happiness and a little Lump of Coal

Season greetings Mariners fans and another month has passed us by.

This month included the FA Cup game against Aston Villa, and the game was a record breaking affair:

View attachment 67503

Although we lost it was a great game for the fans we could have folded after conceding 3 goals early on, but we managed to pull together in the second half and although Villa hit the woodwork a few times we by no means disgraced ourselves. What was also encouraging was the attendance at Filtrona Park it was a sold out 3000 capacity attendance, amazing stuff hopefully these fans will stick around.

The other results for this month went well and considering we were ravaged by injuries to Alan Bennet, Steven McCarthy (again), Paul Fraser and Andy Caton the lads did well to pull through unbeaten. With these injuries to both full back postions Danny Simpson once again delved into the trasnfer market and acquired the services of Steven Page:

View attachment 67510

He has settled well into the team and he gives cover in both full back postions. Here are the other results for the month:

View attachment 67502

The two games that summed up our team and their capabilities were the two games against Worcester and Blyth. The Worcester game was 1st against 2nd and the way we played was amazing as we passed them off the park and made them look sub-standard:

View attachment 67521

A great result was preceded by the Blyth game which gave us the confidence for the Worcester game. For the majority of the Blyth game we were second best and when we conceded in 90th minute to a controversial penalty we were staring defeat in the face:

View attachment 67499

This team does not know when to lie down its fantastic having a team like this to follow!!!

The league is starting to take shape as we reach the halfway point and with games in hand we can further our lead at the top:

View attachment 67498

Now onto BULLLLEEEEYYYYYSSSS SSSPPPPPEEEEEEECCCCCIAAAALLLLL PRRIIZZZZZEEEEEEE!!!!!!! This months winner is.........................................Julien Riviere. The young French midfilder, who was signed at the back end of last season after being released by Coventry, has been superb this month. He has been solid all season but he further excelled himself this month and he is deserving of the award:

View attachment 67501

Now since Julien is French and to add a continental feeling to the prize I have decided to spend big time on the prize, in the spirit of Christmas of course. So this months prize genuine Rolex Watch!!! Well done Julien I'm sure you will come and get this award unlike David Knight did before you.

Heres to the New Year bringing us a step closer to League Football

Bulley
 
A Massive Season Ends with 2 Trophies and an Unbeaten Record

Hey there Mariner fans sorry for lack of updates over the past few months. I will be giving you the full end of season update which ended on a high for the Mariners.

The results until the end of the season:

View attachment 68786

A great season with only one defeat, in some of the games we were able to maintain our unbeaten record with late late goals which is great for us fans as the players are showing that they really want to play for the club.

As you can see we once again won the Durham Challenge Cup. As we move up the leagues myself and the other fans start to care less and less about this trophy but at the end of the day a trophy is a trophy and a great excuse for a **** up.

View attachment 68787

League Table

View attachment 68783

A massive winning margin and woth only one defeat highlights how we dominated the league this season, and that last season defeat in play-off semi final helped us to reach this point. One small negative part to this season would probably be the amount of draws that we had, but a draw is a **** of alot better than a defeat.

New Signings

Before the end of the season manager Danny Simpson was able to add two players to the squad and both have league experience and they will hopefully both add something to the squad.

View attachment 68782

View attachment 68785

Westwood will give us cover at the back and in midfield while Elliot may have to fill the void if we are unable to get David Davies back next season :(.

Simpson Leaving??
Reports in the last few months also linked the gaffer Danny Simpson to already relegated Championship side Millwall. The reports were not wrong as Danny contacted me saying he had recieved an offer from Millwall

View attachment 68784

However luckliy for us he rejected the offer. He showed us his dedication we the fans must return the favour and show dedication to the team.

Player of the Season
As the spokesman for the fans I have went round all the fans and asked for their top 3 players for the last season. The top 3 are

In 3rd we have:

View attachment 68797
His goals speak for themselves a great season by the young striker and without him we might not have won the league, well done David.

In 2nd we have:

View attachment 68799
A player who has not been mentioned but as you can see with the amount of clean sheets Josh acquired was staggering. He did not do it by himself but he was a driving force behind all our clean sheets.

And the winner in 1st place we have:

View attachment 68798
The young French midfielder has excelled this season he has not always got the praise that he deserved. His passing has been superb and he is the driving force behind our attacking play and he makes us tick. Well done Julien.

Former Sandancer a Champion?
And finally on a happy note it appears former South Shields player Phil Brown is on the brink of an outstanding acheivement at Hull:

View attachment 68800

Here is to hoping that he can overturn that 1 point lead of United and to the unthinkable.


Well that was the season Mariners fans, here is to next season in the BLUE SQUARE PREMIERSHIP!!!

Bulley

 
New Season, New Signings, Old Ways

As a new season got under way the start had a familiar feel to it as Shields continued their unbeaten run and took fantastic form into the new season. Some buisness not discussed at the end of last season was manager Danny Simpson securing the Manager of the Year award in the Blue Square North.

View attachment 69285

Pre-Season & August Results

View attachment 69289

A good pre-season and it appears we are getting noticed on a grander stage as teams such as Bristol Rovers and Morton were asking us for friendly games. The games against higher league oppostion were very encouraging and young Elliot added something extra up front that we were missing last season, his goals in the league games were outstanding and he and Knight form a formidable partnership. Being new into the league it has been an amazing start and possibly the best result of the month would be the away win at Southport, a well established Blue Square Premier side

View attachment 69290

The Ins & Out

Their has been a few comings and goings at the start of this season.

View attachment 69288

View attachment 69287

View attachment 69286

View attachment 69284

With Bennett and Hancox we have added two defenders who will improve an already eman defence, while with Smyth we maybe have an attacking midfielder to fill the void that has been left by David Davies since he returned to Sunderland. All have settled well and contributed to our winning start.

League Table

View attachment 69297

Domination of Awards

View attachment 69309

View attachment 69310

Pure domination for all the awards this month 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in player of the month, this just puts icing on the cake to a fantastic month.

National Recogniton

We have some great news regarding our new sponsor it is none other than morning football show Soccer AM. They have agreed to a 5 year sponsorhip deal. The new should be available by next month so exciting times ahead at Filtrona Park.

Another team living the dream?

On a special note I would like to mention a team who appear to have the same aspirations as ourselves i.e. to play at the highest possible level. However how we have done it fairly and through sheer grit and determination they have took the route of money money money via a Turkish tycoon:

View attachment 69315

View attachment 69316

They are division below us and who knows one day we could be the two dominant forces in English football.
 
Last edited:
Very well done Danny, keep up the good results :)
 
Impressive. League football is so close now, Good Luck!
 
I have just read all 8 pages and it has inspired me to start a new game with my home town team South Shields as well.

Hope you get promoted this season.
 
I have just read all 8 pages and it has inspired me to start a new game with my home town team South Shields as well.

Hope you get promoted this season.

Cheers mate good luck is tough in lower league but as you get established you can get the better players
 
A Stale September

New Strips
Mentioned in the last update, Shields have recived a new kit sponsor from none other than Soccer AM. The new strips arrived at the start of the month and here they are for those fans who have not seen them yet:

View attachment 70445View attachment 70444

Thanks must got to reclusive kit designer KevyMatts.

Results
So after an unbeaten and flying start to the season alot was expected for the second month in Blue Square Premier, here is hopw the boys got on

View attachment 70447

Our first defeat in the league for over 40 games and it is a unfamilair feeling but we did not deserve to win against Morecambe. Another worrying factor about this month is the lack of goals, after such an explosive start to they year I suppose it was inevitable we not be able to match such a great start. If it were not for the partnership of Elliot and Knight we would be struggling

League Table
As the month ended we were sitting pretty in 2nd place

View attachment 70446

With a game in hand on Aldershot and Dagenham & Redbridge we can once again reach the summit. The fact that we are rubbing shoulders with well established clubs such as these underlines how far we have come.

Player of the Month
With no awards form the league this month it is up to yours truly to dish out the award for player of the month. The player who is deserving of this award is a young striker who since arriving at the club has excelled himself and proved to be adept and sharing the goalscoring mantle with David Knight. The winner of the award for September is John Elliot


Worrying times?
In recent times it has come to the forefront that the club is struggling financially. The money that the club gained after playing Tottenham a few years ago has kept the club going, but now with increased wages and higher league fees the club appear to be needing investment. Times are not as bad that the club will have to go into administraition but if things keep heading this way that may be the only option.

 
Looking good for league football next year.

Play some friendlies away from home against foreign teams and you will get some money that way. Just play your reserve/youth sides.
 
Looking good for league football next year.

Play some friendlies away from home against foreign teams and you will get some money that way. Just play your reserve/youth sides.

Yeah I know how to do that just trying to keep it as realistic as possible
 
Unlucky about your financial position, you can always hope for the FA Cup though :)
 
On top in one out in the other

Results


The results for October were a mxed bag as the title suggests we have gone top of the league, howver on a downer we ened the month with defeat in the Durham Challenge Cup to Hartlepool's so called 'Reserves'.


View attachment 70502
View attachment 70503

We could not handle the quality that Hartlepool had they were playing a full strength team and we had not expected this, hence why the gaffer sent out a weakened team, but still to lose at home in the first round is disappointing especially since we have won this cup the past two years. The other results in the league have been pleasing. We have conceded a few late goals but we have also scored some so swings and roundabouts really


Two new faces


As you know the manager is always looking to stregthen when possible and he has done just that with two new players coming in towards the end of the month


View attachment 70508 View attachment 70509

Both are attacking midfilders and will help out in the middle of the park. The experienced Sean Thornton is the better of the two in my opnion as he has played at the highest level with Sunderland and he has already bagged a goal on his debut against Macceslfield.


Injury Blow for Youngster


The need for the two new signings was made neccesarry beacuse of the injury to young Peter Smyth


View attachment 70507

Its a real shame as he was just starting to get into his stride with goals and performances. Hopefully the new boys will help fill the void.



League Table


With only one defeat this season coupled with Aldershot losing two in a row, including a thumping versus Dag & Red we have taken the advantage in the race for League Football


View attachment 70504

It is looking like being a close one with King's Lynn also throwing their hat into the ring for the title it should go right down to the wire.


Specualtion or Truth???


Recent sackings of managers at higher levels have led the tabloids to lead with stories of manager Danny Simpson leaving the club:

View attachment 70505View attachment 70506

However I have it on good authority that Simpson is sticking around for the forseeable future and does not even wish to speak to another club. That is true loyalty.

Player of the Month
This months award goes to none other than our fallen midfielder Peter Smyth. Before his injury is form was brilliant with 3 goals in tow games and a MOM performance he was looking good. However with that injury his season is all but over. We wish him a speedy recovery.
 
Still a great story pal, doing really well. Always been a follower. :)
 
Nasty November ends on a high

Results

An importnat month which included two FA Cup games against fellow BSP teams Aldershot and Chester, was a mixed bag for the Mariners as a great run of clean sheets was abruptly ended by promotion rivals Aldershot:

View attachment 71773

View attachment 71771


We could have went to the wall after that game and we nearly did as the next games against Fleetwood we found ourselves 3-0 down and playing pretty poorly to say the least. However an inspired substition by the manager gave us a great result refereeing decisions in which their third goal was merely thrown into the goal by their centre back. Manager Danny Simpson did not hold any punches and was subsequently warned by the FA. However he igniored those warnings when another abysmal decsion befell us against Fleetwood, and once again went to down on the offical calling his mother 'a f***ing w***e'

View attachment 71769View attachment 71770

This ban meant he would miss the 2nd round clash against League One Swindon in the FA Cup.

League Table

Despite the loss against Aldershot Shields were able to maintain their hold in second, thanks mostly to the form at the start of the month. With a draw and defeat in the last two games we are hoping the lads can turn it around

View attachment 71768

Player of the Month

One player as been outstanding this month he has proven he can play at higher level with previous clubs and appears he wants to take Shields to that same level. John Elliot is the winner of this months award and coupled with his amazing supersub performance versus Fleetwood he is on fire

View attachment 71772

 
Last edited:
great signings and very cool kits ;)

Keep it up :)
 
Top