Hosts: North Shields Football Club
Venue: Daren Persson Stadium, Ralph Gardner Park, 38 West Percy Road, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE29 6UA
LOCATION REPORT
SatNav: NE29 6UA
Parking: restricted marked parking on-site (28 spaces) + overflow for c25 on rough ground + extra overflow onto grass [weather permitting]; on-street in Silkeys Road or West Percy Road, residnetial area
Parking: restricted marked parking on-site (28 spaces) + overflow for c25 on rough ground + extra overflow onto grass [weather permitting]; on-street in Silkeys Road or West Percy Road, residnetial area
Public transport: Tyne & Wear Metro, Meadow Well station (7 mins walk); bus #310 Newcastle-North Shields (Waterville Road, 4 mins walk)
Entry: adults £6, concessions £3 under-16s £1
Programmes: £1.50
Refreshments: "Robin's Nest" canteen (eg £1.70 hotdogs, £1.70 chips, £1 hot/cold drinks, 40p crisps)
Licensed: "Robin's Nest" bar, onsite
Toilets: ladies/gents inside clubhouse, additional gents pitchside
PA system: yes, with annoucements + music; good audibility at entrance end, poorer audibility elsewhere
Licensed: "Robin's Nest" bar, onsite
Toilets: ladies/gents inside clubhouse, additional gents pitchside
PA system: yes, with annoucements + music; good audibility at entrance end, poorer audibility elsewhere
Covered seating:
(N) main stand, aka "The Curva Nord" (West Percy Road side) = c100 seated, 5 tiers; wooden benches, red
Covered standing:
Open viewing:
(W) open space outside cubhouse
(N) stepped terrace, concrete, 3 x tiers = c250+ standing
(N) grassed banks [albeit signs say standing here not permitted, plenty still did!]
(all sides) concrete hardstanding & lean-on barriers; grassed outfield
(all sides) concrete hardstanding & lean-on barriers; grassed outfield
Floodlights: 6 (3 per flank)
MATCH REPORT
Kickoff: 3:00pm Saturday 14 September 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: warmish, dry, sunny/clear, breezy
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: warmish, dry, sunny/clear, breezy
Final [h/t] score (team colours):
1 [0] North Shields (all red)
5 [1] Hebburn (all white with diagonal shirt stripe pattern, white shorts [away kit])
Sent Off: 0
Official crowd: 364
Social media [Twitter]: @theofficialnl, @NorthShieldsFC, @HebburnTown
NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS
North Shields have been active in one guise or another since 1896, and their credentials as non-league poster-boys is strong.
This season marks the 50th anniversary of Shields' most prestigious era: winning the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley followed by the European Amateur Cup! But cup glory is not confined to the past - more recently, they won the FA Vase in 2015.
'The Robins' moved to this current site, an old school playing fields, in 1997. With typical dry humour, the locals affectionately nickname it 'the Morgue' ever since it has been sponsored by a funeral director company.
Today's visitors are top-of-the-league and last season's runners-up; undefeated in their latest five league and cup games, they're on a roll and present formidable opposition for the home side.
However, Shields are unbeaten at home so far and fresh from an impressive midweek cup victory; they're just as keen to keep that up, even if it's going to be a big ask this afternoon.
The teams emerge to a modern rock rendition of "When the Red, Red Robin (comes bob-bob-bobbin' along)". The sides are read-out by the PA guy, but note that it's not that easy to hear unless you're in the western end nearer the clubhouse.
Handshakes. Game on.
The breeze picks up a bit, but the sun is strong overhead. Clouds roll over, giving the lush turf a dappled effect. It's an early taste of Autumn on its way.
The playing surface looks like it's great quality, so should make for a good passing game.
There are trees around the outfield on the north and east sides. They still have most of their leaves, with just a few early fallers dressing the grounds.
A local clown has brought a hooter, which he blows repeatedly in a comedy manner. It's kind of fun for about thirty seconds, but I don't know how much that's going to be tolerated later by those around him.
You can hear the cheery serenade of an ice-cream van in the neighbouring estate, playing the Match of the Day tune in tinkling clarity.
The crowd grows around us, the bar spills out onto the concrete pitchside terrace. We checked out the Robin's Nest canteen for our customary hot chocolate, but they don't have any today. The lady is very apologetic, but a cup of tea suffices instead.
On the pitch, it's slightly one-sided, running to recent form. With half an hour or so gone, a nice Hebburn move down their right opens a channel, a tackle comes in but the referee waves advantage, which the winger utilises well by skipping inside and planting a shot into the corner: 0-1.
The Shields tackler has hurt himself in the forlorn lunge and gets replaced.
Away on the far side, there's a small metal tower upon which a cameraman is posted, filming the match.
At the break, it's one-nil to the visitors.
The clouds grow slightly dull, but don't (yet!) threaten to rain. We have to depart early due to family matters, and make our way out through the cluster of half-time snack-hunters.
Catching-up on scores later, it transpires that the second half did see a shower... of goals! The match ended 1-5, and Hebburn march on imperiously at the crest of the table.
As for the Daren Persson Stadium, I'd gladly pop back anytime. A friendly atmosphere, good facilities and convenient location. Hopefully, they'll have some hot chocolate available next time too?!
This season marks the 50th anniversary of Shields' most prestigious era: winning the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley followed by the European Amateur Cup! But cup glory is not confined to the past - more recently, they won the FA Vase in 2015.
'The Robins' moved to this current site, an old school playing fields, in 1997. With typical dry humour, the locals affectionately nickname it 'the Morgue' ever since it has been sponsored by a funeral director company.
However, Shields are unbeaten at home so far and fresh from an impressive midweek cup victory; they're just as keen to keep that up, even if it's going to be a big ask this afternoon.
Handshakes. Game on.
The breeze picks up a bit, but the sun is strong overhead. Clouds roll over, giving the lush turf a dappled effect. It's an early taste of Autumn on its way.
The playing surface looks like it's great quality, so should make for a good passing game.
There are trees around the outfield on the north and east sides. They still have most of their leaves, with just a few early fallers dressing the grounds.
A local clown has brought a hooter, which he blows repeatedly in a comedy manner. It's kind of fun for about thirty seconds, but I don't know how much that's going to be tolerated later by those around him.
You can hear the cheery serenade of an ice-cream van in the neighbouring estate, playing the Match of the Day tune in tinkling clarity.
The crowd grows around us, the bar spills out onto the concrete pitchside terrace. We checked out the Robin's Nest canteen for our customary hot chocolate, but they don't have any today. The lady is very apologetic, but a cup of tea suffices instead.
On the pitch, it's slightly one-sided, running to recent form. With half an hour or so gone, a nice Hebburn move down their right opens a channel, a tackle comes in but the referee waves advantage, which the winger utilises well by skipping inside and planting a shot into the corner: 0-1.
The Shields tackler has hurt himself in the forlorn lunge and gets replaced.
Away on the far side, there's a small metal tower upon which a cameraman is posted, filming the match.
At the break, it's one-nil to the visitors.
The clouds grow slightly dull, but don't (yet!) threaten to rain. We have to depart early due to family matters, and make our way out through the cluster of half-time snack-hunters.
Catching-up on scores later, it transpires that the second half did see a shower... of goals! The match ended 1-5, and Hebburn march on imperiously at the crest of the table.
As for the Daren Persson Stadium, I'd gladly pop back anytime. A friendly atmosphere, good facilities and convenient location. Hopefully, they'll have some hot chocolate available next time too?!
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