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Newspaper Clippings - Dick Butler - page 42

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OCR Shields fans said it all with
SOUTH Shields Mariners completed their 1975 76 Northern Alliance fixtures with a 2-1 home win over Morpeth Town at Cleadon Recreation Ground last night , but it wasn't so much the result that had Shields
officials beaming ear to - ear smiles
They knew that in this their first season it would take them some time to establish themselves in the eyes and the hearts of the townspeople after the endless controversies that have surrounded senior football in this town over the years , but last night there were signs that they are winning their battle .
A team like Shields has it all to do to win support , particularly that of the youngsters who have Sunderland and Newcastle on their doorsteps and the rest of the country's big timers just the flick of a TV switch away .
1
-
Table
banner and scarves
100 per cent home Alliance record which reads played 16 , won 16. but they had to come from behind to achieve it . Shields goalkeeper Dick Patterson made a superb save in the 12th minute to hold a rasping drive from Des McNally , but a minute later Shields ' Alan Suggett shaved a post with a raking cross shot . It was never a dirty game , but three Morpeth players were booked , left back McLevy in the 16th minute , centre half Stone in the 25th minute and right back Beers in the 47th minute .
area .
He cultivated an interest in table tennis within his
By DICK KIRKUP
But last night , in a crowd of around 300 , there were dozens of youngsters celebrating Shields ' Northern Alliance championship triumph and the officials , blinked at the sight of a huge white banner proclaiming " South Shields Mariners 1975 champions . "
Two young fans , each holding a pole with the banner drapped between , kept up a " We are the champions " chant . . . and , equally as important , many of them were wearing Mariners scarves .
Commented club chairman , Martin Ford : " I think these youngsters are proving that we are establishing ourselves . to beginning are We overcome all that has gone before with senior football in Shields , and we have given back to the town a senior club worthy of support . "
At the end of the game
FITTING EPITAPH FOR ' MATT ' THOMPSON
Association's
BEFORE I proceed with the report on the first stage of the South Shields and District Tennis closed tournament played last Sunday , I would like to pay tribute , on behalf of the executive committee and players , to a man who did a tremendous amount for table tennis in the area .
It was with sadness that we learned last week of the death Mr Matthew of Thompson , a past president of the Association for nearly 30 years . During his long reign as president , he worked tirelessly to develop an encourage the sport in the
Northern Alliance chairman , Stan Seymour Jnr . , presented Shields skipper Billy Graham with the magnificent trophy and he also presented the individual trophies to the players .
There were a number of hard fought games but my forecast as the match of the second round being the one between Richard Wilson and Ray Purves turned out to be way off the mark , Richard winning comfortably in two games with Ray looking rather disinterested in the proceedings .
' GREAT SEASON '
He said : " We have been glad to have Shields in the Alliance this seas n , and I am sure they have enjoyed being with us . " Billy Grahan , thanking Mr Seymour said : " We have had a great season and it is our aim to have an even better one next season .
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Richard Wilson fought his way through to the final to meet Jimmy Elliott of J. G. Thompson's . Jimmy deserved every congratulations in
Alliance secretary Jim McKay , with more than a hundred supporters enjoying the ceremony , said : " This is the first time in 40 years that a side from the South side of has the Tyne the Alliance championship , and we congratulate Shields heartily . "
won
Shields completed their ptogramme with a win over Morpeth that gave them a
TABLE TENNIS TALK
between N. Wilkinson and W. Ellison who won a dour struggle 2.1 .
The jumble doubles competition always attracts a high entry and this year , due to a number of late comers , the competition had to be re drawn . The final between Arkle and G. Ferguson and Coulson and G. Thomas was rather a one - sided affair , as Arkle and Ferguson couldn't recapture the form that won them the place in the final and they lost 2.0 .
oll
PAID OFF
Morpeth relied almost exclusively on the long ball up the middle for speedy strikers David McNally and Rutter to chase , and in the 19th minute it paid off when McNally raced down the left wing and crossed for Rutter to score from close range .
However , in the 22nd minute Shields drew level when Kenny Parker cut in from the right , screamed to overlapping Lyn Rutherford on the opposite flank to cross and when he did , Parker rose beautifully to head in the equaliser .
Millican hit the
Shields
bar in the 35th minute , but
in the second half Shields let
a few chances slip before skipper Billy Graham hit the winner in the 65th minute . Parker took another of his long throws from the left touchline , found Graham at the near post and Billy turned in a flash to left foot a tremendous rising drive into the roof of the net .
Both goalkeepers made fine saves om an awkward night of brilliant sun in the first half and a swirling wind throughout , but now Shields and their fans look forward to Friday , May 16 , Cleadon when Shields meet Boldon CW in the Mayoress's Charities Cup .
at
NORWICH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB CARROW ROAD , NORWICH
SEASON 1974-75
Admit Bearer to Press Seats
( BLOCK A & C DOOR )
Representative of
Evening
Echo .
A. E. WESTWOOD , Secretary
P.T.O.
THE EMPIRE STADIUM , WEMBLEY
The Football Association Challenge Cup Competition Final
Tie
SAT . , MAY 3 , 1975
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OUR
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