Newspaper Clippings - Dick Butler - page 112
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10 - Shields Gazette , Monday , February 2 , 1976 MAGNIFICENT MARINERS Wembley is just two rounds away - and a treble on on the cards AMID the great celebrations following their 2-0 FA Challenge Vase victory over Bridgnorth deep in the heart of Shropshire on Saturday , South Shields started dreaming of a great treble triumph this season . just two rounds off the They are now in the quarter - finals of the Vase Wembley final - and while they are favourites to retain their Northern Alliance championship they are also still in the Alliance Challenge Cup . In their present form all three must be within their grasp , and although the Vase is the most difficult , the Mariners continue to prove themselves as one of the sides most likely to succeed . They have reached the last eight despite being drawn away four times in the first five rounds and the team spirit is sky high with the players determined to tread the Wembley turf . The other results in Saturday's fifth round ties were : Stamford 3 , Prescott Town Billericay Town 2 , Hungerford Town ; Cadbury Heath 2 , Moseley ; Barton Rovers 1 , Eastbourne Town ; Addlestone 5 , Abington Town 2. The Leeds Ashley Road y Leeds Friar Lane OB and Farnborough Town v Bracknell Town ties were postponed . DANGERS The biggest dangers to Shields appear to be Addlestone and Leeds Friar Lane OB , while Stamford are also highly rated , but Shields confidently say : " No matter who we meet we will go in knowing we can do it . " Says club chairman Martin Ford : " On Saturday we were fantastic and while it was a great team effort that got us through , we must pay tribute came in at the last moment after Dick Patterson had fractured his thumb in training just two days before the match . " Bridgnorth are a very good side , but we adapted to the hard ground conditions and scored our goals at vital moments . The referee had a word to both teams before the match telling everybody to keep cool on a surface that could produce serious injuries . " He said had Shields not travelled so far for the game he might well have called it off . But we are all glad he didn't . It was a great day for our town and our club . " Canadius and ' Mist ' for Newcastle Canadius and Arctic Mist , who missed engagements at Ayr on Saturday , will be re routed Newcastle on Wednesday , reports trainer's wife Jean - Richards to Canadius , winner of his last four races , would line - up for the Coot Handicap Chase , and the highly - rated Arctic Mist could make his first fences in appearance the £ 2,500 Dipper Novices Csase . over Newcastle Racespark High Gosforth Wednesday , February 4 DIPPER NOVICES ' ' CHASE £ 2,500 First Race 1.30 pm . Ample Free Parking and Direct Bus Services from Newcastle City Centre Combined Enclosure 80p Tattersalls £ 2.00 9 - 11 Suggett and Graham the goal heroes SOUTH SHIELDS marched into the quarter - finals of the FA Challenge Vase with a competent 2 - success at Bridgnorth's Crown Meadow ground on Saturday . Over the 90 minutes there was little to choose between the teams , except in the art of finishing . Alan Suggett put Shields ahead after half an hour , and skipper Billy Graham wrapped it up with a second goal after 60 minutes . Control was difficult on Bridgnorth's bone hard pitch , but South Shields adapted to the conditions well . Jimmy Robson and Kenny Parker always proved a handful for the Bridgnorth defence , while Stan Craig had a solid game in goal when Bridgnorth forward . came Shields ' excellent record so far this season could well be crowned by a Wembley if appearance the form shown in the Bridgnorth match continues . Bridgnorth kicked off with the slope in their favour in front of a record crowd of 647 , and looked strong in the opening stages . Richard Pugh and Tim Pinches looked dangerous for Bridgnorth on the wings and it was Pugh who caused some panic in the Shields defence when he ran past two defenders before shooting straight at Craig . GOOD CHANGES Shields , however , began to get more of the ball and the Bridgnorth defence came under a good deal of pressure without cracking . But the Shropshire team had two good chances to take the lead - firstly when Pinches passed the ball for skipper Colin Hemsley to get in a shot that Craig held , and then when a low shot from Pugh produced another fine save by Craig . Shields went ahead after 32 minutes with a fine goal . A right wing cross from Jimmy McDonald found Suggett , whose powerful header gave Bridgnorth goalkeeper Peter Bradburn no chance . Shields won a succession of corners before the interval , but were unable to increase their lead . Bridgnorth bounced back into the attack in the second half and Micky Ward and Pinches went near before a left foot shot from Hemsley beat Craig but whistled just wide . cross Shields made virtually sure of victory on the hour . A from McDonald dropped at the far post for Graham to score from close range . Any hopes that Bridgnorth had of coming back into the game went when Hemsley missed a good chance from only three yards allowing Craig to grab the ball on the line . Teams : Bradburn ; Bridgnorth : Woolley , Evans ; Banks , Ward ; George , Bristow , Hemsley , Francis , Pinches , Pugh . Sub : Rogers . South Shields : Craig ; McDonald , Rutherford ; Carr , Compton , Graham ; Young , Robson , Suggett , Parker , Hunter . Sub : Pringle . N 2 10 " They were magnificent , " he said . " I told them we wanted no trouble with the Bridgnorth fans and the way they behaved they were great ambassadors of our town and our club . Several home fans followed our young supporters round the ground and one of our fans had his hat taken , but I pleaded with them to walk away . South Shields were due to play Carlisle City away this coming Saturday in a Northern Alliance game , but on Saturday Carlisle drew their Cumbrian Cup tie with Penrith and they are replaying this weekend . " It took some doing , but they did it . It takes great character to walk away from trouble . yet despite provocation they kept themselves to themselves . I thought they were marvellous . " names at Shields will now be away to Throckley in an Alliance fixture , and as usual at least one supporters ' coach will be going . Already 30 Johnny met the exiled have been received , and if North Easterners demand exceeds one coach a Bridgnorth and , in fact , the second will be booked . Hill Lane Social Club in Anyone interested nearby Telford had two should travelling coach loads of Geordies at contact club public relations officer the match cheering Shields Johnny Rundle at South on . After the game they Shields 2731 by Wednesday invited the Shields players night . and ofifcials back to their ST WHI ' SOUTH SHIELDS ' YOUNG FANS WERE MARVELLOUS ' JOHNNY RUNDLE , South Shields Football Club's public relations officer today paid great tribute to the young Mariners fans who travelled for Sat urday's FA Challenge Vase tie at Bridgnorth . club to lay on a celebration , but the invitation had to be refused with such a long journey back to Shields ahead of them . on building up a great following of supporters , and now they are starting to wear club scarves . We supply these scarves and so far we have sold dozens . It's great to see away our supporters at games waving their scarves and urging the team on . " The feeling among the Shields hard - working officials is that if Shields get another home draw in this competition they could attract a gate in the region of 5,000 . The players were also cheered by the telegrams they received before the match . There was one from Ken Kennedy of the RAOB Club , and others from Harry Ramsay and Tommy Harris from the Brunswick , Mrs Stinson , wife of Jimmy , a member of the Shields com mittee , and from club chair man Martin Ford's wife Doris Ford at the Adam and Eve . And when finally arrived Shields late on night , there was telegram from Jim McKay , secretary of the Northern Alliance , congratulating the club on behalf Alliance Committee achievement . " the party Says Johnny : " If that came to pass we would be ready with our organisation . We are just a young club , but we back in try to do things in a Saturday professional way and our efforts off the field could not be better inspired than by our team's current efforts on the field . another the " Everybody here works hard and they do it for Just for nothing . the satisfaction of helping to further establish our club . " The South Shields defence had to withstand some heavy pressure at Bridgnorth on Saturday , but they came through it all with their goal intact . Above , goalkeeper Stan Craig goes full length to save with Jimmy Compton ( No. 5 ) anxiously looking on ; left , Craig goes up to cleanly gather a cross , and below a tremendous scramble near the Shields goal - line with bodies littering the goalmouth ends with Fridgnorth once again pushed back . Management a " fine *** Johnny told me : " We are |
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