South Shields remained at Horsley Hill until relegation to the 3rd Division North in 1928. Attendances had dropped sharply and due to financial difficulties, the club asked the Football League for permission to relocate to Newcastle, but following opposition from Newcastle United, the Football League's Management Committee announced at their February meeting that they did "not feel justified in granting permission. If South Shields so desire they might renew their application at the annual meeting."
South Shields decided to try Gateshead, about 10 miles away, and less than a month later were granted permission to move there.
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 15 March 1930
SOUTH SHIELDS.
Given Permission to Move to Gateshead.
Following their decision to allow Hull City and Clapton Orient to change their grounds, the Football League Management Committee have given permission to the South Shields club to remove to new quarters in Gateshead. Recently South Shields asked for sanction to change their ground to Newcastle, but this was turned down although they were granted permission to apply again at the annual meeting the League.
Their application to move to Gateshead received official sanction in a communication received from the League yesterday. Seeing that Gateshead is situated in County Durham it is assumed opposition from Newcastle United will automatically be dropped. Sunderland, another club interested in any change, are, it is understood, satisfied on the point. The troubles of the South Shields club have been more acute than the officials have admitted, and it has been due only to the generosity of a few sportsmen and guarantors at the bank that they have been able to carry on this season.
A crowd of over 15,000 saw Gateshead AFC win their first game beating Doncaster Rovers 3-1 at the purpose built Redheugh Park( below):
With only one club promoted from each of the regional Third Division leagues, Gateshead remained in this division until the league was reorganised in 1958, despite finishing runners up twice - in 1931-32 and 1949-50.
In the 1952-53 season Gateshead reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup, beating Crewe Alexandra, Bradford (Park Avenue), Liverpool, Hull City, and Plymouth Argyle before losing at home to Bolton Wanderers in front of a crowd of 17,692 Bolton went on to reach the Final where they lost to Blackpool.
Gateshead AFC failed to win re-election to the Football League in 1960 after finishing 22nd of 24 clubs in Division Four.
For the following season (1960/61) the club were one of ten clubs playing in the Northern Counties League alongside Annfield Plain, Ashington, Blyth Spartans, Consett, Horden Colliery, North Shields, Scarborough, South Shields and Stockton.
With just 10 members, clubs played a home and away League Cup for half the season and a traditional "home and away" League in the other half.
Gateshead also played 15 friendlies against Scottish League clubs, at home v Alloa Athletic (W 1:0), Dumbarton, Raith Rovers, Stenhousemuir, Hamilton Academical (W 6:1), Falkirk (W 1:0), Berwick Rangers (L 2:4, 5245), Morton, Ayr United and Arbroath, and away v Stranraer, Berwick Rangers (W 1:0), Morton, Alloa Athletic (Won 1:0, Att 800), and Dumbarton.
With one exception (1966/67), the Scottish Second Division was comprised of 19 clubs from 1955 to 1974 meaning that one club was inactive in each round of matches.
More friendly matches continued, e.g.1962/63 v Stranraer, 1963/64 v Berwick,
The club had ceased to exist at the end of 72/73 (a club called Gateshead Town played in the very low-level Northern Combination in 73/74), but then in a history-repeating move South Shields moved to Gateshead and (so I thought) kept their Northern Premier League status as Gateshead United. Any further information would be welcome.
Regarding applications to the SFL the only vacancies were in 1966 and 1974. Those were the only occasions when the SFL admitted new members so applications other than those would have been rejected out of hand as there was no vacancy. Much like the OF's attempts to join the Premiership. In 1966 Gateshead were not one of the teams considered. Clydebank won with 30 votes to six for Gala Fairydean and one for Hawick Royal Albert.
In the summer of 1974, Gateshead United applied to join the Scottish League.
In 1974 it was as Gateshead United that they tried to join the SFL. Their name was one of seven which was put to the vote on May 25th 1974. I don't know how well they did as voting figures were only revealed for the final pair with Ferranti Thistle beating Inverness Thistle by 21-16. The other unsuccessful clubs were Elgin City, Forres Mechanics, Ross County and Hawick Royal Albert.
This was the only occasion in which a team from Gateshead were considered for election to the SFL.
http://scottishleague.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2960
For the following season (1960/61) the club were one of ten clubs playing in the Northern Counties League alongside Annfield Plain, Ashington, Blyth Spartans, Consett, Horden Colliery, North Shields, Scarborough, South Shields and Stockton.
With just 10 members, clubs played a home and away League Cup for half the season and a traditional "home and away" League in the other half.
| Date | Competition | Opponent | H/A | Result | Att. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Berwick Rangers | A | Won 1:0 | ||
| Sat 13.Aug.60 | Challenge Match | Stranraer | A | ||
| Sat 3.Sep.60 | Northern Counties League | Consett | H | ||
| Mon 5.Sep.60 | Northern Counties League | South Shields | H | ||
| Sat 17.Sep.60 | Friendly | Alloa Athletic | H | Won 1:0 | |
| Mon 19.Sep.60 | Northern Counties League | North Shields | H | ||
| Mon 26.Sep.60 | Northern Counties League | Blyth Spartans | H | ||
| Sat 1.Oct.60 | Morton | A | |||
| Sat 8.Oct.60 | Friendly | Dumbarton | H | ||
| Sat 22.Sep.60 | Northern Counties League | North Shields | A | ||
| Fri 28.Oct.60 | Raith Rovers | H | |||
| Sat 5.Nov.60 | FA Cup (First Round) | Barnsley | H | Draw 0:0 | |
| Wed 9.Nov.60 | FA Cup (First Round Replay) | Barnsley | A | Lost 0:2 | |
| Sat 12.Nov.60 | Northern Counties League Cup | Blyth Spartans | A | ||
| Fre 25.Nov.60 | Challenge Match | Stenhousemuir | H | ||
| Fri 23.Dec.60 | Hamilton Academical | H | Won 6:1 | ||
| Tue 27.Dec.60 | Challenge Match | Falkirk | H | Won 1:0 | |
| Mon 2.Jan.61 | Berwick Rangers | H | Lost 2:4 | 5,245 | |
| Sat 7.Jan.61 | Alloa Athletic | A | Won 1:0 | 800 | |
| Sat 14.Jan.61 | Durham Challenge Cup | Murton CW | H | ||
| Mon 6.Feb.61 | Northern Counties League Cup | Annfield Plain | H | ||
| Fri 24.Feb.61 | Ayr United | H | |||
| Sat 18.Mar.61 | Northern Counties League | Ashington | H | ||
| Mon 20.Mar.61 | Northern Counties League | North Shields | H | ||
| Mon 3.Apr.61 | Northern Counties League | Consett | H | ||
| Sat 15.Apr.61 | Grand Challenge Match | Arbroath | H |
With one exception (1966/67), the Scottish Second Division was comprised of 19 clubs from 1955 to 1974 meaning that one club was inactive in each round of matches.
In 1961/62, Gateshead again played in the Northern Counties League with the reserve teams of Carlisle United, Darlington and Workington increasing the number of clubs to 13.
The format for this season was a League Cup in a home or away format, followed by the traditional home and away league competition.
In 1962/63, Gateshead joined the North Regional League and played there for six seasons (1962/68) winning the title in 1964.
More friendly matches continued, e.g.1962/63 v Stranraer, 1963/64 v Berwick,
The club had ceased to exist at the end of 72/73 (a club called Gateshead Town played in the very low-level Northern Combination in 73/74), but then in a history-repeating move South Shields moved to Gateshead and (so I thought) kept their Northern Premier League status as Gateshead United. Any further information would be welcome.
Regarding applications to the SFL the only vacancies were in 1966 and 1974. Those were the only occasions when the SFL admitted new members so applications other than those would have been rejected out of hand as there was no vacancy. Much like the OF's attempts to join the Premiership. In 1966 Gateshead were not one of the teams considered. Clydebank won with 30 votes to six for Gala Fairydean and one for Hawick Royal Albert.
In the summer of 1974, Gateshead United applied to join the Scottish League.
In 1974 it was as Gateshead United that they tried to join the SFL. Their name was one of seven which was put to the vote on May 25th 1974. I don't know how well they did as voting figures were only revealed for the final pair with Ferranti Thistle beating Inverness Thistle by 21-16. The other unsuccessful clubs were Elgin City, Forres Mechanics, Ross County and Hawick Royal Albert.
This was the only occasion in which a team from Gateshead were considered for election to the SFL.
http://scottishleague.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2960
No comments:
Post a Comment