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Reforming of Club.
The twists and turns of North Shields’ traumatic history continued right up to the start of the new 1992/93 season and beyond.
The mishandling of the club over the previous couple of years has been well documented, and culminated in the appointment of an Administrator by club director Chris Wynne, who was claiming repayment of a debt of some £98,000. The Administrator moved in with the brief of resolving the creditors’ situation, and endeavouring to ensure the continuance of football in North Shields. Wynne’s co-director Vic Halom was removed from his post as General Manager of the club and hopes were high that the Robins would soon be put on an even keel.
Certainly the players carried out their part to the full, guided superbly by Colin Richardson, surely one of the finest managers in Northern non-League circles. North Shields gained promotion to the HFS Loans league by storming to the Northern Counties East League Premier Division title, finishing a magnificent 24 points clear of runners-up Sutton Town. Along the way Shields also collected the League Challenge Cup (beating Armthorpe Welfare 5-0 in the final), and the Presidents Cup, whilst additionally reaching the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
It became clear that North Shield’s fine ground, Appleby Park, would have to be sold to repay creditors, and the Administrators negotiated a ground-sharing agreement with Whitley Bay, which met with the approval of HFS Loans League officials.
The future of North Shields looked bright, as manager Colin Richardson prepared his squad for the challenge of their higher status, winning their first three pre-season friendlies, including a 4-1 demolition of a strong Sunderland side which included several of their FA Cup final line-up.
Suddenly, players and officials were hit by the news that a sudden reduction in the valuation of the Appleby Park site meant that insufficient cash would released to repay creditors in full, and as a result, the Administrators were unable to make the agreed ground-share payment of £35,000 to Whitley Bay. Furthermore, it looked inevitable that North Shields Association Football Club Limited would go into liquidation. A group of interested people attempted to re-negotiate the ground share terms with Whitley Bay without success. With no ground on which to play, North Shields membership of the HFS Loans League was terminated a little over a week before the season got underway, with the Robins scheduled to journey to Workington. Was this the end for senior soccer in North Shields?
It certainly seemed so, with the Administrator releasing the playing squad from their contracts. Many of them were very quickly snapped up by other clubs. Former boss Colin Richardson, who had taken over as manager at HFS Loans League First Division club Bridlington Town, snapped up Ian Mckenzie, Dave Woodcock, Ged Parkinson, Graeme Jones and Justin Robson with Neil Howie becoming the latest to join after having brief spells with Gateshead and Blyth Spartans. Steve Pyle joined Blyth after originally signing for Gateshead, Gary Nicholson and Barrie Wardrobe joined Guiseley and Dunston Federation signed Martin Hamilton and Graham Mole.
The end it might have seemed but a small group of people would not accept that situation and swiftly formed a new company, North Shields Football Club (1992) Limited, in order to save North Shields. It seemed a tall order, but a new, strong board was assembled. The new chairman was to be Richard Slade, President of the North Shields Chamber of Trade & Commerce. Two members of the Geordie rock band Lindisfarne joined the board, Alan Hull and drummer Ray Laidlaw, who became Press Officer, whilst two North Tyneside Councellors, Frank Lott and David Corkey were ‘signed up’, and at the time the board of the new company was twelve strong.
An approach was made to the Vaux Wearside League, seeking immediate admission to their Second Division, and on Tuesday 1st September, a couple of weeks after the campaign had got underway, North Shields were elected on a majority vote. The club had been given the go-ahead to play at Appleby Park for the time being, whilst the new ground was developed and the first match in the VAUX Wearside League was on Saturday 19th September. The new manager was Dave Callaghan, a stalwart of North Shields team for the past two years, who was assisted by his twin brother Tommy.
The club were determined that before long the name of North Shields would once again be to the forefront of North East-non league football – and this time it will be done properly!
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