55 up…..Salute the Brennan Braves.
On 12 April 1969 North Shields became the only Northumberland club and the last Northern League side to lift the F A Amateur Cup at Wembley.
The Robin’s reached the final after wins over Spennymoor 4-1 Coventry Amateurs 3-0 Hendon 2-0 after a 1-1 home draw and Wealdstone 1-0 in the quarter final.
A dramatic 1-1 draw with 10 men in the Ayresome Park mud against Skelmersdale saw the ‘Men from the North’ triumph 2-1 in the replay at a windswept Haig Avenue in Southport..
Frank Brennan then travelled to the Twin Towers with his 13 man squad -Micky Morgan Alan Driver John Twaddle Richie Hall Ronnie Tatum (Captain) George (Bomber) Thompson Ray Wrightson Micky Lister Brian Joicey Tony Cassidy John Rutherford Tommy Orrick and Bobby Wake.
Onto the Final and the Shieldsmen showed the courage of lions as they confounded the ‘experts’the same way as they did against ‘Skem’ coming from behind against Sutton United with two great second half goals.
The lads overcame the disappointment of a 4th minute goal to soak up increasing pressure for almost an hour and then coming back to pound the Southerners to defeat.
It was one of Sutton’s 3 England caps in their side Micky Mellows who struck the first blow giving keeper Micky Morgan no chance.
Sutton called the tune for the remainder of the half and only Morgan the Mighty stood in the way of more goals.
Morgan probably put the red ribbons on the pot with a series of dramatic saves just before and after the interval.
In the 40th minute he changed direction instinctively to save a Trevor Bladon effort that was deflected off Alan Driver’s foot..
The Shields defence marshalled superbly by Ron Tatum and George Thompson somehow stood up to a 10 minute barrage at the start of the second half
But that was to be a fling that was to prove costly for Sutton.
Just before the Robin’s grabbed their 70th minute equaliser they were showing signs of strain -And what a leveller it was -a majestic headed by Richie Hall superbly places from a. corner taken by :supersub’ Tommy Orrick.
The persistence of Brian Joicey despite nursing an injured left shoulder began to tell on the creaking Sutton defence
Orrick had a hand in the winner 10 minutes from time but really it was a goal that belonged to Joicey alone.
Courage and determination took him stumbling through tackle after tackle and into a shooting position where his left foot effort went low past keeper Dave Roffey to bring the ecstatic Robin’s supporters to their feet and in raptures.
It was all over bar the shouting and six added minutes though it seemed like even longer.
A great exciting final that will never be forgotten
Shields went on to claim a remarkable treble that season.
In their last 17 league games the Robin’s dropped only 1 point while in action at Ferry Hill only 3 days after Wembley they went on to rattle in 28 goals before keeper Micky Morgan was beaten.
Frank Brennan’s Braves had to play 13 games in 26 days rattled up a couple of 8-0 wins and a 6-0 at Spennymoor and dropping only 1 point in a 1-1 draw at Blyth Spartans.
On the final day of the league season Shields were neck and neck with Whitley Bay.
Shields went on to win 4-1 at Whitby whilst Bay were held 3-3 at Shildon.
The title was celebrated by all Shieldsmen with some Whitby fish and chips washed down by a few ales !!!
Four days later the lads completed the treble with a 2-0 triumph over Tow Law in the League Cup Final
Then it was more success in the European Amateur Cup the following season (but that’s for another day …
Dave Thompson
Club Vice President
