In my
capacity as Chair of the Tyneside Amateur League, it gives me enormous pleasure
to welcome you all to the final of the Tyneside Amateur Challenge Shield
sponsored by Bill Upsall Trophies. Today’s game is between Bedlington Juniors,
who clinched the Tyneside Amateur League title on Wednesday 11th
with a single goal victory over Gosforth Bohemians Reserves, and North Shields
Athletic Reserves, who are vying for runners-up spot with Ponteland United
Reserves, who face West Jesmond here on Tuesday 17th at 7.00pm in
the final of the Neville Cowey Cup, which I hope to see many of you at.
However, I’m getting a little ahead of myself here.
I’d like to
welcome all players, officials and supporters of our two opposing teams today
to Sam Smith’s Park, home of my beloved Newcastle Benfield FC. It is a source
of enormous pride for me that Benfield have agreed to host our finals, as this
is the home of Newcastle’s senior non-league side and, I would suggest, an
appropriate venue for our league’s two cup finals. Indeed, following recent
results on Wearside, today’s game is arguably the most important fixture in the
North East this weekend, though the Whitley Bay A v Blyth Town Northern
Alliance Premier Division decider at Hillheads runs it close. As the club
formerly known as Newcastle United have failed to learn from bitter experience,
football is meaningless unless there is aspiration; striving to improve, to
better yourself and achieve more is the very reason why people still play the
beautiful game. It is for that very reason, we at the Tyneside Amateur League
vigorously support Bedlington’s application to the Northern Alliance; our
champions of the previous two seasons Monkseaton (formerly Lindisfarne Custom
Planet FC) and Hazelrigg Victory have gone on to distinguish themselves at a
higher level and we hope Bedlington Juniors came follow suit, progressing up
the non-league pyramid. This is why we’ve brought both of our finals to a
Northern League Division 1 ground; it isn’t the San Siro or Camp Nou, but it’s
a great place for local football games to take place. I sincerely hope many of
those playing today will regularly play at Northern League Division 1 standard
and above.
I hope
today’s game is also a fitting end to this season, though our league still has
games as far ahead as May 28th, because 2015/2016 has been a
uniquely appalling season in terms of weather. Has this been the wettest season
on record? I’m not sure if simply calculating millimetres of rainfall
adequately describes a season where snow flurries in May resulted in
postponements, but I would imagine so, however one decides to measure
inclemency.
More
seriously, this has been the most difficult, frustrating and infuriating
campaign for clubs, players and administrators at all levels of the amateur
game and I give my heartfelt thanks to all those who give up their time so
willingly to keep the game going at our grassroots level. Perhaps grass is the problem; with the impending
onslaught of wetter winters on account of climate change, the paucity of 4G pitches
at our level becomes ever more acute. If it hadn’t been for 2 clubs in our
league boasting artificial home surfaces and several others digging deep to pay
for the hire of facilities, the season may never have ended.
However,
let’s be positive; today’s final is the only game in the Tyneside Amateur
League, so I sincerely hope those associated with other clubs have come along
to witness proceedings. I hope all of you here present will enjoy today’s game
and, if you can spare the time, join us for our next final here on Tuesday.
Even better, could you see yourself becoming involved with a local club? Don’t
be shy; they all need help. There’s far more to the beautiful game than
allowing Mike Ashley’s circus to depress you.
All the
best,
ian cusack,
Chair
Tyneside
Amateur League
In my
capacity as Chair of the Tyneside Amateur League, it gives me enormous pleasure
to welcome you all to the final of the Neville Cowey Cup. This evening’s game
is between Ponteland United Reserves, who are also vying for runners-up spot in
the Tyneside Amateur League face, and West Jesmond. I’d like to welcome all players, officials and
supporters of our two opposing teams to Sam Smith’s Park, home of my beloved
Newcastle Benfield FC. It is a source of enormous pride for me that Benfield
have agreed to host our finals, as this ground is the home of Newcastle’s
senior non-league side and, I would suggest, an appropriate venue for our
league’s two cup finals.
Indeed, anyone
who chose to attend the final of the Tyneside Amateur Shield here last
Saturday, as opposed to the Whitley Bay A v Blyth Town Northern Alliance
Premier Division decider at Hillheads for instance, would agree that Bedlington
Juniors and North Shields Athletic served up a high quality game, enjoyed by
all in attendance, that was a great advertisement for the standard of football
on show in our league. The decision to
cancel all other league games on Saturday was vindicated both by the healthy
attendance and the large number of clubs who were represented here. Let’s hope
the decision to play tonight’s game on a Tuesday attracts similar numbers of
interested onlookers.
If this
evening’s game is of a comparable standard to the game on Saturday, we will be
in for a treat. Bedlington shaded that final and completed a league and cup
double with a 2-1 victory. As the club formerly known as Newcastle United,
despite a quite stunning performance on Sunday afternoon, have failed to learn
from bitter experience, football is meaningless unless there is aspiration;
striving to improve, to better yourself and achieve more is the very reason why
people still play the beautiful game. It is for that very reason, we at the
Tyneside Amateur League vigorously support Bedlington’s application to the
Northern Alliance; our champions of the previous two seasons Monkseaton
(formerly Lindisfarne Custom Planet FC) and Hazelrigg Victory have gone on to
distinguish themselves at a higher level and we hope Bedlington Juniors came
follow suit, progressing up the non-league pyramid. I sincerely hope many of
those playing today will regularly play at Northern League Division 1 standard
and above. This is why we’ve brought both of our finals to a Northern League
Division 1 ground; it isn’t the San Siro or Camp Nou, but it’s a great place
for local football games to take place. I implore you to make use of the superb
catering facilities available in Snack Attack and to have a drink in our
luxurious, well-stocked bar, which will be open before, during and after the
game.
I hope
tonight’s game is also a fitting end to this season, though our league still
has games as far ahead as May 25th, because 2015/2016 has been a
uniquely appalling season in terms of weather. Has this been the wettest season
on record? I’m not sure if simply calculating millimetres of rainfall
adequately describes a season where snow flurries in May resulted in
postponements, but I would imagine so, however one decides to measure
inclemency. This has been the most difficult, frustrating and infuriating campaign
for clubs, players and administrators at all levels of the amateur game and I
give my heartfelt thanks to all those who give up their time so willingly to
keep the game going at our grassroots
level. With the impending onslaught of wetter winters on account of climate
change, the paucity of 4G pitches at our level becomes ever more acute. If it
hadn’t been for 2 clubs in our league boasting artificial home surfaces and
several others digging deep to pay for the hire of facilities, the season may
never have ended.
However,
let’s be positive; I hope all of you here present will enjoy the game and, if
you can spare the time, seek out another Tyneside Amateur League game before
the end of the season. Even better, could you see yourself becoming involved
with a local club? Don’t be shy; they all need help. There’s far more to the
beautiful game than allowing Mike Ashley’s circus to depress you.
All the
best,
ian cusack,
Chair
Tyneside
Amateur League
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