I’d like to
take this opportunity to welcome all players, officials and supporters of
Cramlington Town Reserves and Wardley FC to the first of our 2016/2017 Tyneside
Amateur League finals. I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to any players,
officials or supporters of other Tyneside Amateur League clubs and indeed to
everyone who is here today to watch the Neville Cowey Cup; a trophy named in
honour of our stalwart secretary, treasurer and so much more beside, the
incomparable Neville Cowey himself.
I am
particularly pleased that the game is being played at Sam Smith’s Park, the
home of my beloved Newcastle Benfield FC. Consequently, I must pay sincere and
humble gratitude to Chairman Jimmy Rowe, who has allowed us to use the ground
for both end of season showcase events. In addition, thanks go to the rest of
the Benfield committee and volunteers for all their hard work today and
throughout the season: cheers to Stan, Dave, Allan, Alan, Ian, Graham, Tommy,
Gary, the lasses from Snack Attack and the incomparable Johnny Innes. If you
could put a few quid Benfield’s way by getting a couple of hot drinks and a
burger that would be great. If you fancy hanging around at full time (remember,
unlike the Northern League we still have extra time in cup ties, if necessary)
to celebrate with the winners or commiserate with the runners-up, that would be
even better.
Last
weekend, I was privileged to see a team of black and white clad footballers
cavorting with each other on the pitch, after a 3-0 win in the last game had
handed them the title. I’m talking about Ponteland United Reserves of course
(though I did get to see events at St James Park by a bizarre series of events
I don’t have time to describe here, sadly). KennieMalia’s young team beat
Cramlington Town Reserves away, to overhaul their hosts at the top of the
table. Of course today’s game provides Cramlington with an opportunity to
bounce back and win some silverware. However Wardley, the sole representatives
of the Durham FA in our league, will be determined to take the trophy back
south of the Tyne.
At the time
of writing, there are still 3 games to be played, which will decide whether
Wardley finish in 6th or 7th place. In a sense, as chair, this is immaterial;
what particularly delights me, considering the crises that have enveloped clubs
higher up the pyramid than us, including West Allotment Celtic, Washington,
Hebburn Town and our dear friends at Percy Main Amateurs, all of whom have
threatened resignations and closure at some point in the season, is that our
league will finish the campaign with a full complement of teams. We started
with 16 and we finished with 16; perhaps that’s the reason why the Tyneside
Amateur League was recently honoured by the Northumberland FA, being named FA
Charter Standard League of the Year. The trophy was presented at half time on
the pitch at St James during the Northumberland Senior Cup final to our
invaluable referees and fixture secretary, Paul Mosley.
We think we
run a cracking local league and we hope you enjoy what is on offer here today.
Even more, we hope you can return next Saturday to this venue for the final of
the Tyneside Amateur Challenge Shield, when Cramlington Town Reserves are again
involved, with Morpeth Town Seniors as their opponents.
May the best
team win!
I’d like to
take this opportunity to welcome all players, officials and supporters of Cramlington
Town Reserves and Morpeth Town Seniors to the second of our 2016/2017 Tyneside
Amateur League finals, which also marks the end of our season. I’d also like to
extend a warm welcome to any players, officials or supporters of other Tyneside
Amateur League clubs and indeed to everyone who is here today to watch the
Tyneside Amateur Challenge Shield.
The campaign
just ending has been a debut one in the league for both of today’s opponents.
Morpeth had an encouraging season, ending in 5th place in the table,
but for Cramlington Town it has been a case of so near, yet so far. A fortnight
ago they lost a winner takes all final league game against eventual champions
Ponteland United Reserves, meaning they had to settle for second spot. Last
week, they went into the Neville Cowey Cup final against Wardley as favourites,
but came up short as the Gateshead based club put in a more than impressive
display to shock Cramlington 4-1. I hope they don’t regard the presence of the
Tyneside Amateur League committee as a bad omen. Therefore, I must state; may
the best team win!
I am
particularly pleased that the game is being played at Sam Smith’s Park, the
home of my beloved Newcastle Benfield FC. Consequently, I must pay sincere and
humble gratitude to Chairman Jimmy Rowe, who has allowed us to use the ground
for both end of season showcase events. In addition, thanks go to the rest of
the Benfield committee and volunteers for all their hard work today and
throughout the season: cheers to Stan, Dave, Allan, Alan, Ian, Graham, Tommy,
Gary, the lasses from Snack Attack
and the incomparable Johnny Innes. If you could put a few quid Benfield’s way
by getting a couple of hot drinks and a burger that would be great. If you
fancy hanging around at full time (remember, unlike the Northern League we
still have extra time in cup ties, if necessary) to celebrate with the winners
or commiserate with the runners-up, that would be even better.
While the
eyes of North East non-league will be on Wembley tomorrow, where South Shields
travel in expectation rather than hope against Cleethorpes Town in the FA Vase
final, we at the Tyneside Amateur League have plenty of reasons for optimism
about the future of our competition. Considering the crises that have enveloped
clubs higher up the pyramid than us, including West Allotment Celtic,
Washington, Hebburn Town and our dear friends at Percy Main Amateurs, all of
whom have threatened resignations and closure at some point in the season, it
is a source of great pride that our league will finish the campaign with a full
complement of teams. We started with 16 and we finished with 16 and next season
we may well have enough teams to split to two divisions; perhaps that’s the
reason why the Tyneside Amateur League was recently honoured by the
Northumberland FA, being named FA Charter Standard League of the Year. The
trophy was presented at half time on the pitch at St James during the
Northumberland Senior Cup final to our invaluable referees and fixture
secretary, Paul Mosley. We think we run a cracking local league and we hope you
enjoy what is on offer here today. Even more, we hope you can return next season
to see games at our level. Indeed, if you find yourself at a loose end, every
single club would welcome volunteer helpers.
ian cusack, League Chair
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