Wembeleeeeeee!

[Graham stout]

All the recent posts about Shildon seem to be doom and gloom. Burglaries, snow not being cleared, credit card fraud etc.
What about us starting to shout from the rooftops about the great football team we have. Still in the Durham Challenge and League cups and a potential trip to Wembley. It wasn't all that long ago that the Bishops goalkeeper cleared the snow by building a snowman in the penalty box during the game such were our local rivals dominance over us. As I have posted before the only major success I had seen in my lifetime up until recently was the Railwaymen winning the Durham Challenge Cup in the 71/72 season. However despite some hiccups in recent times we have won the league cup.reached the first round proper of the FA Cup and now we are in the last 8 of the vase. We may even get a home draw in the quarter finals! A great football team alwaysinvariably brings the feel good factor into the area. Think back to 66 (those of you who can remember it), 73 when Sunderland won the FA Cup, Newcastle winning the Fairs Cup, Middlesbrough's recent run in europe, Hartlepool being promoted, Asprilla meant to be signing for Darlington, Crook, Bishop, Whickham, Whitley Bay etc Ametuer Cup/FA vase successes. I also remember Hearts parading the Cup with great fondness in 1998.
As the song our class penned in 1975 says Shildon Shildon Happy Old Shildon evry day is a happier day, everyone makes Shildon go round. Let us all make it happen

[Ken]

Brilliant Graham. Lets hope they get there.
Shildon Town was the first club I ever supported.When I could afford it , I used to go to the full matches but when I didn`t have the money I used to wait till they opened the big gates at half time & get in for free.
As for the Boro in Europe--- what fantastic times. I got to see places I would otherwise never had had the chance to see --- places like Lisbon , Rome , Bucharest , etc., etc. Those were the days !
The only time I`ve been to Wembley was to watch Crook Town in the F.A. Cup final.
Lets hope I get there again to see Shildon.

Ken.

[Kleener]

Hi Graham,
Bishop goalkeeper wasn't the first to build a snowman, Harry Sharratt did the same when they were playing Shildon in the 50's. Shildon did go on to have a very good team with the likes of Eddie Swift, Keith Hopper etc etc. They did very well in the FA Amateur Cup. Someone out there will know all the details!!

[Andavjo]

Next round is at HOME to the winners of the Whitley Bay V Chertsey replay.
Lets hope the home support can carry us through to the two leg semi-finals.

[Tardbaz]

Hi Graham,
Bishop goalkeeper wasn't the first to build a snowman, Harry Sharratt did the same when they were playing Shildon in the 50's.

The Bish-keeper and Harry Sharratt are one and the same... Kleener
I always thought that match was against Whitley Bay though? anybody?

[Kleener]

Hi Tardbaz,
well my memory of the 50's may fail me but I couldn't see all of us Shildon lads going to see Bishop play Whitley Bay.

[Tardbaz]

You're right (of course) Kleener,
I've just read an old interview with Harry Sharratt and he says, of the Northern League game... "we were beating them (Shildon) about 4 nil and I built this snowman, a rather good one too, on the goal-line, just for something to do. The ref booked me and ordered the snowman off"
He was once told he was the 4th best goalkeeper in the world. He replied that as the other 3 were professionals... that must make me the best amateur in the world then... I'll settle for that!

[Kleener]

Hi Tardbaz,
yes love him or hate him Harry certainly was a good goalkeeper although the Bishops at that time had a brilliant team they were talked of as "shamateurs". Nevertheless they were a great team to watch.