President’s message
Well here we are at the end of the season that came to an abrupt halt on the 14th of March. In fact the last first team game was on the 7th of March against Gateshead. Up until this unexpected termination I was really enjoying my time as president of Northern, both hosting our visitors from the clubs in our league, and visiting other clubs and enjoying their hospitality, both renewing old acquaintances and making new friends. On the rugby front for the first XV we have had a fairly good season thanks to Dave Guthrie and Jim Pollock our coaches, captain Chalky White, and the excellent team management of Paul Scott. The season was slightly derailed however by a defeat to Stockton away, where we were winning comfortably with 15 minutes to go, and an unexpected draw against Medicals at home! At the end of the season the places in the league ended up by having to be calculated, and, but for these results we might have had a good chance of achieving promotion! In the end we managed to finish up in a respectable fourth place based on games played, but third after corrections for games not played
This season has been an excellent season for the Wanderers thanks once again to Ryan Moore, Dan Coates and captain Nathan Williams. They won the CANDY 2 league and are promoted rightly so to CANDY 1. This should strengthen them, as the competition is much tougher, which should hopefully have a knock-on effect to the first team! They also reached the final of the CANDY cup but sadly this never got to be played because of the pandemic. I had a great day out with them at Middlesbrough for the semi-final. We had a bus and on the way back I ended up singing a duet with my son, much to the amusement of the other players! It was “Summer Loving” from “Grease” and I sang Sandy’s part! For me the most important thing about this season is the re-establishment of the third team! In my view the more teams you have in the club the stronger the first team becomes, due to competition for places. They played 23 games, never once crying off due to lack of numbers, and they recorded some good wins including the very last game of the season on the 14th of March at Consett. I went with them and watched them beat a good Consett third side. Special thanks go to Tom Sealby and Jossie Willoughby for their hard work on and off the park! As ever, mini and junior rugby continues to thrive and it is hoped that future senior players will emerge from these Northern teams. It is also pleasing to note that girls’ rugby is prospering after being launched on a Friday evening. I attended two of the post-training food nights that they held in line with the Northern food nights. The atmosphere was great and they seem to have an excellent team spirit. I also watched them play in a round robin one Sunday morning and it was both entertaining and of an excellent standard. On the Squash front, this part of the club continues to thrive. I am sure that they are now well on the way to getting back to normal playing routines after the shutdown due to the pandemic. On the social and commercial side, Ron Borley, Chair of House, Gi (David Giles) our Club Manager, ably assisted by his staff, have again delivered for the club. All the organisation and planning during lockdown seem to have come to fruition after we opened again on July 4th and the social side of the club seems to be going from strength to strength! Finally I would like to thank all the unsung heroes who do the work behind the scenes without whom the club would struggle to function.
Richard Kain, Club President
1st XV
This has been a transitional season for the first team in Durham & Northumberland 1, finishing third behind Middlesbrough by a very fine margin after the league season was finished due to the coronavirus and the final games results calculated by using a formula. Consett won the league convincingly remaining unbeaten throughout the campaign and must be congratulated on achieving promotion. We started the season well with convincing wins against Novocastrians in the County Cup then league before beating Middlesbrough at home by two points, scoring a try in the final play of the game! Matt Hirst’s celebration was a joy to behold at the final whistle! The boot was on the other foot in the next game however where we squandered a 23 point lead away to Stockton with 15 minutes to play when our inexperienced back line was brutally exposed and Stockton scored 4 tries to win the game! In mitigation, the somewhat inexperienced referee did sin bin our prop and hooker for the last 10 minutes which did help to tip the balance. North Shields and Horden were dispatched before we once again lost our composure in the last 10 minutes and somehow allowed Medicals to snatch a draw at McCracken Park with a penalty kick on time. The biggest challenge of our season was next away to the unbeaten league leaders Consett. Despite a robust performance by our pack in atrocious weather conditions, their nous and kicker ensured that we were well beaten. After getting back to winning ways with four wins on the bounce we entertained Old Brodleians at home in the RFU Intermediate Cup. An enthralling game where Northern were within one score of a result and with 2 minutes left were trying to make the breakthrough only for Brods to score 2 tries in quick succession to kill the game off! We rallied up to Christmas with wins against Westoe and Rockcliff which kept us in contention for a runners up spot in the league. Sadly, our opening two fixtures of the New Year proved disastrous firstly, losing away to a very fine Middlesbrough team then losing heavily at home to Stockton, both of these teams being our closest challengers in the league. One win in January was achieved against North Shields where debutant wing Callum Davies scored the try of the season with a mazy run from well inside his own half putting three defenders on their backsides before dotting down. The month finished with a comprehensive defeat at Westoe in our second game in the RFU Intermediate cup when we fielded a much weakened side and were beaten. February started with good wins against Horden and Medicals before we faced Consett at home in the biggest game of our season. With our pack on top throughout the game and despite taking an early lead, the Consett backs proved to be the difference and they ran out winners by 4 tries to 2. All was not lost though and with our rivals slipping up we won our next two games against Acklam and Gateshead and moved into second place in the league. With an away trip to bottom team Barnard Castle our next fixture on what proved to be the last weekend of the league before the lockdown, all looked good for us to consolidate second place and ensure we stayed the top point scorers in the league. Alas, Barnard Castle’s pitch was unplayable and the game was called off! We played 3 cup games, winning 1 (the County Cup) and losing 2 (the RFU cup). We played 21 league games, winning 15, losing 5 and drawing 1. In the process we used 53 players but the very small core squad were the 19 players who played 8 or more games. We scored 144 tries with skipper, Chalky White scoring 27 in 20 games and Joe Young closest to him with 18 in 20 games. Newcomer, Alex Surry was the player of the season, playing 16 games and scoring 11 tries, maintaining consistently high standards in every game (he did not join us until the end of October hence fewer games played). The top point scorer was Chalky White with 135 points (all tries). New players establishing themselves in the 1st team were Gareth Little, Nathan Calvert, Callum Davies and Robbie Griffin. I should also mention the Wanderers’ captain and vice-captain, Nathan Williams and Chris Darley respectively who both stepped up to the 1st team when needed and gave creditable performances. One final mention must go to Ryan Moore the Wanderers manager who stepped up at short notice and came on as replacement away to Acklam, giving his usual solid performance even though his last outing was some two seasons ago when he retired with a serious knee injury. 1st team ties for reaching 21 games were awarded to 2 players this season. Cam Walker and Nathan Whitworth. A 100 game tie was awarded to Ali Gray. The support of Head coach Dave Guthrie has been invaluable this season, Dave, with Jim Pollock his assistant coach, has lead the training and given great support to the players and myself. I would also like to thank Ryan Moore and Dan Coates for their help in putting forward players in selection, sometimes significantly weakening the Wanderers team to ensure the best possible 1st team took the park. I would like to thank the players for their efforts and for putting up with me and captain, Chalky White, for his performances and leadership. I am also indebted to Paul Scott for his role as 1st team manager each Saturday, his experience and rapport with the players being a welcome addition.
Alan Belford
Wanderers
WANDERERS It was a sensational second season for the Wanderers under the management of Ryan Moore and Daniel Coates and captaincy of Nathan Williams, winning the league by a comfortable 26 points, only losing one game in a tough cup semi-final/league double header, with the team losing by 7 points. They also reached another cup final before the season was cut short In the end Northern Wanderers played 19, won 18, conceding on average 9 points a game whilst scoring a fantastic 33 points a game. The spirit of the squad throughout the season has been fantastic, managing to keep a core of around 6/7 players a game really helped the team connect and form a family bond, making the socials that much more entertaining. Big shout outs to Logan Ritchie and Charlie Kain, who made the joint top appearances this season, with Chris Parker and his big right cannon taking him to top points scorer. Some massive individual improvements have been seen this season, in particular, Dan Jacques has really come into his own this year, along with Dave Lockhart has made massive strides. Ian Sprague came to us later on in the season but has a tremendous impact not only on the rugby field but also off it quickly becoming a big part of the squad. Logan Ritchie and Mikey Dunne have been instrumental in the way we have been able to play this season, leading from the front and have been fantastic assets to the squad and the club as a whole. We shall see what next season brings us with promotion and an extremely tough league, but with the development we have seen over this season, along with 9 Wanderers getting their first team debuts and the boys we have coming in, we are certainly aiming to have similar success as we have seen so far
Ryan Moore
SQUASH
An interesting question often posed at interviews is: “What does success look like?” Questions are always easy to ask - sometimes the answers can be a little more difficult. At the conclusion of what has recently become a difficult few months for all of us, let me attempt to answer the question as it relates to the Northern Squash 2019-20 seasons. We started the year with more than 370 squash playing members of all ages, literally from five to seventy five, proving squash players make no allowance for age as a bar to enjoying the sport of squash. This inclusivity maximizes opportunities available to all members to participate in a variety of squash competitions throughout the year. Internal leagues continue to thrive successfully, but so do the fun competitions. The Andy Lee Memorial trophy took place in June. This competition is exactly what the title suggests. Andy Lee was a stalwart of Northern squash and directly responsible for developing the internal leagues to the current high standard. This year’s successful winner was Charlie Puente
The Annual ‘Ashes’ tournament took place in September. The history of this tournament links to our predated system of booking courts on sheets in a loose-leaf folder. With the introduction of Wazygoose on-line, the previous paper system was torched. This year’s successful winners take the accolade of the season’s youngest victorious team. December saw further success with the Gosforth Classic PSA event. This was the competition’s fourth year and it goes from strength to strength. Now a tournament recognised on the National Squash calendar, it not only showcases Northern FC but the North East Region. There is no other comparable competition north of Yorkshire. As a club we are grateful to the sponsors of this event and the support of NFC’s Executive Committee. This year as well as the male professional competition, we developed the equivalent female event. Spectators were treated to three days of outstanding squash, with the winners and runners-up in the various competitions earning their resulting moment of fame. In the men’s professional event, Richie Fallows (highest world ranking: 50) held onto his title by beating Robert Downer (highest world ranking: 1200)
In the ladies professional final, 18- year-old Alice Green (world ranked 109) overcome local North Shields born Lucy Beecroft (world ranked 140). A little postscript was provided by the winner who hails from Chelmsford. Alice took the opportunity to stay with her grandparents who live in Durham and who, due to obvious distance and squash commitments, she doesn’t get to visit too often. Guess which two spectators had the biggest smiles of the day when Alice was successful? The Festive Season wouldn’t be the same without a fun Christmas doubles competition. The opportunity to run off Xmas excess is always welcomed, especially by this year’s winners, Andy Smith and Michelle Robertson. This is the one competition where recognised rules regarding etiquette on permitted sportswear on court are relaxed!!!
During January, Northern ran a nationally recognised squash referees’ course aimed at enhancing attendees understanding and development of the finer points of officiating. Then there is our ‘success’ in the Northumbria Squash leagues. Northern Squash fields more teams in the Northumbria County Leagues than any other club (10 in total, including a Junior team and 3 ladies' teams). This in turn provides members with opportunities to represent the club competitively at various levels of ability. Although the 20/19/20 season was curtailed a few weeks early due to lockdown, the final positions were decided by average points from matches played. (Football fans will understand this concept) Ladies 1B won the Ladies Premier Division and Ladies 1A won Ladies Division 1 (having just missed out on staying in the top Division at the half season split). In the Men's Leagues, Northern 3 won Division 1 and other notable achievements were 3rd place finishes for Northern 1 in the Premier Division and Northern 4 in Division 2 A notable achievement was Northern Juniors winning the 2019 Summer League. Then we have the continued success of Northern juniors under the guidance and development of Head Coach Richard Vitty. The annual Dunlop Northern Junior Open competition, sponsored by QS Lawson & Thompson, took place during March and resulted in a bumper crop of wins for Northern juniors. In a highly competitive field, juniors from around the region came to Northern to contest ten different age groups. The tournament continues to grow in reputation, this year boasting more than eighty entries, a third of whom were girls. Most of the competitors were from the Newcastle area; however the event attracted wider participants including players from Durham, Cleveland and even South Wales. The standard of the U11 and U13 competitions shows that the future of junior squash at Northern is healthy. All 17 entries in the boys U11 competition were from the home club and in the final Aidan Mahoney beat Duncan Rutherford 3 – 0. Six of the seven entries in the girls U11 event were from Northern, but it was the seventh entry, Sophie Johnstone from Jesmond, who won the final, beating Northern's Ebony Holmes. Northern's Sam Tufton has just moved into the Boys U13 category, so his performance in making the final was exemplary but he met an outstanding player in Malachi Tindale from Darlington in the final and lost 3 – 0. The girls U13 final wasn't just an all Northern affair, it was an all Naisbitt affair with twins Ava and Kate contesting the final. It was Ava's turn to take a title with a 3 – 1 win. Northern Squash junior membership and coaching is respected throughout the region, reflecting the years of work invested by Richard Vitty. Not always as well known, is the work Richard does in engaging with local schools, encouraging the boys and girls to try squash. Michael Mattimore and Megan Evans are the two internationals he’s produced - so far. Richard’s production line continues with Gosforth Central Middle School providing 32 youngsters at Northern’s latest Junior School Squash Festival.
Inevitably perhaps, Richard is now ready to hand over some of his oncourt workload and management responsibilities. The Junior Squash Committee under the stewardship of Tim Barker, are working closely with Richard to ensure there is no reduction in our commitment to junior squash development. One point of interest for future junior coaches is that when Richard started on his journey to make Northern ‘Tyneside’s premier junior squash club, he’s believed to have had hair! In discussing success, our current premier position as one of the premier squash clubs in the region, is in no small way down to the enthusiasm and single minded approach of Clive Lucas. Clive has spent nearly two decades steering squash at Northern through sometimes troubled waters. As Chair, management of the squash committee was not his only task. He did, of course, run a tight ship. When the courts needed maintenance, it was Clive who acquired all the quotes and organised the work. No task was too big or small for Clive to take on, to promote and develop Northern squash as a facility or a club. Additionally Clive invested a considerable amount of time ensuring the smooth running of events such as the Club Championships and the Presentation Night. It’s only when a committed individual like Clive moves on, that you actually realise how much he has been Mr Northern Squash. In the present absence of our ability to play squash through Covid restrictions, we took the opportunity to ensure that when members returned, the courts were in a pristine condition with an extensive court maintenance programme. Can there be any better courts in the region? To conclude, we started playing squash in a very different environment than we find ourselves in today. However, the continued efforts and no little commitment from the individuals who volunteer in a wide range of roles will ensure our club’s future success. On behalf of all Northern Squash members can I say: “Thank you.”
Allan Curry
CLUBHOUSE & FACILITIES
Work to continue to develop facilities at McCracken Park have continued this year. Following the substantial investment to refurbish the Terrace Bar in September 2018 the club have extended the bar area by ‘knocking through’ the two meeting rooms on the first floor to become a sports lounge. This area has proved very popular with players and sports fans taking advantage of the 85-inch television mounted on the wall. The bar continues to be popular with members and non-members alike who have enjoyed a huge choice from 16 draught beer lines including hundreds of guest cask and craft beers as well as up to 25 different gins at any one time. Food offerings from our broad range of paninis and barista coffees have provided a welcome addition enjoyed by many. Although I write this during a very difficult time for all we know that the future for the bar is positive and once released from the lockdown I look forward to catching up with all our members and patrons. Further investments into the fabric of the club have been numerous and continue the commitment to ensure Northern is a prominent 21st century facility. The first floor men’s toilet has received a face lift with a new cubicle, vanity unit, wall panelling and tiles. The main ground floor entrance doors have been replaced along with the main doors through the ground floor. Three new electrical fuse boxes have been installed as part of a five-year plan to renew all fuses at the club. Finally, future investment is planned to replace the window at the north end of the McCracken Suite, replace the outdoor furniture, and to redecorate and carpet the main corridor on the first floor. Friday Food Nights have been a roaring success over the past year with all but a few nights selling out. New themes have been introduced such as Greek and the anticipated New Orleans Creole and Steak nights. These add to our more traditional themes of pies, curries, Spanish, French, Chinese and Italian to name a few. The Friday Night Food events have continued to invite Jason Isaacs to perform with three sell out Christmas shows in December and a Summer Pie night. I am pleased to announce Jason will be returning for three more Christmas shows in December this year. The McCracken Suite has also continued to host a vast number of events throughout the year from private parties to our community groups, all of whom help Northern remain at the heart of the Gosforth community. Regular club events have continued including squash presentation evening, club dinner and New Year’s Eve party all sold out with a great atmosphere enjoyed by all who attended. In July the club hosted the Proper Food and Drink Festival. The brain child of Mark Deakin, the festival stops off at a number of sites across the North East. Thirty-eight market stall and twenty street food vendors adorned the first team pitch with musical acts performing on an outdoor stage and in the clubhouse. Many visitors from the local area and beyond paid a visit to the free event which despite the bad weather was a great success. A festival event will become a fixture in our annual calendar of events when it returns in a slightly different guise in 2021. Future plans are to attract families with more child-friendly activities, more bands and a more varied craft drinks and British wines selection for the adults. The new Northern Therapy Centre opened for business in 2019. Based where the Gym used to be, however now not resembling the old gym in any way thanks to the hard work of proprietor Anne Fenwick, the centre has six treatment rooms offering services from remedial massage and holistic therapies to beauty and physiotherapy. It has been a pleasure working with Anne to get this project running and I would recommend everyone to visit her website www.northerntherapy centre.co.uk to find out more about what’s on offer at the club.
In November, the club made its annual trip to the Club Mirror Awards held at Doncaster Racecourse. This is the ninth year Northern has been represented at the awards which is an achievement in itself. Fending off competition from sporting and social club from across Great Britain, the club won the award for Innovative Club of the Year. The award reflects the continued growth and varied activities the club operates to engage as many people from the local community as possible. Particular reference was made to the Proper Food and Drink festival held at the club. Northern also won an award at the Hospitality Social Media Awards. The awards took place on Thursday 27th June at the Houses of Parliament recognised those who are using online platforms to build their business. Assistant Manager Michael Giles with his fiancée Ruth picked up the Community award and enjoyed fizz and canapes on the terrace overlooking the Thames.
Thanks go to Michael Giles for his hard work in running all platforms and thank you to everyone who clicks like, comments and shares on all our social media accounts. If you haven't done so already, please follow and keep up to date with all goings on at the club. It's the best way to see what's on at the club. Finally, I would like to reassure everyone that the club’s social life will continue when life returns back too normal. It is at this time that the club will need as much community involvement as possible. I will continue work hard to develop the club trading activities and support the future development of the facilities at the club. I wish you all the best of health and whatever our future the club will support the community to its full capability.
David Giles
Obituaries
John Shallcross OBE Although John never played for the club or held any official position in the club during the 80's 90's and into this century he contributed unquestionably to the financial welfare of the club in many ways. His contributions included support for sponsoring two South Africans, Henni le Roux and Jeremy Strydon to play for Northern. Hennie went on to play in the 95 World Cup winning team and after the final presented his Springbok cap to Nelson Mandela! In addition to his support for Northern John also was joint sponsorship of the junior Northumberland boxing championships with the Newcastle Boys Club, sponsored a local businessmen’s cricket team who played at the club each Tuesday during the summer and sponsoring a table at the club's annual dinner. He also sponsored Northern’s team shirts and other apparel and equipment especially when the club needed financial support. His company, Service Welding's Christmas parties were always very lively affairs!! He gave willingly without question and in 2018 he was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the youth of the city especially the Newcastle Boys Club. Shally is missed big time by all who knew of him and especially his family and many friends.
