The north east is a hotbed of football, with the likes of Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough the biggest draws in the area. However, further down the football pyramid in non-league, another club from the region is making waves. That club is South Shields.
South Shields are riding high in the National League North, top of the table, and their league campaign looks highly promising.
Top of the tree in the National League North
South Shields have been the standout team in the National League North this season. The north east outfit are currently top of the table, having taken 26 points from their opening ten league games, while remaining unbeaten in the process.
They have won eight and drawn two of their league games this season. The most impressive facet of their play so far has been that they have conceded just four goals in the National League North. Meanwhile, only three teams can better their tally of 20 goals this season.
A key player for the Mariners has been last season’s top scorer, Paul Blackett, who has scored eight times, which makes him the second-highest scorer in the National League North after Bedford Town’s Tyrone Marsh, who has scored just one more goal than the South Shields star.
Their league position is impressive considering that, since winning promotion to the National League North, they have finished in eighth and 17th place in the table, respectively.
Never been higher than the sixth tier
The club’s position is really promising and exciting, especially as the north east club has never progressed higher than the sixth-tier of the English game. In fact, they have only been in the sixth tier for two seasons.
Even more extraordinary is that South Shields only reached the seventh tier of the football pyramid, the Northern Premier League, in 2018. To say that the club has seen a nice, steady rise in recent seasons would be an understatement.
It appears that the team has become accustomed to life in the National League North, despite finishing 17th in the league last season.
Could South Shields go a step further this season?
The closest South Shields have come to the English fifth tier was in the 2023/24 season, when they finished eighth and missed out on the play-offs by just a point.
This season looks highly promising, looking at the current state of the National League table. That defensive solidity could well serve them well this season, as long as they can remain solid, they will have a chance of earning automatic promotion.
The goals of star striker Blackett could also be pivotal. The 27-year-old has scored 30 and 22 goals respectively in the last two seasons. The former Gateshead forward has continued this season where he left off last season. A prolific striker is a valuable asset to any team, regardless of the league.
Before winning promotion to the National League North, South Shields had had a slight reputation for wilting when the going got tough in previous promotion races.
It is very early in the season, but all signs point to South Shields enjoying a highly successful campaign. If they do win promotion, then the Mariners will make history. They would then be one promotion away from the EFL, which surely has had to have been the dream for anybody associated with the north east club.
Will South Shields keep their nerve and make history by winning promotion to the National League this season?
Matt Tomiak
