South Shields FC: how the Mariners sailed from Peterlee exile to National League North

Not so long ago, South Shields Football Club was playing its home games in Peterlee, 20 miles from home, in front of crowds that rarely reached three figures. Today the Mariners are an established National League North side with a busy community foundation, and their story is one of the most uplifting in North East football.

The turnaround began in the summer of 2015, when local businessman Geoff Thompson became chairman and bought back the club's old ground, renaming it Mariners Park. More than 650 people turned up for a friendly against Darlington to celebrate the homecoming, and the club soon tempted former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca out of retirement.

What followed was a remarkable run of success. In 2016-17 the Mariners put together a run of 32 successive wins and completed a quadruple of trophies, including the Northern League title and the FA Vase. The Vase final at Wembley on 21 May 2017 saw Shields beat Cleethorpes Town 4-0 in front of an estimated 14,000 of their own supporters. Further promotions followed, and in 2022-23 the club won promotion to National League North as champions.

The Mariners still enjoy a cup adventure. This October they travelled to The Shay to face FC Halifax Town, a club from the division above, in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, hoping to reach the first round proper for a second year running. Three goals down after 22 minutes, Shields hit back with quickfire goals from Cedwyn Scott and Toby Onanaye and almost completed a heroic comeback before going out 3-2.

Off the pitch, the club's motto is about pride, perseverance and progress, and the SSFC Foundation puts that into practice across South Tyneside. Since 2017 the foundation reports a total social impact of more than £43 million, and it supports around 930 schoolchildren every week, with programmes built around five pillars of wellbeing: connecting, being active, taking notice, giving back and learning. Its activities range from early years learning in primary schools to fitness classes, grassroots football and community events at Harton and Westoe Miners Welfare.

There is a home academy for young local players and an international academy that welcomes players from around the world, while the club also runs a women's team.

Chester are next up on 24 October. Fixtures, tickets and details of the foundation's weekly sessions are on the South Shields FC website.