The Alan Shoulder story.

Alan made a name for himself in the legendary 1977/78 FA Cup run which ultimately earned him his move to Newcastle United.
Goal scoring exploits aside, given he
was a coal miner playing for a town so steeped in mining tradition Alan’s hero status was guaranteed.
To the hard working Blyth fans he was quite literally one of them.
The miner who went from working in darkness down the pit to the bright lights of St James’ Park, a true footballing rags to riches story.
But the story of his time as a Spartan is not quite as rosy as many think.

What seems to have been forgot, or maybe some didn’t even realise, is that he was with the club for less than a year. Having moved to Croft Park in early December 77 he was signed by United in late November 78, making his professional debut a day shy of a year on from his Spartans debut.

The story of his arrival and well publicised departure can been summed up as;
‘the one that very nearly didn’t happen’ and ‘the one that very nearly got away’
it all makes for quite an interesting read.

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Born in Bishop Auckland on 4th February 1953, Alan had never thought of playing professionally when he took up full time work as a miner aged 18.
His all action style and goalscoring exploits for Leeholme Juniors soon drew the attentions of Northern League teams.

Newly appointed Bishops manager Arnold Bell signed 19 year old Alan ahead of the 72/73 season to play alongside his new other new signing, Brian Slane from Blyth Spartans.
Alan established himself as an integral part of the Bishops side as they reached the FA Cup 2nd Round in 74/75. That season also saw him score a cup final winner when they lifted their first silverware in 8 seasons beating Ashington 2-1 in the League Cup Final at Croft Park of all places. He was top scorer for 3 seasons running and appointed club captain for the 76/77 campaign, he had also become regular in the Northern League’s Representative Select side.

After 5 years at Kingsway the 77/78 season started with him in dispute with the club which resulted in him refusing to play.
However Bishop Auckland were not prepared to let him leave and invoked the Northern League’s ‘February First rule’.
It stated that any player who appeared for his club after February 1st was automatically re-registered to that club for the following season. Bishops wouldn’t enter into discussions, they intended to keep Alan as the rule stated they were entitled too.
He wanted to leave so in protest refused to play for them that season, playing only Sunday League football to keep himself fit.

His former Bishops teammate Brian Slane had been appointed Blyth’s player manager in February 77. Alan played for Brian’s successful Rams Head FC Sunday League side which had won the 76/77 FA Sunday Cup. They had spoken over the summer about Alan joining him at Croft Park.
Having promised Brian in the summer he would join Blyth and despite numerous attempts by Bishops to resolve the situation he held out until the move happened.

It took until 6th December before Brian finally managed to strike a deal to sign Alan after agreeing to pay Bishops £200.
He made an immediate impact scoring the winner in the 70th minute of his debut the 1-0 home win over Durham City on Saturday 10th December 1977.
However the League’s Management Committee then denied him the opportunity of playing in the 1-0 FA Cup 2nd Round win over Chesterfield by not sanctioning the move in time. They delayed it because of something that had happened three years earlier!.

Manager Brian Slane explained:
“We had the deal done with Bishops and we tried to register him on December 2nd. However, because an illegal approach had been made to Alan back in 1974 which Bishops reported to the LMC they had to sanction this transfer. 
They didn’t meet to approve his transfer until December 8th and players needed to be registered at least 14 days before an FA Cup tie to qualify. We were the innocent party but were made to suffer for it due to bureaucracy”.

Alan heads home the winner against Enfield.

Alan scored again, on New Years Eve when Blyth beat Horden CW 1-0 away in the League Cup, before the goal that is mistakenly claimed as his debut goal.
On Saturday 7th January, Spartans beat Enfield 1-0 at Croft Park in the FA Cup 3rd Round.
5,095 packed into Croft Park and saw the diminutive striker head home the winning goal that ended the Isthmian League sides 32 game unbeaten run.
Many papers wrongly claimed it as his debut goal and as the years passed the Enfield game has wrongly been stated as his debut.

Now established as Terry Johnson’s strike partner, the Spartans famously beat Stoke City away in the 4th Round.
It was another header from Alan that set up the equaliser.
Having lead 0-1 at half time Stoke had rallied and taken a 2-1 lead.
Blyth won a free kick, Ron Guthrie’s thunderous effort crashed into the wall. The ball spun up over the Stoke keeper and onto his left hand post. Alan reacted the quickest but his header then agonisingly hit the opposite post before falling into the path of Steve Carney who hammered it home the equaliser, the Stoke defenders appealed in vain for offside.
Terry Johnson then famously won the game in the dying minutes when he fired home a dramatic winner.

Alan played in both the 5th Round games against Wrexham, the replay was the first time he played at St James’ Park.
He was to play at St James’ once more that season before it became his home ground.
It also provided him with his first medal as a Spartan when they beat North Shields 2-1 win the Senior Cup Final at St James’ Park.
Alan then added another two medals in the space of a week. He took his tally to 20 goals in 35 games, scoring twice as Blyth beat Willington 5-1 in the Northern League Cup Final.

The historic 77/78 season ended with a hat trick of medals when Spartans gained some revenge on Wrexham beating them 3-2 on aggregate to claim The Debenhams Cup.

The new 78/79 campaign started with the club on a high, however despite starting well things didn’t quite work out as hoped.
The final pre season friendly saw Dutch side FC Den Bosch beaten 4-1 at Croft Park. Alan scored his only Blyth hat trick under the watchful eye of Newcastle boss Bill McGarry.

In early October the club rewarded Alan with his first ever contract, but by the time the FA Cup came around again on 25th November he was at loggerheads with the club.
They had become embroiled in a bitter row than stemmed from the signing of his contract.
On Tuesday 31st October Alan submitted a shock transfer request.
He informed the club that he wanted to move closer to his Durham home, stating the travelling had become too much since recently moving pits to Horden Colliery:
“It’s 90 miles a trip and it’s getting harder and harder. I have changed pits where I work and this means a longer journey for me everyday, then going off to Blyth is no joke.
I will be sorry to leave but I’m not being fair to myself or the club if i can’t train.
I have got my job to think of more than anything else and that’s why I want a transfer”.

However the result of a Croft Park board meeting on Tuesday 7th November was a clear – ‘You stay at Blyth’.

The bombshell request for a move had come as the bitter row escalated.
Alan accused the club of discriminating against him for playing Sunday League football for Coundon Club after he signed his contract. He felt they did not take the same action against other players whom he claimed to know were also playing Sunday League.
Following his transfer request the club then suspended him for 10 days for breach of contract for playing Sunday League.
Alan was livid and a war of words ensure over the coming weeks:
“I played one game after signing the contract. I did this because I know, and everyone in the club knows, other Blyth contracted players have played Sunday football since the start of the season. They did not suspend them.
I only played one game and was suspended – I think I’ve have been hard done by. I’m upset about it and feel very bitter”.

Alan believed his request to leave had sparked the club’s actions, manager Brian Slane accused Alan of trying to ‘cast blame’ to try and draw it away from himself.
A claim he wasn’t having:
“Other players in the team have been playing on Sunday, they admit this. I asked Brian Slane what was going to happen to them and he said it was a different matter!.
If Blyth say  I can’t go, it will probably have to go to the FA. I will have to name names of other Blyth players playing on Sundays if it comes to that.
To suspend me and not them is just discrimination against me”.

The Blyth manager was at a loss on how the in the whole situation had come about and even offered a solution:
“I’m bitterly disappointed and very surprised he does not want to play for Blyth any more. He was out of non league football when I brought him to the club and provided him with the best season he has ever had. Alan was not forced to sign a contract and then he choose to play Sunday football.
Everyone is allowed a indiscretion. As far As I’m concerned the hatchet is buried. I hope he will accept his punishment and come back and play for Blyth.
If he finds the travelling too much he can train at home – many other clubs have players do this. Alan is the best striker in non league football – you can’t just pick up a replacement for him like that. The board have said he stays and I agree. There is no way we are going to let him go“.

A rival Northern League were reported to be interested in signing him and Alan admitted to having been approached.
Spennymoor United then approached the Spartans officially about signing Alan and the two clubs were reported to be in negotiations, Alan spoke about his impending move:
“I know Blyth and Spennymoor are talking now but I could not say when my transfer will go through. I’m sorry to leave Blyth but the travelling has just become too much. If i lived up there I would not want to leave especially when the cup is coming up again. But my job and home are more important”

He was adamant he was leaving but stated he was prepared to play on until his transfer went through but felt his form was suffering from missing training:
“Blyth might insist on keeping me but there would not be much point in doing that because there is no chance of me changing my mind. I’m very sorry to leave because Spartans are the best team I have played for, but I live nearer to Spennymoor”.

Spennymoor boss Kenny Banks would only admit his club were keeping a close watch on the situation:
“Obviously Alan is a good player and any club not interested in signing him would be insane. We like to have the best players in the league in out team and he certainly is one of them. We are watching the situation very closely now to see what happens”.

Banks would not be drawn on claims that they has spoken to the player before speaking to his club.
Alan missed three games due to the suspension, returning to the side as sub for the home league game against Whitby Town on Saturday 18th November.
He came off the bench to score in the 3-2 win at home win but by then the situation had taken a turn for the worse.

He submitted a second transfer request in an attempt to force the clubs hand, it was discussed at another board meeting.
As the club prepared for an FA Cup tie at York City officials reluctantly accepted they had lost the battle to keep their star striker.
Having been to watch York in action Brian Slane wasn’t giving up on his star striker:
“I consider him a very important part of my team and be would be a vital cog in the game against York City.”.

Unsurprisingly after the events of the last few weeks that York City game changed everything.

Alan is sent tumbling for the penalty at York City.

Alan started the tie at York and ran them ragged as Blyth deservedly earned a home replay. It was one of his trademark mazy runs that led to Blyth goal, winning the penalty  which Terry Johnson scored from.
Newcastle legend Jackie Milburn was a friend of Blyth chairman Jim Turney and had spoken to him and Brian Slane to get a picture of Alan’s character.
Scouting him again at both York City cup ties, Newcastle officials to make their move.
They spoke to Alan straight after York City replay, stating their interest and inviting him to a meeting at St James’ Park the following Monday.
The epic replay played on a snow covered Croft Park proved to be a fitting swansong in green & white for Alan.
He scored twice from the spot as the game went to extra time before the league team eventually ran out 3-5 winners.
However there was nearly yet another twist in the saga. After the final whistle York manager Charlie Wright approached Brian Slane in the Croft Park boardroom and asked him to name his price for Alan.
Brian response was to point to a gentleman stood with his back to them and say:
“See that gentleman over there, that’s Newcastle boss Bill McGarry he’s just agreed to sign for them”.
After only 48 games for the Spartans in which he scored 29 goals he was suddenly a professional footballer.
All parties agreed on the deal at the Monday meeting, the the deal was signed on the Tuesday. The fee was £20,000 with another £5,000 if he played a certain number of first team games. He met and trained with his new team mates on the Wednesday and made his debut on the Saturday.

Alan’s wages jumped from the £14 per week Blyth paid him to £180 per week awith another £300 bonuses on offer.
Having started a colliery under management course at Horden Colliery, United even offered Alan the chance to continue his studies provided it could be arranged it with the National Coal Board.

His debut was on Saturday 9th December at St James’ Park in the 2-0 win over Stoke City. He scored his first goal a week later firing home after only 7 minutes in the 3-1 win at Fulham.
He scored a very creditable 11 goals in 28 appearances that first season as United’s finished 7th in the Second Division.
In his three & half years at St James’ Park.
His all action non stop running performances saw him become a real crowd favourite. He made 117 appearances scoring 38 goals before being allowed to leave in the summer of 1982.
He was immediately snapped-up by Carlisle United manager Bob Stokoe.
His first season at Brunton Park was a great success, in 46 appearances he scored 21 goals.
It would take another 11 season before a Carlisle player scored 20 goals in a season, David Reeves in the 94/95.

Alan is presented with his Player of the Year Award.

Alan was voted their player of the season for 82/83, being presented the award on the ground at which he’s scored his first Newcastle goal five years earlier, Craven Cottage.
Carlisle’s New Years Day fixture of 1983 took Alan back to St James’ Park where he received a hero’s welcome from both the home and travelling support. He scored the game’s opening goal in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Alan made 112 appearances in total for Carlisle scoring 32 goals but injury hit plagued 84/85 campaign, he moved to Hartlepool United.
The moved once again reignited his form, he played 76 times for Pools scoring 26 goals, he was top scorer in 85/86.
He made his final football league appearance aged 34 on Wednesday, 16th September 1987 in Hartlepool’s 2-1 home win over Cambridge United.
After 286 football league appearance and 91 goals an eye injury forced him to retire as a professional in December 1988, but he continued playing with Ferryhill Athletic.

Moving into management and coaching became assistant at Gretna, and then a coach at Newcastle Blue Star. He managed several clubs, including Coundon, Crook Town, Bishop Auckland, Willington, West Auckland Town and still played for Stanley. He was sent off at the ripe old age of 47 for arguing with a referee in a Durham Challenge Cup tie.
Alan still carried on playing ‘occasionally’, he was 53 years old when he played his final game, for Brandon United against Dunston.

After a brief spell as caretaker manager of Gateshead he return to Blyth in May 1988 being appointed manager.
He was one of five players from that 77/78 side to manage the club, but sadly his reign only lasted 14 games.
It is the shortest reign ever by a Blyth manager with only 4 wins from 14 games.
In a cruel twist of fate having made his name at Blyth in the FA Cup 11 years on it was to end his managerial career at Croft Park.
He resigned in early October 98′ following a 2nd Qualifying Round home replay defeat to Runcorn.

31 years after that famous 77/78 cup run Alan’s fame still shone brightly, he was guest on a BBC Football Focus feature about the cup run prior shown to the Spartans 3rd Round tie against Blackburn Rovers in 2009 –

Alan is a highly respected and hugely popular figure with North East football fans.
Always approachable, he loves recalling the stories of his career and of course getting together with his teammates from that famous
cup run which propelled him into professional football.

A true North East footballing legend.

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• Credits, Acknowledgements & Thank You’s:

Thanks to –

Kevin Tilmouth, his recollections of the events during October/November 1978 inspired this article.

Mark Carruthers, supplied an image used.

Credits –

The late Ken Sproat‘s superb book ‘The History of Blyth Spartans’ was as ever an important source of information.

Blyth Library’s excellent archive facility of the old ‘Blyth News’ papers once again proved a valuable source of information.

The following excellent websites provided important info and images:

http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/

A superb database of all UK Transfers from 1946/47 and the end of the 2013/14.

https://www.nufc.com/

For anything & everything Newcastle United related, nufc.com is the place to go..

http://www.toon1892.com/

For details and profiles on every Newcastle United player, this superb website has it all.

http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Home.aspx

For everything Hartlepool United related. History, old players, stats & facts this website has it all.

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