Category Archives: History

Blyth Spartans team photograph archive

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Blyth Spirit

Blyth Spartans team photo archive Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, Classic Team Photo's, FA Cup, Giant Killings, Green & White Cult Heroes, History, Managers, Players | Tagged Blyth, Blyth FC, Blyth history, Blyth News, Blyth Remembered, Blyth Shipbuilding, Blyth Shipyard, Blyth Spartans AFC, Blyth Spartans badge, Blyth Spartans Munitionettes, Blyth Spirit, Blyth Valley Borough Council, Brian Slane, Croft Park, FA Cup, Football Team, Harry Dunn, Jackie Marks, Non League Football, Northern League, St James Park, Team photos | Leave a comment

Green & White Cult Heroes – Harry Mills

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Blyth Spirit

Every era in Blyth Spartans history has players adored and idolised by the supporters, in the post WWII years goalkeeper Harry Mills was that player. The supporter who went on to play for the club and became a cult hero. Henry Owen … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players | Tagged Blyth Spartans AFC, Croft Park, FA Cup, Goalkeeper, Halifax Town, Harry Mills, Huddersfield Town, Non League Football, North Africa, Schools Football, War, WWII | 1 Comment

Born in Blyth – Clem Stephenson.

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Blyth Spirit

This series features players that were born in the town and played for the club some stage of their careers. Fourth in the series is… Clem Stephenson 1909/10 From humble beginnings in a tiny miners cottage, Clem went onto become the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players | Tagged Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blyth Spartans, Clem Stephenson, FA Cup, First World War, Football League, Herbert Chapman, Huddersfield Town, Leeds City, Leeds United, Legend, Manager, National Football Museum, Newsham, Northumberland | 4 Comments

The history of Blyth Spartans kits and colours.

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Blyth Spirit

Blyth Spartans are well know for their rather unique green & white striped shirts, while a popular choice for European clubs in this country no other team from the National League upwards currently wear green and white stripes as … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, Classic Team Photo's, History | Tagged 1977/78, Blyth Spartans, Blyth Spartans AFC, Blyth Spartans badge, Blyth spartans crest, Brian Slane, Bukta, Croft Park, Cup Run, FA Cup, Famous shirts, Football history, Football kits, Football shirts, Football Strips, Kits, Non League Football, Sponsors | 5 Comments

Born in Blyth – Albert Juliussen

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Blyth Spirit

Born in Blyth No. 3 – Albert Juliussen Albert Lawrence Juliussen was born Friday 20th February 1920 to Norwegian parents, his father was a sailor who had settled in Blyth. With the family living in Ninth Avenue he attended Princes Louise … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players | Tagged Albert Juliussen, Alloa Athletic, Bert, Berwick Rangers, Black Watch, Blyth, Blyth history, Blyth News, Blyth Spartans, Brechin City, Clem Stephenson, Consett, Consett FC, Dens Park, Dundee, Dundee United, Everton, Goal Scorer, Huddersfield Town, Julie, Local Heroes, Pompey, Portsmouth, Princes Louise Road, Record Goals, WWII | 2 Comments

Born in Blyth – Stephen Raffell

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Blyth Spirit

No. 2 – Stephen Raffell RIP Born Monday 27th April 1970.Playing for the hugely successful Cramlington Juniors he had trials with Nottingham Forest before joining Doncaster Rovers Youth set up aged 16. He was key member of the Rovers much acclaimed … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players, Uncategorized | Tagged Arsenal, Blyth Spartans, Boston United, Doncaster Rover, FA Youth Cup, Harry Dunn, Hyde United, Northern League, Northern Premier League, Trafford FC | Leave a comment

Born in Blyth – Micky Pink

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Blyth Spirit

This new series that features players that were born in the town and played for the club some stage of their careers. No. 1 – Micky Pink Michael Pink was born Friday 24th October 1947. He attended Morpeth Road Primary and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players, Uncategorized | Tagged Blyth Grammar School, Chelsea, FA Cup, Leicester City, Marine Football Club, Micky Pink, Northern League, Tommy Docherty | Leave a comment

Players from the past – Peter Mackin 1908 to 1910 & 1911/12.

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Blyth Spirit

Players from the Past profiles and tells the stories of former Spartans from the clubs birth right up to WWII. Third in the series is… Peter Mackin 1908 to 1910 & 1911/12 The Spartans had already been playing for seven seasons … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, Green & White Cult Heroes, History, Players | Tagged Battle of Arras, Battle of the Somme, Bedlington, Blyth News, Blyth Shipbuilding, Blyth Shipyard, Blyth Spartans, Clapham Orient, Clem Stephenson, Croft Park, Great War, Hebburn, Jarrow, Maddison Street, Newcastle United, North Eastern League, Northern Alliance, Northumberland Fusiliers, Palmers Shipyard, Peter Mackin, Potato Famine, Sunderland, The Somme, Uncategorized, Vimy Ridge, Wallsend, WWI | 3 Comments

Players from the past – Frank King 1933.

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Blyth Spirit

Players from the Past profiles and tells the stories of former Spartans from the clubs birth right up to WWII. Second in the series is… Frank King 1933 Francis Oliver King was born on 13th April 1917 in Radcliffe, Northumberland. The eldest … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players, Uncategorized | Tagged Amble, Derby County, FA Cup, Luton Town, Northumberland, Radcliffe, Southport FC, WWII | Leave a comment

Players from the past – Edward Ward 1914 > 1920.

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Blyth Spirit

This new series will feature profiles and stories of former Blyth Spartans players that many may not have heard of and that time has forgotten. Former Spartans from the clubs birth right up to WWII. First in the series is… … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History, Players, Uncategorized | Tagged Ashington FC, Cowpen Colliery, Crystal Palace, Darlington, Everton, Football, Nelson FC, New Hartley Rovers, Newcastle United, North Eastern League, NUFC, St James Park, Ted Ward, Third Division North, West Stanley, Workington AFC, WWI | Leave a comment

Spartans super fan is still counting.

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Blyth Spirit

Being a lifelong supporter of a football club often means its becomes part of your family. Events are arranged, even rescheduled to fit in with matches. For some fans certain games can be missed however others wouldn’t ever think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, Classic Matches, FA Cup, FA Trophy, History, Managers, Players | Tagged 1977/78, Bath City, Blyth Spartans AFC, Conference North, Croft Park, FA Cup, FA Trophy, Green & White Cult Heroes, Harry Dunn, Jeff Young, Jim Pearson, Match of the Day, Most games, Newcastle United, Non League Football, Northern League, Northern Premier League, Promotion, Supporter, Twerton Park, Unbeaten | 1 Comment

The Debenhams Cup finally comes home.

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Blyth Spirit

Back in May 2012 when I started this blog about Blyth Spartans history the first article I wrote was about their 1978 Debenhams Cup win. That win holds a very important place in the clubs long and proud history as … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, Classic Matches, FA Cup, History | Tagged Assay, Atkin Brothers, Blyth Spartans AFC, Brian Slane, Chester, Chester City FC, Chester FC, Chronicle, Debenhams Cup, Debenhams plc, Department store, Evening Chronicle, FA Cup, Facebook, Jackie Marks, John Gibson, John Waterson, Match of the Day, Metro Centre, MetroCentre, Mike Ashley, Non League Football, Sergio Bucher, Sheffield Silver, Solid Silver, Sports Direct, Wrexham Football Club | 4 Comments

Green & White Cult Heroes – Brian Slane

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Blyth Spirit

Some footballers are synonymous with certain clubs and some are even legends of their clubs. However, a select few transcend even that. Brian Slane is one of those elite people, he was irrevocably involved in a decade that defined Blyth … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, Classic Matches, FA Cup, Giant Killings, Green & White Cult Heroes, History, Managers, Players | Tagged 1977/78, Alan Shoulder, All time goalscorer, Bishop Auckland, Blyth Remembered, Blyth Spartans AFC, Blyth Spirit, Brian Slane, Croft Park, Crook Town, Cup Run, Dave Clarke, Eddie Alder, FA Amateur Cup, FA Cup, FA Cup Fifth Round, FA Cup Giant Killing, FA Cup run, Giant Killing, Green & White Cult Heroes, Ian Mutrie, Jackie Marks, Jimmy Turney, John Waterson, Keith Houghton, Match of the Day, Mick Dagless, Newcastle United, Non League Football, Northern League, Ron Guthrie, Ronnie Scott, South Shields FC, Steve Carney, Stoke City, Terry Johnson, Tommy Dixon, Top Goalscorer, Wigan Athletic, Wrexham Football Club | 7 Comments

RIP Ken Sproat, Blyth Spartans historian.

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Blyth Spirit

In September 2017 club historian Ken Sproat suddenly passed away. Ken was the oracle on the club’s history, he’d taken up the mantle of club historian having spent 8 years researching the club’s history for his superb book; ‘We’re the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blyth Spartans AFC, History | Tagged Blyth Spartans A.F.C., Football books, Football history, Historian, History book | 11 Comments

The 1977/78 FA Cup run – the complete record.

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Blyth Spirit

For the first time this is a compiled record of the 1977/78 FA Cup run. Match reports and details from every game. In depth player profiles and all the stats & facts from that famous cup run. The stats & … Continue reading →