Witton kick off their Evo-Stik Premier Division campaign on Saturday afternoon when they make the long trip to the North-East to take on last season’s First Division North Champions South Shields. The Mariners swept everyone aside in the division at the first attempt, following their promotion from the Northern League the previous season, their third promotion in three years. In that time, they also took the FA Vase beating Cleethorpes Town at Wembley. The Mariners have built a strong squad over that time under the management of former Aston Villa & Blackburn Rovers forward Graham Fenton and Lee Picton, bringing players in from all over the North-East from clubs such as Darlington, Hartlepool and others although there have been some departures in the summer they still continue to build. Mariners Park very often sees attendances of over four figures in fact, every home league & cup fixture last season probably achieved that. Witton go into the campaign looking to make a positive start in what is the toughest opening to the season but you have to meet them sometime and at least it gets perhaps the longest trip out of the way early on. South Shields of course put an end to one on Witton’s cup runs quite early last season but now, they play their first ever game at Premier Division level and a bumper crowd is expected. New personnel on both sides will be looking to get their respective clubs off to a positive start. Kick off at Mariners Park is 3pm.
SOUTH SHIELDS FC,
MARINERS PARK,
SHAFTESBURY AVENUE,
SOUTH SHIELDS,
SOUTH TYNESIDE,
NE32 3UP.
Directions: From A556. Merge onto M56 and follow for 5.4 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on M56, follow signs for A5103/City Centre/M60 N & W/M62 W/M61. After 0.8 miles, continue onto Princess Parkway/A5103. For 0.7 miles. Merge onto M60 via the slip road to Ring Road (W & N)/Liverpool/Bolton/Leeds/M61/M62 and follow for 15.0 miles. Keep right to continue on M62 and follow for 27.2 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on M62 and continue for 4.1 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on M62 for 5.8 miles. At junction 29, take the M1 North exit to M621/Leeds and follow for 0.9 miles. Merge onto M1 and follow for 0.7 miles. Keep left at the fork to stay on M1, follow signs for Leeds(East) continue for 10.5 miles. Merge onto A1(M) and follow for 50.9 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on A1(M) and follow for 30.7 miles. Keep right at the fork to continue on A194(M), follow signs for South Shields for 3.7 miles. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Leam Lane/A194 and continue for 0.6 miles. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Leam Lane/A194 follow for 1.6 miles. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit and stay on Leam Lane/A194 follow for 0.3 miles. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Hadrian Road/A194. Continue to follow A194 for 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Shaftesbury Avenue. Football stadium on the right after 0.4 miles. (Total Distance - 170.7 miles).
Parking: Car parking is available on Shaftesbury Avenue, as well as the overflow car park at the nearby Barbour store.
Admission Prices: Adults £10, Over 65’s/Students £8, Under 16’s £3. Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Please note: Over 65’s must show proof of age & Students must have a valid Student Card.
Matchday Programme: £2.
Social Club: The Social Club is a two-storey building with two function rooms on the top floor and a balcony over-looking the pitch.
Refreshments: Julio’s Bar & Restaurant - Named as a tribute to recently retired player Julio Arca, is on the ground floor of the Social Club building and is open from 12noon on Saturdays.
Travel Information: The Team Coach is now full.
Additional Information: Two “Happy Hour” periods scheduled from 12.30pm - 1.30pm and from 5.30pm - 6.30pm.