Eighty years after the Stan won their first trophy, the Tynemouth Infirmary Minor Cup, they have won their first international trophy and their first of the season. On a sunny July evening they won in relatively bizarre circumstances, what is probably one of the longest titled cups, the 9th World Conference of Shunde Worldwide Friendship Association Friendly Football Match Cup by defeating Chinese opposition 17-2. Yes 17-2!

Forget the World Cup, international football and all the related glamour arrived, as during the last Olympics, at Grounsell Park. The lack of a breeze meant that there were definitely no Brazilians on view but there were plenty of Chinese players and fans. The match had been arranged at short notice but there was a healthy crowd and a professional feel to the night especially as a result of the efforts of the Chinese delegation. They had professional banners and brought along large engraved trophies for both the winners and runners up. There was also a strong Chinese media presence including a TV Crew. BBC and Tyne Tees I hope you are reading this!

The opposition were from the ChineseCity of Shunde and were part of a trade and cultural delegation to London and the North East. As well as signing friendship agreements with NewcastleUniversity and the City Council, they also hoped to play a friendly against Newcastle United. Luckily for them the Stan stood in at short notice. The team were made up of staff from different local Shunde companies. Although they compete in cup competitions they have never joined a league. They are called a youth team, although the Chinese definition must include anyone under sixty. The match got going after a big build up including the teams lining up for the Chinese national anthem. Unfortunately no one could remember all the words for the Blaydon Races. Although it was their first pre-season friendly and the quality of the opposition was unknown, the Stan played with confidence and attacked from the start. Although the team came from the same city as Bruce Lee’s ancestors (apart from what I think was a Scottish goalie), it quickly became apparent that they played more like Peters and Lee which many of the Shunde team were actually old enough to remember. After four minutes, Jonathan Wright opened the scoring with a well taken solo goal. Surprisingly the only other target he hit after this effort was Brandon Wong’s eye. In keeping with the international spirit, Brandon is one of two new signings from Australia.

Although the Stan quickly decided to take it easy, Shunde did not manage to get out of their own half until the eleventh minute. As a result, by the fifteenth minute it was 4-0. Three more goals in five minutes made it 7-0 by the twenty eighth minute. A Dean Deagle free kick made it 8-0 and on the stroke of half time it was 9-0.

The second half of this seventy minute match saw even more goals but pleasingly this included two by Shunde. By the sixtieth minute it was 13-0 followed quickly by the fourteenth. Shunde did then score from a penalty to make it 14-1. Three more goals and it was 17-1. The match finished on a high for Shunde when they scored to make it 17-2. The lack of identification of scorers was partly due to this reporter concentrating on recording an accurate score. Even the Stan management team lost count. The Shunde players were presented with Newcastle tops and the teams were presented with their trophies, with a large Chinese flag being present. In a night of many bizarre events, this reporter never thought he would see the red flag raised in High Heaton!

Despite the score it was great night for both teams and all the fans. Shunde should be praised for remaining positive and enthusiastic throughout the match. In fact they remained playing on the pitch long after the closing ceremonies had taken place. Everyone at the Stan is now looking forward to the return leg and wishes the Shunde delegation all the best.

Stan Team: Backhouse, McGarrigal, Telford, Deagle, Redfearn, Wright, Creswick, Carr, Blakey, Gary Dixon, McKenna.

Subs: Not sure but includes Robertson, Ian Dixon, A Johnson

Goals: Not Recorded.

Attendance: Unknown.

Kevin Mochrie