Tell me Ma me ma I won’t be home for tea, I’m going to SJP Que Sera Sera. After a 35 year wait, the Stan will again be playing at St James’ Park although it is 45 years since they have been in the Senior Cup final. A crowd of 1652 watched the Stan take on Newcastle United Under 21s in the 1st ever Senior Cup match between the 2 clubs in the Stan’s 52nd season in the competition.
The whole team put in a fantastic performance against their full-time opponents who included players with international experience & some who have been in the 1st team squad including for Champions League matches. The Stan scored 3 great goals, achieved a clean sheet & restricted their opponents to just 2 clear shots.
There were 2 changes from Saturday’s defeat against Carlton with Evans & Shepherd replacing Burn & Marriott. It was Kane Evans 100th start for the club.
Apart from a Newcastle cross into the Stan box going out in the 3rd minute, it was the Stan who started the livelier & in 4 minutes Hopper did a 1-2 to advance into the Newcastle box but Harris got down to save easily. There was more Stan pressure before Harris easily collected from a long-range header from a long range throw. In 6 minutes, Capewell headed just wide from a corner.2 minutes later & Adamson ran through, but Harris got to the ball 1st.
The Stan kept attacking & in 12 minutes a Hopper shot was deflected for a corner. From it, Adamson headed just wide. Hopper attacked into the box again in 14 minutes, but the ball was eventually cleared. The Stan were 1-0 up in the 15th minute when a joined up attack saw Adamson shoot against the right post but the ball went across the goal for Hopper to tap it into the net. The Stan Army erupted.
In the 19th minute, after 16 minutes of the ball only leaving the Newcastle half once, Stanton had Newcastle’s 1st shot of the match but it went high & wide. In 22 minutes, Newcastle got their 1st corner but Brass made sure he caught the ball from it. A long ball was then sent into the Newcastle box but it was missed by Slaughter.
In 27 minutes Turnbull cleared in the Stan box. In 30 minutes, Hopper twisted & turned before shooting just wide from the edge of the box. In 38 minutes, Harris got up to save under pressure from a Stan corner. The Stan kept pressing & in 42 mutes a defender did well to stop Hopper shooting.
A joined-up Newcastle attack in 44 minutes was stopped by a great block by Shepherd. In 44 minutes, Newcastle were down to 10 men when Bailey was sent off for a 2nd bookable when he fouled Walker. In the 4th minute of added time, the Stan headed wide from a throw in.
The start of the 2nd half saw Lamb replace Hopper. In 50 minutes, Harris got up to catch a Slaughter cross into the box. 2 minutes later & a Stephenson free kick at the side of the box looked like it was going into the net but Harris got up to save. Lamb & Walker were combining well although it was a Capewell header from a corner in 54 minutes that was deflected for another corner.
The Stan kept the pressure on & in 57 minutes a long-range Lamb effort went just wide. Stephenson then took a free kick from halfway which was initially blocked before Lamb chipped the ball over the defence but Harris caught it.
In 61 minutes, a Turnbull long ball to Stephenson was put out for a throw in. From it, Adamson shot from the edge of the box & the ball went through the crowd & into the net for 2-0. In 65 minutes, it was nearly 3-0 when a Stephenson free kick from just outside the box went just over. The Stan kept the pressure on & in 70 minutes, from a Stephenson cross, Lamb’s effort was saved by Harris.
It was still one way traffic until Newcastle had their 1st effort of the 2nd half put out by Brass in the 77th minute. In the 80th minute, a Shepherd effort went straight to Harris. It was all Stan pressure until a Newcastle attack was cleared in the 89th minute. There was icing on the win for the Stan in the 90th minute when a Stephenson free kick from halfway was put into the net by Marriott. There was 4 minutes of added time followed by Doris day starting singing.
Everyone associated with the club was ecstatic about the win & the Stan Army partied into the night. Thanks must go to all the volunteers, Newcastle United for their support & help & to all the fans. As well as a cup final to look forward to, both the win & the performance should put increased confidence into the Stan’s fight to avoid relegation. Hopefully the impact will be seen on Saturday when the team travel to Ossett United who won on Tuesday night to go 6 points ahead of the Stan.
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans (C) (Groves 78), Shepherd, Stephenson, Turnbull (Marriott 81), Capewell, Payne (Burn 68) , Slaughter, Adamson (Taylor 74), Walker, Hopper (Lamb 46).
Goals: Hopper 15, Adamson 61, Marriott 90.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Connor Walker.
Yellow Cards: Lamb.
Referee: Nick Vincent.
Attendance: 1652.
Match Photos: Flickr 1 and Flickr 2.
Kevin Mochrie
Heaton Stannington v Newcastle United: A Brief History
Tonight’s match appears to be the 12th time that Heaton Stannington & Newcastle United have played each other & the 8th at Grounsell Park. All of the matches have involved the Stan’s 1st team although they have never played the Newcastle 1st team. The first match was a friendly on Friday 6 May 1949 at Newton Park, the former name of Grounsell Park, against a Newcastle 11. It resulted in a 4-3 victory for the Stan.
Heaton Stannington were members of the Northern Alliance for 4 seasons between 1952 & 1956. As Newcastle United A, the name previously used by the reserve team, were also league members, the two teams played each other eight times with the Toon home games taking place at the North Road ground in Wallsend. Six of the eight results for these Alliance matches are known. This included 4 wins for Newcastle but also a 2-1 away win for the Stan & a 1-1 draw at Wallsend on 29 January 1955. The draw was a high profile match because of the involvement of Frank Brennan in the Newcastle defence who played 351 times for the 1st team & was often described as the ‘defensive rock’ which United’s cup triumphs of 1951 & 1952 were built on. He missed the 1955 final, as 11 weeks before the Stan game he was dropped from the 1st team & never played again despite fan protests. The match, in front of a crowd of 1255, was Frank’s 1st appearance since being dropped. According to the Sunday Sun, although it was a draw ‘Brennan so completely dominated the centre of the field that the Stannington men had to ‘have a go’ from a distance.’
On 1 October 2014, Peter Beardsley brought a Newcastle 11, consisting of reserve & under 21 players, to celebrate & officially launch the recent Grounsell Park ground improvements including floodlights. Over 400 spectators watched as the Stan put up a fight but could not prevent the full timers winning 7-1. Dean Deagle did score direct from a free kick & the 6th toon goal came from sub Sean Longstaff.
There has also been one friendly against a magpie team containing apprentices & youth players when current chair Bill Colwill was manager.
Heaton Stannington in Northumberland County Cup Finals
The Stan have played in eleven Northumberland County Cup finals and three replays since 1926.
Northumberland Amateur Cup
Runners Up 1925-26 Howden British Legion 5-4 Heaton Stannington at North Shields (3/4/26)
Runners Up 1930-31 Newcastle West End Amateurs 1-0 Heaton Stannington at St James’ Park (13/4/31)
Winners 1936-37 Heaton Stannington 3-2 Gosforth Amateurs at St James’ Park (19/4/37)
Runners Up 1938-39 Willington Athletic 5-2 Heaton Stannington replay at North Road Ground (15/5/39)
Runners Up 1949-50 to Wallsend Rising Sun. Scores unknown for both final (21/4/50) & replay (8/5/50) both at Croft Park, Blyth.
Northumberland Senior Cup
Runners Up 1963-64 Whitley Bay 4-3 Heaton Stannington (after extra time) at St James’ Park (30/3/64)
Runners Up 1979-80 Ashington 2-1 Heaton Stannington (after extra time) replay at Appleby Park North Shields (29/4/80) after 0-0 at St James’ Park (14/4/80)
Northumberland Minor Cup
Winners 1985-86 Heaton Stannington 2-0 North Shields St Columbus
Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl
Runners Up 2001-02 Benfield Saints 3-0 Heaton Stannington at Whitley Park (Blue Flames)
Runners Up 2009-10 Alnwick Town 2-1 Heaton Stannington (after extra time) at Whitley Park (Blue Flames)
Winners 2012-13 Heaton Stannington 3-0 Ponteland United at Whitley Park (Blue Flames) (8/5/13)
Heaton Stannington in the Northumberland Senior Cup
The Senior Cup is the county’s premier competition & was 1st competed for in 1884. This season the Stan are competing in it for the 52nd time although this is the 1st time they have been drawn against Newcastle Utd.
The Stan first competed in the cup during the 1925-26 season when they were defeated 5-0 at home in the preliminary round by Jesmond Villa. They also entered the competition in 1938-39 & 39-40. Their 1st win came in January 1947, when they won 3-2 at Hexham Hearts in the 2nd qualifying round. After winning 2-1 at North Shields in the 1st round, they were beaten at home in the semi-final 2-1 by Newburn. They entered the cup for the next 25 seasons. In 1963-64 they made the final for the 1st time where they were beaten 4-3 by Whitley Bay after extra time.
After competing from 1946-47 to 1971-72, the Stan missed a season before returning to Senior Cup involvement for another 9 seasons. In 1980 they again reached the final when they were beaten 2-1 in a replay by Ashington after a 0-0 draw. After the 1981-82 season, the Stan did not compete again until 2005-06, 06-07 & again in 08-09. Qualification requirements were not met again until the Stan’s 2nd season back in the Northern League in 2014-15 when they lost away 5-3 to Alnwick Town.
In 15-16 they defeated West Allotment Celtic 2-1 at home in the 1st round & this was the Stan’s first win in the tournament since they had beaten Blyth Spartans in the semi-final in 1980. They won again 3-1 in the quarter final at Bedlington Terriers. In the home semi-final they lost 6-0 to Blyth Spartans. In 16-17 they beat Alnwick away 4-2 in the 1st round but lost 3-0 in the quarter final away to North Shields.
In 17-18 they lost 2-1 at Team Northumbria. In 18-19, they beat Whitley Bay in the 1st round 4-3 at home but in the quarter final lost at home 3-2 to Morpeth. In 19-20, they were beaten at home 4-0 by Blyth Spartans in the 1st round. The 20-21 tie against Morpeth Town was cancelled due to covid. In 21-22 the Stan started & finished in the quarter final as they were beaten 6-2 at North Shields. In 22-23, a 3-2 home win over Prudhoe YSC was followed by the Stan beating Ashington 3-1 at home in the quarter final. The semi-final was played at Grounsell in front of a record 1339 crowd, but Blyth Spartans won 1-0. In 23-24, the Stan were beaten 3-2 at Benfield.
This season’s road to the semi-final has involved winning at Whitley Bay on penalties after a 1-1 draw & a 3-1 win at Blyth Town.
Heaton Stannington at St. James’ Park
Although the Stan have not played Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, they have played there on six occasions and have only lost twice.
13 April 1931 Newcastle West End Amateurs 1-0 Heaton Stannington, Northumberland FA Amateur Cup Final
19 April 1937 Heaton Stannington 3-2 Gosforth Amateurs, Northumberland FA Amateur Cup Final
It took place in the same season they won their 1st league title. The Evening Chronicle reported that they only won ‘after a stirring tussle.’
16 December 1939 Heaton Stannington 2-2 Bishop Auckland, Northern League Cup
The Stan, who had just joined the Northern league that season, switched their cup game against the league champions & FA Amateur cup winners to St. James’ Park. The war time match was attended by a crowd of 1283. The Stan went ahead through Kay although Bishop went 2-1 up before half time. In the 59th minute, Kay scored again to make it 2-2.
30 March 1964 Heaton Stannington 3-4 Whitley Bay, Northumberland Senior Cup Final
Although the Stan were winning 2-1 at half time, Whitley Bay won 4-3 after extra time in front of a crowd of 2000. Jackson, Winsfield and Bell scored for the Stan.
14 April 1980 Ashington 0-0 Heaton Stannington, Northumberland Senior Cup Final
After a stalemate at St. James’ Park, involving Bill Colwill, Ashington won the replay at North Shields 2-1 after extra time.
4 May 1990 Heaton Stannington 2-0 Forest Hall, Northern Alliance Challenge Cup Final
The Stan’s goals were scored by Paul Morton and Paul Hodgson & The Pink reported that ‘it was gratifying to see Heaton achieve success, being a low profile hard working club, with a history of over seventy years to look back over.’
Kevin Mochrie