1996

More Players come through the Wallsend Boys’ Club Conveyor belt The football conveyor belt of Wallsend Boys’ club was continuing to roll. They were to become, not just professional players, but Newcastle United players. These were Steve Watson, Alan Thompson, Robbie Elliott and Lee Clark. All four also received England honours at under 21 or youth level. At the same time at the club, though relatively unnoticed by scouts or the local press, was a fourteen year old player called Alan Shearer. It was not until Alan was 16, and had left WBC, that he got his first chance as... Read More

More financial problems for Club: Old boy Alan Shearer reaches the top in professional football. As financial pressure grew in the mid 1990s there were fears that the club would actually fold under the pressure. Sid Sharp, again interviewed by the media in 1996, put the problem out into the open. He said, “There is nowhere in this country with this club’s record of producing professionals. In 30 years we have provided the game with millions of pounds of talent, yet the football clubs have not put single penny back, and it is crippling for us. …We need £7,000 a... Read More