KMC-devONIT

Michael Carrick plays in World Cup Finals for England. As a reminder of what a tradition the club has to maintain, in the summer of 2006 Michael Carrick became the THIRD former Wallsend Boys’ Club member to play in the World Cup Finals, following in the hallowed footsteps of Peter Beardsley and Alan Shearer, when he starred for England in the first knock out stage game, against ECUADOR, on Sunday 25th June 2006. Michael was voted man of the match by the BBC commentary panel, with his passing success rate estimated at over 87%. A phenomenal success for the then... Read More

Positive Futures scheme starts at Wallsend Boys’ Club. The pattern of footballing success and adventure alongside other activities continued in the new century and was particularly exemplified by the introduction of the ‘Positive Futures’ scheme in 2006. The aim of Positive Futures was to provide a positive influence on young people’s lives by broadening their horizons and providing access to new opportunities within a familiar environment. Wallsend Boys’ Club, with financial help from North Tyneside Council, employed Paul McHugh full time to work in the community with young people. Paul was given the task of helping to rehabilitate both male... Read More

60 Year lease granted for new pitches & changing rooms. The club’s home in Station Road, Wallsend, had provided a base for the development of some of the country’s finest footballing talent for 40 years. But the club felt that if they were to maintain their excellent standards they needed to expand and move to a modern facility. Club leader at the time Garry Marshall said, “This is without doubt the most significant move in the club’s 40-year history and we appreciate the support of North Tyneside council. This move will secure the club’s future for the next 40-years and... Read More

In 2005 a crucial decision had to be made about the maple flooring which had been the pride of Wallsend Boys’ Club. At the opening of the “new” Wallsend Boys’ Club building in 1965 the committee had wisely invested in a five a side court, with the pitch having a very expensive sprung maple floor installed. This, over a forty-one year period, proved to be a very wise investment indeed. After a slow start five-a-side football leagues were formed from under 7’s to under 16’s. The leagues soon had as many as sixteen teams per league, running on six nights... Read More

It was decided that it would be great to document as much of the club’s history as possible. In order to help with that research Michael McGill and Vince Carrick, who were at the heart of the ‘Heritage Project, made a plea in the local press for information from any former members of the original club to help in their research. The plea was successful and interviews with former members started to take place. It was soon realised in interviews with five of the veteran former members, Jack Scott, James McBlain, Fred Tate, Ray Oliver and Jimmy Swan, that over... Read More

November 2004. The National Association Of Clubs for Young People along with the Amateur Boxing Association held their prestigious National Semi-Finals: – North & Scotland versus Midlands & Northern Ireland at Wallsend Boys’ Club The event consisted of twenty-three bouts divided into three age groups. Class A: 15 years of age; Class B: 16 years of age; and Class C: 17-19 years of age. Michael McGill, one of the band of helpers on the day, described it all later. “The day started early, 8am for some of the volunteers. The marquee company came and the enthusiastic volunteers started to lay... Read More

A very significant development in the Club was a change of leadership. Dave Beardall had been appointed back in December 1965, before the new building was even open for business, and he had led the club ever since, which was a remarkable achievement.By October 2003 however, at the age of 65, his retirement came, marked with a lavish celebration at a local hotel. A host of football stars owe their glittering array of medals and trophies to unsung hero David Beardall and David now finally received his own reward for his services to soccer at Wallsend Boys Club. Premiership sponsors... Read More

Boys’ club old boy wins honour at Boston University, USA Wallsend Boys’ Club was back in the limelight on 16th October 1998 as a “Memory lane” location for Alan Shearer’s TV commercial for McDonald’s. The Newcastle striker, filmed a scene at the boys’ club with his mentor, the veteran football scout Jack Hixon, and states in the TV voice-over, “This is where I got my real education”. Alan had turned up at seven in the morning with a vast film crew of 48, they’d been filming since first light at the shipyard, and they shot some early scenes before the... Read More

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