KMC-devONIT

National interest in Wallsend Boys’ Club and The young Michael Carrick. In 1994 an article in “Night and Day” showed the national interest that there was in the phenomenal success of Wallsend Boys’ Club as producers of great footballers. In interviews with Peter Kirkley and Sid Sharp it tried to sum up the success the club had had in the past, but also highlighted the promising future of the latest star, 13 year old Michael Carrick. “Portrait of a Boys’ Club” focussed on the comments of Peter Kirkely and Sid Sharp and gave a great insight into the work of... Read More

Wallsend Boys’ Club celebrates its 25th Anniversary and Sting plays football at the Boys’ Club. The New Year of 1992 began with yet another party, this one a belated 25th anniversary of the opening of the club building. On January 7th a cocktail party was held with guests including many who had helped the club over the previous quarter century. The Lord Lieutenant, Sir Ralph Carr-Ellison, was again in attendance and officially opened a refurbished canteen. “This I feel was a splendid occasion with a good cross section of persons who have helped the club over the 25 years, since... Read More

Steve Watson from WBC to Newcastle United and professional jockey makes it from the Boy’s club. In December 1990 Ex Wallsend Boys’ Club member, Steve Watson became the youngest ever player for Newcastle United when he stepped on as substitute at Wolverhampton, at the age of 16 years and 223 days. Steve was the fourth 16-year old to play for Newcastle after Paul Ferris, Jock Finlay and Neil McDonald, but at 16 years 223 days, he was the youngest by 72 days. Ironically he had followed the path of McDonald, who also started at Wallsend Boys’ Club before moving on... Read More

Peter Beardsley fund raising appeal, for Wallsend Boys’ Club. By 1984 Wallsend Boys’ Club were able to start using some of their former stars to support themselves when needed. The Presentation night of that year, held on July 19th, saw the launch of an appeal to raise £5000 for repairs to the roof, damaged in a fire in 1977 and never properly repaired, – in fact it was leaking in four places. Peter Beardsley, now a star of Newcastle United and England, having played for Vancouver Whitecaps since his signing for Carlisle, was happy to spearhead the appeal and lend... Read More

Peter first arrived at Newcastle United in September of 1983 from Canada, where he had been playing football with Vancouver Whitecaps. Rejection by Gillingham, Cambridge and Burnley as a teenager saw him embark on a career sweeping floors at a local valve production factory on Tyneside. This was in spite of recommendations from Wallsend Boys’ Club’s Peter Kirkley. ”He was 11 when I first saw him”, Peter Kirkley said. “He was the most skilful player I’d ever seen at that time.” Young Beardsley had apparently been obsessive about football. He slept with a football beside his bed and played four... Read More

Tyne Tees Television, film “The Paper Round Lads” at the Boys’ Club. In a link to the pre-1959 club, there were still some ‘theatrical’ activities taking place. In February 1977 Tyne Tees Television filmed part of “The Paper Round Lads”. Six members around the age of sixteen were to be used for a fight scene around the table tennis tables. Tyne Tees asked if they could pick out six lads who might make “natural” actors. Actual filming commenced around 10am and Tyne Tees said they expected to finish all sequences by 5.30-6pm at the very latest. The final shooting of... Read More

Peter Kirkley mister football at Wallsend Boys’ Club. The 1970s were very significant years in the history of Wallsend Boys’ Club since it seems to have been that decade in particular that established its strong reputation for turning out first class footballers. An article in 1980 in the ‘Evening Chronicle’, written by John Gibson, described Wallsend Boys’ club as a breeding ground for football league stars. It pointed out that at that particular moment in time 12 out of a squad of 15 under-15 players were signed up with league clubs. It also listed just some of the professional players... Read More

Former Wallsend Boys’ Club member goes to the top at the FA. In 1974, as a ten-year-old boy, Les joined Wallsend Boys’ Club with the intention of playing five a side football. Thirty-Nine years later he had well and truly proven that, as an ex Wallsend Boys’ Club member, you did not need to be a professional footballer, to make your mark in the sporting field in a big way. By the age of fifteen Les was refereeing five a side football leagues and was organising the under 10’s and under 11’s leagues at the club. Les started running the... Read More

In the early 1970s Wallsend Boys’ Club helped produce another professional footballer. Eric Steele, was a goalkeeper who went on to play for Newcastle and then for Peterborough before becoming a goalkeeping coach. In 1971, as a schoolboy, Eric Steel played his second international football match for the England Schoolboys X1 against Scotland at Burnley. Eric, who was a pupil at Burnside High School, and an active member of Wallsend Boys’ Club, played in the England v Wales match at Denbigh, two weeks earlier, which England won 2-0. A press article said that Eric, 17 at the time and studying... Read More

Early graduate of the Boys’ Club; Ray Hankin. One of the first really successful football ‘graduates’ of Wallsend Boys’ Club of the post-1960s era was Ray Hankin who signed as an apprentice for Burnley at the age of 15 in 1970. After a career playing for several clubs, including Leeds United, Ray then became Football in the Community Manager for Newcastle United. Ray Hankin, an early product of Wallsend Boys Club, signed as an apprentice for Burnley at the age of 15 in 1970. Joe Jordan and Ray Hankin were the twin strikers of Leeds United and the rest of... Read More