History

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

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