North Shields (A)
Isuzu FA Vase
Fourth Round
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Preview
West travel to Tyneside on Saturday for the second time in this season's FA Vase - with a place in the last 16 up for grabs against North Shields.
West's run of five consecutive wins came to an end last Wednesday with elimination at the Quarter Final stage of the Manchester Premier Cup. That defeat at Chadderton also saw West lose a third penalty shootout of the season, curiously following 2-2 draws on each occasion.
North Shields also play in Step 5 of the non-league pyramid. They are currently 7th in the the EBAC Northern League Division One and are experiencing a mixed run of form. The Robins played their first match of 2025 on Tuesday night as they beat Tow Law Town by four goals to one. Prior to that win over the Lawyers, North Shields had lost their two most recent games, both played at home over the Christmas period. Altogether, those are the only three matches the Robins have managed to play since their win at Redcar Athletic in the last round of the Vase.
It's always difficult to compare the standard from one Step 5 division to another, and the only point of reference we have is that North Shields eased past fellow NWCFL side Charnock Richard in the 2nd Round. Like West, North Shields are the only side remaining from their division in this season's Vase.
West are two rounds away from matching their run to the 2023 quarter-finals - the club's benchmark and the only previous time West have made it this far. North Shields are, however, previous winners of the Vase and in fact the only previous winners still standing in the 4th Round draw. Their win came in 2014/15, a 2-1 victory over Glossop North End in front of 9,674 supporters at Wembley.
The winners will receive £1,875 prize money - with £600 going to the losers - and the right to host the winner of Whitchurch Alport v Clay Cross Town in the 5th Round in a fortnight's time.
A reminder that all FA Vase ties go straight to a penalty shootout if scores are level at the end of 90 minutes.
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Route to the FA Vase Fourth Round
West
R1 W2-0, Stockport Town (H)
R2 W2-0, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (A)
R3 W5-1, Silsden (H)
North Shields
Prelim W3-0, Billingham Town (H)
R1 W1-0, Wakefield (A)
R2 W3-1, Charnock Richard (H)
R3 W2-1, Redcar (A)
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North Shields at a glance
Home colours: Red / red / red
Change colours: Black & white / black / black
Pitch surface: Grass
2024/25 average attendance: 327
Travelling distance: 155 miles
West away season round trip: 1,225 miles
North Shields FC were founded in 1896 under the guise of North Shields Athletic. Following WW1 they emerged as Preston Colliery and remained as such until 1928 when they became North Shields.
They have two Wembley wins to their name. Prior to that FA Vase win in 2015, they also won the FA Amateur Cup in 1969 when they beat Sutton United. That same season they also were joint winners of the Anglo-Italian Amateur Cup after drawing with Almas over two legs in the final.
Other successes include two runs to the 2nd round of the FA Cup, most recently in 1982/83.
They played in Step 4 as recently as 2022/23, but were demoted due to their ground failing to meet relevant FA standards. They have played at Ralph Gardner Park since 2010, and it is colloquially known as "The Morgue" by the North Shields supporters, owing to its sponsorship from local funeral director Daren Persson.
North Shields often appear on Twitter account 'FootyScran' with doner kebabs and curry being sold to supporters.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
