Tyne & Wear footballing legends set to join together for a South Shields charity match shieldsgazette.com/news/tyne…

Some of the comments on here by fellow toon fans has pissed me right off. It’s not exclusive Sunderland and just because it south of Tyne doesn’t mean they are mackems. Shields is a 50/50 split between the two fan bases. It’s 11 miles from the toon, but Blyth is 18 but they are supported. The ground has been a collective of the toon and safc fans for years. It’s refreshing to have a club that we can all get behind. It’s a sad day for the region. We go again next season. #UTM

An opportunity to make history, and we need your help to do it! 💜🩵 📸 Kev Wilson

𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝙊𝙉 𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙀𝙇𝘿𝙎!!! 👏⚓️ 📸 Gracie Baines

OTD: JOHN COOKE BORN On this day in 1962, former Sunderland player, kitman and all round club legend John ‘Cookie’ Cooke was born in Salford. He spent 31 years at the club (six as a player and 25 as kitman) before the club made the shallow decision of letting him go during the pandemic. In his playing days he started his career on Wearside, managing 63 appearances from the right wing. He was part of the 1979/80 squad that won promotion to the top flight but couldn’t make much of an impact at the top level. He then went to Carlisle United, which was the club he made the most appearances for in his career. He also had spells at other clubs such as Stockport County, Chesterfield, Gateshead and Spennymoor United. After retirement he came back to the Black Cats as the kitman. He stayed in the role for 25 years, witnessing all the highs and the lows from the sidelines and the dressing room. He had a job which I'm sure many Sunderland fans would have been envious of and I’m sure some would’ve done the job for free if given the chance! Behind the scenes, Cookie was adored by all at the club it seems. After it was announced that he was let go in late 2020, the amount of support from former players on social media was outstanding. All of the messages mentioned how kind he was and proved his passion for the club. Peter Reid: "Great at his job, Sunderland will miss his personality, drive and humour." Thomas Sorensen: "Cookie is a legend and has given everything to Sunderland. The club should not forget to recognise a person who worked every day of the week, through the night at times, so us players could proudly wear the club badge." Ultimately, he gained the respect of everyone he worked with. Evidently so as, after his departure, South Shields set up a friendly against former SAFC players in his honour. Plenty of Sunderland legends turned up including, Kevin Ball, Niall Quinn, Michael Gray, Alex Rae, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Gary Bennett, Gordon Chisholm, Ian Atkins, Kevin Arnott and Gary Rowell, amongst others.

When my grandmother passed away, my grandfather was left alone in his house. Whenever I went to visit him, he was always by himself and didn't want anyone to move in with him. So, I came up with the idea of giving him a little dog that I had rescued from the street. When he received it, he named it 'Chirulin'. They do everything together: sunbathe, eat, go for walks, watch TV, etc. A few days ago, my grandfather fell ill and during those days he wrote me a letter on how to treat and take care of 'Chirulin', in case he didn't make it out of the hospital. He also wrote me the recipe for the soup he prepares for 'Chirulin'. And I could only think of asking him to also write me the recipe for living without him, without my grandfather. He entrusted 'Chirulin' to the whole family. Yesterday he was discharged and of course, we brought 'Chirulin' to him. He hugged him and whispered: "We need to hurry and do all those things we have left to do together, there's not much time," and he started laughing... Yes, my grandfather made a list of things he wants to do in the company of 'Chirulin', his faithful friend. Just seeing how 'Chirulin' looks at him, you can understand how much they love each other. And to those who say it's just a dog, I say: "animals are a gift for the soul, a gym to learn tolerance, respect, love. Love, the true kind, that doesn't divide but unites. Loving teaches us to love." Guendalina Middei

𝘿𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙉, 𝘿𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙉 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙎𝙀 🔊 Dillon Morse has reached 350 games for the club, and to celebrate this milestone, we will be presenting him with a shirt before today's game! 👏 📸 Kev Wilson #SSFC #AlwaysReady

The Gaffer has spoken! 🔊 🎟️ southshieldsfc.ticketco.even… 📸 Kev Wilson

A HUGE game at home, and we need all of you there! 👊🔊 🎟️ southshieldsfc.ticketco.even… 📸 Kev Wilson

Thank you to the 522 of you who supported us today at The Brewery Field! 🙏 We need a massive effort from everyone on Monday against Darlington! 🔥 📸 Daniel Dutton #SSFC #AlwaysReady

Another one over the line 💪

Gaffer's approval 💪

𝙎𝙐𝙋𝙋𝙊𝙍𝙏 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙇𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙇 💪 With no Premier League football and the national team playing today, why not switch up your Saturday football fix with us, here at the 1st Cloud Arena! 👊 Get tickets here ⤵️ 🎟️ southshieldsfc.ticketco.even… 📸 Kev Wilson #SSFC #AlwaysReady

Back on our patch this afternoon! 🏡 Be the 12th man ⬇️ 🎟️ southshieldsfc.ticketco.shop 📸 Kev Wilson #SSFC #AlwaysReady

𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟭𝟯𝗧𝗛 🔁 Those who have already locked in for next season are already seeing the benefits of their 𝙂𝙊𝙇𝘿 Season Ticket! ⭐️🎟️ So really, you're missing out if you haven't already got yours...🤷‍♂️ 🎟️ southshieldsfc.ticketco.even… #SSFC #AlwaysReady

We're calling on you, Mariners, to 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙 and be our 12th man inside the 1st Cloud Arena for our remaining five home games! 💪☁️ 🎟️ 𝙁𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨, available to purchase now 👉 southshieldsfc.ticketco.even… 📸 Kev Wilson #SSFC #AlwaysReady

3️⃣ straight away games coming up! When are you backing the boys away? 💪⚓️ 📸 Kev Wilson #SSFC #AlwaysReady

🌼 Today, we want to recognise those women who are an integral part of South Shields FC - players, coaches, staff, volunteers, and supporters. At yesterday’s game, Jill Charlton, Foundation Manager, presented female staff and volunteers with daffodils to celebrate IWD!

At 70 life becomes a collection of memories. Not possessions, not titles, not the things that once felt so important. What remains are the moments you lived, the people you loved, the risks you took, and the stories that shaped your journey. At that age, you begin to realize something profound. The years moved much faster than you expected. The children you once carried are now grown adults. Friends you laughed with in your youth may no longer be around. The world itself has changed many times while you quietly moved through its seasons. What once looked urgent now feels small. The arguments that seemed so serious, the competition that consumed your energy, the endless race to prove something to people who eventually disappeared from your life. None of those things carry the same weight anymore. Instead, what matters are the simple things. The memories of family gatherings, the laughter shared with old friends, the sacrifices made for the people you love, the quiet moments that once looked ordinary but now feel priceless. At 70 you understand something many people are still too busy to see. Life was never about collecting things and it was about collecting moments