South Shields FC explore 'opportunities around the world' after China partnership trip
South Shields FC are going global - and chairman Geoff Thompson admits there’s opportunities for the club across the world.
South Shields Football Club have ‘endless’ opportunities lying ahead of them after chairman Geoff Thompson and a Mariners delegation returned from a ground-breaking visit to the Far East.
Thompson was joined by newly-appointed head coach Mike Williamson, technical director Chris Bell, first-team players Sean McGurk and Sonny Finch and members of ORY LLP Investment consortium that secured a majority share in the Mariners last month.
After enthusing over the potential to promote the football club and South Tyneside during the visit, Thompson and the Mariners delegation held meetings with the Chinese Football Association and potential partners in China and Singapore, as well as visiting a football academy.
Former Newcastle United defender Williamson and Mariners stars McGurk and Finch took part training sessions with young players and meetings were also held with a number of potential partners throughout the visit.
South Shields partnership ‘enhanced’ by China trip
Thompson believes the partnership between the Mariners and their new-look ownership group has been enhanced by their time in the Far East and described the trip as an ‘incredible experience’.
He said: “The opportunities for the club are now endless and to kickstart our new relationship with the investment group and a number of the management team and players joined me on a trip to Shanghai and Singapore.
“The purpose of the trip has been to build our relationship with the investors but also to explore with them the huge opportunities we have across the globe, particularly in China. The experience has been incredible as we’ve met so many people interested in supporting the club.”
Thompson stressed there is a lot of work lying in wait as he and Jason Ye, the lead figure in the ORY LLP Investment group, plot the next steps in what appears to be an exciting new period in the Mariners history.
The investment agreement comes at a key point in the history of the football club as they look to break into the top flight of non-league football and move a step closer to securing a place in the EFL.
There is also a desire to improve the infrastructure of the club and enhance their relationship with supporters, the local community and South Tyneside as a whole.
More details on partnership to come
New York-based capital markets lawyer Ye and members of the consortium recently visited South Tyneside before joining Thompson on the trip to the Far East - and the Mariners chairman is looking forward to releasing further details of the progress that has been made.
He said: “There’s so much to tell but we have been welcomed by numerous academies, football clubs and potential business partners. There’s a lot of hard work ahead now to realise all of this potential and we are already planning all of the various work required to execute on each opportunity. We will of course keep fans abreast of progress.
“The experience of visiting Shanghai and Singapore has been absolutely amazing! I’ve been truly taken aback by the scale, beauty and cleanliness of every location and the warm and gracious hospitality we’ve received."