Rippons - the South Tyneside sports shop where you could buy everything you needed to develop your talents
Many an awestruck child would go there to stare at the model trains
Young football fans of South Tyneside will be out on the playing fields practising their skills in the hope of becoming the next Harry Kane.
As England returned to World Cup action, we took a look at a shop where you could buy a new strip for the young Bobby Charlton or Bobby Moore in your life.
Back in the day, there was one particular shop which sold everything you needed to hone your talents in all sorts of sports.
Ripposn was in South Shields in Charlotte Terrace near the Town Hall and regularly appeared in the Shields Gazette until its closure in the early 1980s.
Many will remember it for selling leather footballs, boots, and regional team kits. A size 5 football was yours for £4.95 in 1978.
You could also get high-end sportswear, racket sports gear (tennis and badminton), and athletic accessories as well as everything you needed for a game of cricket.
In 1974, one advert from the store promoted tennis shoes, rackets, tennis balls, presses and holdalls.
But Rippons was much more than just a sports shop as it also specialised in toys.
Many an awestruck child would go there to stare at the model trains, the collectable cars, and the model figures.
You could also get board games and puzzles there as well as fishing bait and tackle.
Rippons got a mention when we asked Shields Gazette readers in 2022 which shop they loved at Christmastime.
This was the premises which would later become Champs sports shop in the same spot, before later moving on to other uses.
But we want to know what you remember about Rippons and what you bought there. Tell us more by emailing [email protected]