Club stalwart Robert Briggs opens up on his South Shields journey and how promotion heartache is acting as inspiration

The four-week break imposed on South Shields and their Northern Premier League rivals has provided an opportunity for reflection.
South Shields' players celebrate. Picture via Kev Wilson.South Shields' players celebrate. Picture via Kev Wilson.
South Shields' players celebrate. Picture via Kev Wilson.

A chance to look back at the season so far, the club’s journey from Northern League Division Two to National League North hopefuls and their progression to FA Cup first round competitors.

A momentary pause to assess where they go next, the challenges that lie in wait and how the promotion heartache suffered over the last two years can act as motivation to reach the promised land.

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As he stands in a quiet room at Cheltenham Town’s Jonny-Rocks Stadium in the aftermath of the Mariners’ FA Cup brave FA Cup defeat against the League Two side, club stalwart Robert Briggs is ready to deliver an open and honest assessment of where the club stands.

It was former manager Jon King that brought Briggs back to South Tyneside from Spennymoor Town during the summer of 2015 and the midfielder has gone on to play a key role in the club’s rise up the non-league pyramid during his second stint with the Mariners.

The former West Auckland Town and Shildon midfielder brushed off suggestions that he only returned to the club for money – and revealed his satisfaction at helping South Shields carry out the ambitious plans he was sold during discussions over the move.

He said: “I was in a position where I didn’t know if I was going to stay at South Shields or whether I was going to go because, at that time, I was still a young lad and I just wanted to play football.

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“But when Lee and Graham came in, they gave me that opportunity.

“Ever since that, I have never really looked back.

“I dropped down to join South Shields from Spennymoor and everyone was asking what I was doing.

“I got slated, but I could see the ambition of the club and I wanted to be part of it.

“People thought I came for money, but I didn’t sign for that, I signed because I saw the project and I have progressed with it.

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“I am immensely proud to take this club to where we are today.”

After winning three consecutive promotions – and collecting FA Vase, Durham Challenge Cup and Northern League Cup winners medals – Briggs’ personal quest to continue helping South Shields in their mission to reach the upper echelons of the non-league game has stalled over the last two years.

Their first season in the Northern Premier League’s top tier ended with a second-place finish and an opportunity to challenge for a fourth promotion in as many years via the play-offs.

All went to play at Mariners Park when goals from Jon Shaw, Carl Finnigan and Josh Gillies helped Graham Fenton and Lee Picton’s side to a 4-2 home win against Buxton in the play-off semi-final.

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But their dreams of securing a first season in the National League North were ended days later when Warrington Town claimed a 2-1 win on South Tyneside to set up an ultimately unsuccessful play-off super final meeting with King’s Lynn Town.

Earlier this year, despite sitting 12 points clear at the top of the table, the Mariners missed out on promotion once again when the Football Association decided to null and void the season as the coronavirus epidemic swept across the country.

The disappointment of both seasons still rankles with Briggs as he reflected on a frustrating two seasons.

“It’s not just about last season, it’s the season before that,” he admitted.

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“We have always been up there; we have always created a chance to get promoted.

“Last year leaves a bit of a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, but even the year before leaves a sour taste for me because we are more than good enough to be going up in this season.

“But we have just fallen short, whether that’s because of Covid or because of the play-off defeat.

“We have got to take that and really push on for whatever is coming in the future.”

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In the present, South Shields sit just outside of the Premier Division play-off places after an inconsistent start to the season.

However, there were positive signs before lockdown came into force as they extended an unbeaten league run to a third game with a hard-earned 1-0 win at Gainsborough Trinity.

Their progression into the first round of the FA Cup provided the club with another landmark to add to their ever-growing list of achievements – and Briggs played a lead role in helping them get there.

The midfielder scored a memorable goal in their historic fourth qualifying round win against National League club FC Halifax Town to help secure a first round place for the first time since the club was reformed in the mid-70s.

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Now, at the age of 28, Briggs is looking towards more landmark achievements and helping the club reach new heights – despite the fact that he may not be able to continue his journey when the expected progression to a full-time, professional club is made.

He said: “It’s all about hitting more records and moving this club to where it should be.

“It’s got so much potential, and it’s great that it is being realised.

“Obviously, I will not be able to carry on at the levels it will go, particularly when it goes into full-time football.

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“That’s a bit of a blow, but the motivation is to take it as far as I can possibly go and then let the club push on.

“That is where I am at now.

“But it can’t stop there, I need to keep pushing to as far as I can take it.”