Exclusive:Dillon Morse happy to be South Shields FC's last-man standing after decade of service

Next month will mark the ten-year anniversary of Dillon Morse joining South Shields FC ahead of what would become a truly historic season.

After opting to leave Blyth Spartans to become a key signing for the Mariners during the summer of 2016, the long-serving centre-back helped lay the foundations for a remarkable rise up the non-league pyramid that he will hope to continue when the new season kicks off in August. There have been league title wins, an FA Vase final goal and Wembley win, FA Cup first round appearances and, in the interest of balance, some disappointments with play-off final defeats and a seemingly inevitable promotion that was halted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

There have been many moving parts throughout that decade and the Mariners have transformed almost beyond recognition - but Morse has been a constant presence. Once the youngest member of the South Shields ranks, he is now an experienced figure in the Mariners squad that will look to push for the National League under new manager Mike Williamson during the new season. The journey will continue after Morse penned a new one-year deal earlier this month - and he revealed it is a journey that has become a great a source of pride for the defender and his family.

He told The Gazette: “The ten years have flown over and I came in as the youngest member of the squad and I’m pretty sure I’m starting this season as the oldest. The change in the club has been unbelievable. When I started out at the club, it’s was part-time, and my ambition was to get into full-time football if I am honest. I didn’t expect it would transition into that with South Shields but we have gone through that and it’s going from strength-to-strength. From Northern League to where we are now, it’s just incredible and with the new ownership coming in, it’s so exciting to see where things are heading. I know how proud it has made me to be part of it and my family feel the same way.”

Platform

There have been a whole host of high points throughout the last decade - and from a personal point of view, Morse would do well to surpass the events of the final game of his maiden season as a Mariners player as Lee Picton and Graham Fenton’s side claimed the FA Vase with a 4-0 hammering of Cleethorpes Town. For the centre-back, there was an unexpected bonus of a goal under the famous arch as he narrowly beat defensive partner Jon Shaw to a cross from the left-hand side before taking the adulation from an impressive band of travelling support from the North East.

Surprisingly, that is not the moment Morse selected as his standout of his decade with South Shields as he opted for their Northern Premier League title win under Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips that brought a long-awaited end to their five-year stay in non-league’s third tier.

“The Wembley goal will always stand out for me - but I think winning the Northern Premier League was the high point because we were stuck in that,” he explained. “The season when we managed to get out of it was a relief. I always thought we had the players capable of getting out of it but everyone knows what that division is like. The Covid break did us in one season - but we got there in the end and it’s given us a platform to try and kick on further.”

Opportunities

That promotion gave Morse a chance to prove himself at another new level and cast aside any lingering doubts over his ability to succeed against a higher calibre of opposition. There have been moments when Morse has been handed an opportunity to move on as some EFL clubs paid close attention to his progress during his earlier years at Mariners Park. More recently, several non-league rivals have shown serious interest when his time at South Shields appeared to be drawing to an end. A love of his surroundings meant those opportunities were allowed to pass.

He said: “I’ve had opportunities to leave when I was in my younger years at Shields and there were clubs at higher levels were keen. But I loved it at Shields, I still do, and I always had a good connection with the fans and chose to stay because you could see where the club was heading. When I’ve been heading towards being out of contract, there’s been interest, but I love the club and that’s why I chose to stay.”

Last man standing

One long-term team-mate did take an opportunity to move on last season when Mariners stalwart Robert Briggs departed before playing a key role in Hebburn Town’s shock Northern Premier League title win. The move ensured Morse is now the last-man standing in terms of the Mariners squad that landed a historic quadruple during the 2016/17 season - and he is now adamant he can continue to impress as he prepares to go head-to-head with Briggs in the National League North during the upcoming season.

“Last season, me and Briggsy were saying we were the only ones left here,” he explained. “I still expected Briggsy to be at the club because he’s a fantastic player, he was brilliant for us and he’s a legend. But it’s funny how football works because I left for a spell, Briggsy was the last-man standing. I’ve come back in and he’s moved on after the start of the season. It’s crazy being the last man standing and now I just want to stay here as long as I can because I love this football club.”

Part two of The Gazette’s exclusive interview with Dillon Morse will be available on Saturday.

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