Carl Finnigan on facing South Shields, celebrating in front of fans and battling with pal Jon Shaw

The ex-Newcastle United striker spent a successful three years on South Tyneside as the Mariners completed a historic quadruple and consecutive promotions to take them into the BetVictor NPL Premier Division.

After a short spell with Northern League club Whickham, Finnigan will face his former club for the first time since he joined Morpeth Town in December.

Finnigan, who scored in the FA Vase final at Wembley for Shields, told the Gazette: “It will be difficult because I made a lot of friends there and I met a lot of very good people. It’s a brilliant club and it’s going places.

“I will follow it for the rest of my life because it gave me a lot of happy memories that I will tell my grandchildren about in years to come.

“It will be tough coming up against them, but I am a professional and I have that professional attitude where I know I have a job to do once that whistle blows.”

Finnigan will come up against a number of former team-mates from his three-year stay at Mariners Park but there is one player that the striker is especially looking forward to facing at Craik Park – Mariners captain Jon Shaw.

“It will be interesting to play against Shawsy because he is a very good friend on and off the pitch,” he added.

“It will definitely add an interesting dynamic to play against him in a competitive game.

“It could make it an interesting battle.”

And should Finnigan get on the scoresheet, he is unsure whether he will celebrate against his former club.

“I suppose whether I celebrate or not depends on whether the South Shields supporters give me any stick.

“Honestly, I would prefer not to out of respect for the club, but if they give me a little bit of stick then it becomes a bit of a theatre show.

“I am sure I will be able to give them some back, but I hope it doesn’t come to that.”