Football
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02 Feb 25
15:29
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Date Joined:
06 Jul 10
Alan Shoulder - the former pitman who went on to play more than 100 times for Newcastle United in the 1970s and 1980s - has passed away at the age of 71.
United paid £20,000 to bring the Bishop Auckland-born forward to St. James' Park in 1978 from non-league Blyth Spartans at the age of 25, as he swapped a career as a Deputy at Horden pit for the second division of English football - his wages reportedly jumping from £14 a week to £300 a week.
He quickly made the step up to successfully partner Peter Withe for two seasons and scored 21 goals in 1979/80, many through sheer persistence - although he was also clinical from the penalty spot and netted nine spot-kicks that season, a club record. Shoulder was the club's Player of the Year in that campaign.
In all, he scored 38 times in 117 appearances for the Magpies before joining Carlisle United in 1982. He went on to play for Hartlepool United and then returned to non-league, with his last game coming for Brandon against Dunston in the Northern League at the age of 53.
Loved his cricket too.
Sad news
United paid £20,000 to bring the Bishop Auckland-born forward to St. James' Park in 1978 from non-league Blyth Spartans at the age of 25, as he swapped a career as a Deputy at Horden pit for the second division of English football - his wages reportedly jumping from £14 a week to £300 a week.
He quickly made the step up to successfully partner Peter Withe for two seasons and scored 21 goals in 1979/80, many through sheer persistence - although he was also clinical from the penalty spot and netted nine spot-kicks that season, a club record. Shoulder was the club's Player of the Year in that campaign.
In all, he scored 38 times in 117 appearances for the Magpies before joining Carlisle United in 1982. He went on to play for Hartlepool United and then returned to non-league, with his last game coming for Brandon against Dunston in the Northern League at the age of 53.
Loved his cricket too.
Sad news
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had a bit of a chat with him at Silky sports centre when Hartlepool were training there ( late Nigel Walker was in team then too ) proper gadgy, Rip Alan.
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Very sad indeed
 as you have already said; he was the perfect sidekick tor Peter Withe at Newcastle; down the pits one week playing for Blyth then thrust straight in to the old 2nd division and he took full advantage of it; a real rags to riches story; RIP indeed |
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watched him and withe from deralict leazes end when you could have a conversation with players in the box,great memories, sad news. was a big bloke stood right behind goal and he gave kevin scott dogs abuse for 90 minutes every single game,seen some great games standing there
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Yeah, a top man was Alan.
Scored 20 goals in his first season at Carlisle in the old second division and was part of the team that finished 7th a year later, a great achievement at the time considering Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City were three of the top four. Unlike many of today’s entitled players, Alan never forgot how fortunate he was to be given the chance to play professional football. RIP P.S. can still remember when Blyth nearly reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup the season that earned Alan his move to Newcastle. Last minute equaliser by Dixie McNeil for Wrexham at the Racecourse after the ref ordered a corner to be retaken twice. Lost the replay which was moved to St James Park on police advice and I think there was 40,000 plus there that night with thousands locked out. |
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When he played for Blyth Spartans they were robbed at Wrexham with the late Wrexham equaliser. The Wrexham corner was taken from the wrong place. In the previous round they won 3-2 at Stoke City. Blyth were Northern League, a lower level non-league that just operated in the North East.
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John Tudor gone too, what a player, would have dived through
a brick wall to get his head on the ball. Sad news. |