South Shields want to be the best at Bishop Auckland

Bishop Auckland have a storied history in English cup competitions and will go into Friday night’s FA Vase first round clash with South Shields keen to bring back the glory years. 

But despite Auckland’s ten victories in the now-defunct FA Amateur Cup – the most recent of which came back in 1957 – it will be their noisy neighbours South Shields that may steal the limelight on Friday. 

Since Geoff Thompson came in earlier this year as the new chairman at South Shields, the club has undergone an overhaul both on and off the pitch. 

On the playing side of things a certain Julio Arca now struts his stuff in centre midfield while they have also returned to their former home ground of Marina Park.

With as many as 20 new faces brought in – including former Bishop keeper Scott Pocklington – the good times are back for Jon King’s side. 

They top Division Two of the Northern League and are currently on a 13-match winning streak so King is confident his side will keep the good times rolling this weekend – with former Sunderland and Middlesbrough star Arca the ace in his pack. 

"Julio has been fantastic for us, he has been a really good signing," said King.  

"He is playing in central midfield for us and he has just been class, both with and without the ball, and having him in the team gives a great lift to everyone. 

"We have had a new owner and a new committee, we have brought in better players in the close season – it was nearly 20 – including some of Bishop’s best players. 

"The aim is to get the best players, because we don’t just want to be the best team in our division, but in the one above as well."

The Two Blues ply their trade in the first division of the Northern League, but that does not scare King.  

"We have watched them on a few occasions, we have done our homework," he added.  

"It will be a tough game, they have got plenty of good players but we will go their full of confidence. 

Bishop's Jeff Smith previously featured for Bolton Wanderers during their days in the Premier League

"We did in the last round, we were on this unbeaten run and we beat them 2-1, a scoreline that probably flattered them. 

"We like being the underdogs, especially when you consider that we are expected to win every game we play in our division."

And while Auckland boss Steve Riley admits their up-and-coming opponents will take some stopping, that does not stop the manager dreaming of returning his club to former glories.  

"This is a game that should create quite a bit of interest, South Shields have had a large backer come in and they are going really well in the league below," he said. 

"And then Bishop are historically a huge club, we always have a good following. 

"Throw in the fact that they have signed four or five of our players and it could be very spicy with players trying to put one over each other. 

"Julio Arca will add a bit of class for them but we have a few ex-pros, Jeff Smith was at Bolton in the Premier League, plus we have Priestley Griffiths and Scott McCarthy. 

"There is some great history at this club, at the start of the season the local museum had the entire history of the football club in there and I took all our new signings down there to understand. 

"We want the players to be able to replicate that and bring back the glory years."