Littlehampton vs North Shields: The supporter's view

This weekend sees a crowd of 2000 plus heading to The Sportsfield in Littlehampton as the Golds host FA Vase favourites North Shields for a place in the semi-final and 90 minutes from a final at Wembley.

Both sides harbour league title aspirations as the season enters its final stages but on Saturday afternoon it’s all about prize money and edging ever closer to Non-League Finals Day.

Ahead of the game I caught up with a supporter from each side via Twitter, namely Max (@marigoals) for the home side and Steve Walker (@toon_mentalist) to find out just a little about both sides before they head into the big clash:

TK: How long have you been following North Shields?

SW: I’ve been going for 7 years, I started going to games during the season we won the FA Vase, friends who I went to watch NUFC with talked me into it and I got more and more involved (obsessed some might say) ever since. Now I go home and away and have helped arrange bus travel etc.

TK: Has the season exceeded expectations or is it right on track?

SW: We had a slow start in the league early on and struggled a bit with the expectations of being one of the favourites for promotion but October was the month it all came together, we beat the top two 3-0 on consecutive weekends and it’s snowballed from there.

The Vase is something we’re desperate to do well in, we’ve not had a good run in the competition since we won it and excitement has been building the further we’ve gone on.

TK: What’s been the highlight so far?

SW: Beating our rivals Whitley Bay at home over Xmas in the derby (El Coastico). It’s always a great feeling but the main highlight has been the bond between the players and the fans that has developed during the season, away days at Padiham and Vauxhall Motors really strengthened it so much so that they donated £1,000 from the player’s pool towards the cost of the coach for Saturday’s game.

TK: What can we expect from North Shields this weekend?

SW: We like to play a good passing game and have a good mix of youth and experience to compliment that.

TK: Who’s the man to look out for and why?

SW: It’s really a team effort, we have quality players in all positions and they really gel well together.

TK: How long have you been following Littlehampton Town?

M: Since fans were allowed back into grounds last season. I cancelled my Premier League season ticket over the lockdowns and I could hear the Littlehampton games from my back garden, popped down to watch and never looked back, so far managed 36 games this season home and away.

TK: Has the season exceeded expectations or is it right on track?

M: Absolutely, newly promoted to the top tier of the Southern Combination League this season and it couldn’t have gone any better. Top of the league, entertaining football, goals galore (13-0 the biggest victory so far) and Saturday in the FA Vase will be our 2nd competition quarter final of 3. Nobody can fault the lads; we have been spoilt.

M: What’s been the highlight so far?

Progression in the Vase has been my favourite. Mainly for the reasons it’s brought more fans in and locals too who are experiencing the same buzz I’ve found with this team and a love for non-league football. There’s a lot of passion for this little club and North Shields will see that come Saturday.

M: What can we expect from Littlehampton this weekend?

It’s hard to tell with these Vase games playing the unknown away from the Southern Combination but I predict Littlehampton will very up for this and will thrive off a very loud atmosphere. They will give it their all and we as fans will be behind them. North Shields come into the game as favourites but I wouldn’t write us off.

TK: Who’s the man to look out for and why?

M: I’m going to pretend we don’t have a 55 goal plus striker for this one! It’s hard to single out one player as credit is due across the pitch, they are a unit together. Saying that however, Lucas Pattenden is a fierce winger with insane pace, always a menace, creates and has been very consistent. A very good player, one with his own chant from the fans.

My thanks to both Steve and Max for their time to create this blog, hopefully we’re in for a fantastic game of football on Saturday afternoon.