Ferryhill Athletic v Shildon August 27th 1955
by Peter Sixsmith
The place where I worked for most of my life against the place I have lived most of my life – so I had to include this one. This was an early season game, Ferryhill’s first at home, in what was to be an average season for both clubs.
![Ferryhill Athletic v Shildon Programme August 27th 1955](https://ferryhillathletic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/6F071E55-7FB8-4A28-98FF-8A07842D0FD5-658x1024.jpeg)
Neither side was in any danger of challenging for the championship, and with no relegation it could have been a dull old season.
There had been talk of forming a 2nd Division at the AGM, held at Redcar’s Coatham Hotel, but the clubs had shown no interest, so nothing came of it.
Shildon won this game 4-0, with a young Keith Hopper appearing on the left wing. The programme promised visitors to The Post Boy that they would be welcomed “with a smile” by landlord and landlady Mr. and Mrs. Burns, while I Tarn of Darlington Road, purveyors of Grocery, Provisions and Confectionery, promised “Quality, Service and Civility” to all his customers.
ITV was a month away from being launched as the demand for the box in the corner grew – although we here in the North East had to wait until 1956 before Adrian Cairns welcomed us to Channel 8.
1955-56 was another title winning season for Bishop Auckland, with Whitby Town stuck at the bottom.