Geoff Thompson

Proud Husband, Dad & Grandfather. Chairman of South Shields FC , Business Energy Claims, The Energy Solicitors and Trustee of Harton and Westoe Miners Welfare

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

https://t.co/n288e9DT07

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@NathanSSFCcat2 @SportsPeteO Nothing to worry about. All a load of nonsense

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@lav76820 @SouthShieldsFC Very soon

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@SouthShieldsFC Thank you lads! Really appreciate your help.

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

Tyne & Wear footballing legends set to join together for a South Shields charity match https://t.co/xb80dDwxAR

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@lav76820 League and FA have already approved it. Now finalising legals

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@AlwaysReadySSFC @wfcliam_ We are very close to a very positive announcement. Apologies but inevitably with these things there’s complexity and some frustrating delay.

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@wfcliam_ @AlwaysReadySSFC All utter rubbish - Ian, Carl and Mike plus the whole back room staff are going nowhere. We’ve got so much to achieve together and our exciting journey has only just begun

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@bulletsburleigh @SouthShieldsFC I couldn’t agree more

[Darryl “George” Burleigh @bulletsburleigh]

Some of the comments on here by fellow toon fans has pissed me right off. It’s not exclusive Sunderland and just because it south of Tyne doesn’t mean they are mackems. Shields is a 50/50 split between the two fan bases. It’s 11 miles from the toon, but Blyth is 18 but they are supported. The ground has been a collective of the toon and safc fans for years. It’s refreshing to have a club that we can all get behind. It’s a sad day for the region. We go again next season. #UTM

[South Shields FC @SouthShieldsFC]

An opportunity to make history, and we need your help to do it! 💜🩵

📸 Kev Wilson

[South Shields FC @SouthShieldsFC]

𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝙊𝙉 𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙀𝙇𝘿𝙎!!! 👏⚓️

📸 Gracie Baines

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@lav76820 @SouthShieldsFC @SSFCWomen @ideventphoto All good - news soon!

[Geoff Thompson @GeoffTChairman]

@thespecialone80 @HebburnTown Congratulations Stephen and everybody involved at Hebburn Town FC. Magnificent achievement!

[A LOVE SUPREME @ALS_Fanzine]

OTD: JOHN COOKE BORN

On this day in 1962, former Sunderland player, kitman and all round club legend John ‘Cookie’ Cooke was born in Salford. He spent 31 years at the club (six as a player and 25 as kitman) before the club made the shallow decision of letting him go during the pandemic.

In his playing days he started his career on Wearside, managing 63 appearances from the right wing. He was part of the 1979/80 squad that won promotion to the top flight but couldn’t make much of an impact at the top level. He then went to Carlisle United, which was the club he made the most appearances for in his career. He also had spells at other clubs such as Stockport County, Chesterfield, Gateshead and Spennymoor United.

After retirement he came back to the Black Cats as the kitman. He stayed in the role for 25 years, witnessing all the highs and the lows from the sidelines and the dressing room. He had a job which I'm sure many Sunderland fans would have been envious of and I’m sure some would’ve done the job for free if given the chance! Behind the scenes, Cookie was adored by all at the club it seems. After it was announced that he was let go in late 2020, the amount of support from former players on social media was outstanding. All of the messages mentioned how kind he was and proved his passion for the club.

Peter Reid: "Great at his job, Sunderland will miss his personality, drive and humour."

Thomas Sorensen: "Cookie is a legend and has given everything to Sunderland. The club should not forget to recognise a person who worked every day of the week, through the night at times, so us players could proudly wear the club badge."

Ultimately, he gained the respect of everyone he worked with. Evidently so as, after his departure, South Shields set up a friendly against former SAFC players in his honour. Plenty of Sunderland legends turned up including, Kevin Ball, Niall Quinn, Michael Gray, Alex Rae, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Gary Bennett, Gordon Chisholm, Ian Atkins, Kevin Arnott and Gary Rowell, amongst others.

[Aliza @MalikAlyza]

When my grandmother passed away, my grandfather was left alone in his house. Whenever I went to visit him, he was always by himself and didn't want anyone to move in with him. So, I came up with the idea of giving him a little dog that I had rescued from the street.

When he received it, he named it 'Chirulin'. They do everything together: sunbathe, eat, go for walks, watch TV, etc. A few days ago, my grandfather fell ill and during those days he wrote me a letter on how to treat and take care of 'Chirulin', in case he didn't make it out of the hospital. He also wrote me the recipe for the soup he prepares for 'Chirulin'. And I could only think of asking him to also write me the recipe for living without him, without my grandfather.

He entrusted 'Chirulin' to the whole family. Yesterday he was discharged and of course, we brought 'Chirulin' to him. He hugged him and whispered: "We need to hurry and do all those things we have left to do together, there's not much time," and he started laughing... Yes, my grandfather made a list of things he wants to do in the company of 'Chirulin', his faithful friend. Just seeing how 'Chirulin' looks at him, you can understand how much they love each other.

And to those who say it's just a dog, I say: "animals are a gift for the soul, a gym to learn tolerance, respect, love. Love, the true kind, that doesn't divide but unites. Loving teaches us to love."

Guendalina Middei

[South Shields FC @SouthShieldsFC]

𝘿𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙉, 𝘿𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙉 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙎𝙀 🔊

Dillon Morse has reached 350 games for the club, and to celebrate this milestone, we will be presenting him with a shirt before today's game! 👏

📸 Kev Wilson

#SSFC #AlwaysReady