There has been a football club in Whitley Bay since 1896. The first incarnation was known as Whitley and Monkseaton FC, it was later renamed to Monkseaton FC and then to Whitley Bay Athletic in 1950 before becoming just plain Whitley Bay FC.
The town itself is based on the coast close to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The team has competed in the Northern Alliance, Northern and Northern Premier Leagues and are based at Hillheads Park which is a mile or so away from the sea front.
During the 1960's 'The Seahorses' were one of the most prominent amateur clubs in the country. They lifted two Northern League titles as well as having many epic runs in the FA Amateur Cup, reaching two semi finals and the quarter finals on four occasions.
A poor period in the 70's saw Bay have to apply for re-election to the Northern League before fortunes gradually turned around. In 1989-90 the club reached the third round proper of the FA Cup, defeating league clubs Scarborough and Preston North End before Rochdale ended their run. This saw the club move to the Northern Premier League.
Within ten years Bay were back in the Northern League where they enjoyed the greatest successes in their history as support gathered to see the club win the FA Vase in 2002 when Tiptree United were overcome at Villa Park. A league title was also lifted in 2007 before Bay went on to create history by winning three consecutive Wembley FA Vase Finals.
Glossop North End were seen off in 2009, while Wroxham were hammered 6-1 the following year. The Vase was lifted for a third consecutive season at Wembley in 2011 when Coalville Town were defeated.
Whitley Bay FC will play in the Northern League Division One in season 2014-15.
On a summers day in 1984 I took a shopping bus to Newcastle with my brother Nick and as part of the day we took the Metro to the coast to have a look at Whitley Bay. In those days it was still a relatively thriving holiday resort with a busy sea front. The big news was a recent gig at the ice rink by Duran Duran, whose member John Taylor had opened up a wine bar in town. We walked to Hillheads past the towns impressive cricket club and went inside for a look. It seemed pretty basic with one stand and plain uncovered standing everywhere else. I was disappointed after reading figures about the place in the non league annual. It just goes to show that people can do anything with statistics!
Fast forward twenty four years and I was back in Whitley Bay. Scarborough Athletic were drawn away to Esh Winning on the Saturday in the FA Vase so I booked a value train ticket to Newcastle to travel up on Thursday 2nd October 2008 after doing a shift at work. I was to use Whitley as my base for two evenings stay to enjoy the areas nightlife and to do some serious groundhopping. I took the Metro from Newcastle Central on the thirty minute journey to the coast. I soon found my B&B on the promenade and soon worked out that the town had seen more prosperous days. The less said about my accommodation the better. It was obvious that the town was now used by commuters to Newcastle, contractors in the building trade working in the area and stag and hen parties.
The light had beaten me on the day of my arrival so instead I plumped for a night out locally. It's fair to say it was lively! The next morning I passed on breakfast and grabbed something from a shop, which I presumed safer as I set off walking to Hillheads Park.
I eventually got to the ground after a brisk walk and found a fence I could see over from a car park behind a goal as the ground was locked up. In front of me was flat standing. Down the right hand side touchline was a few steps of terracing and then grass which continued behind the far goal. This left the side by the main entrance on a side road off Hillheads Road with the ice rink behind it. The clubs own public house, Seahorses is also just behind it. The Main Stand dominated proceedings with a covered area for standing spectators to its side. The are some offices and portacabins alongside this by the turnstiles. The ground has improved and been tidied up with a secure perimeter fence enclosing it.
Not a bad venue in my opinion but it could do with some cover elsewhere for fans wishing to stand.
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