Nathan Bell

Media Assistant at South Shields FC | Social Media Manager at South Shields FC Women

Aspiring sports journalist

I have two-and-a-half years of experience with football teams in club journalism, among a wealth of written and video work while working towards a NCTJ-accredited degree. Take a look at my written portfolio below, and visit the linked pages to dive deeper into each club's work!

South Shields FC •

Match Report: South Shields 2-0 Marine

He tucked away a penalty in the 11th minute - following a challenge in the box by James Butler - before adeptly crafting the team’s second of the afternoon in the 25th minute when he capitalised on a poor goal kick on Marine’s part. That win pushed the Mariners up to eighth in the Vanarama National League North and they stand just two points outside the play-off spots as we approach the Christmas run-in.Something worth noting, also, is that Shields have the third best home record in the division...
South Shields FC •

Foster "so proud" of SSFC Women after shoot-out win in County Cup quarter-final

Josie Foster says she is “so proud” after South Shields Women booked their ticket to the semi-final of the DCFA Women’s Cup with a shoot-out win over Sunderland West End Ladies.The Mariners were taken to penalties after Eve Gatens’ first goal since the end of September was cancelled out by Pavanjot Kaur’s late equaliser from close range.Foster slotted home the winning penalty to take the team into the last four, for the first time in three years.“Yeah, so proud of all the girls for stepping up a...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women advance to semi-finals of County Cup with penalty shoot-out win against Sunderland West End

The Mariners were tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, when Eve Gatens’ opener was cancelled out late on by Pavanjot Kaur following a corner.All it took was one saved penalty for the shoot-out to be decided, given all five of Shields’ takers scored - Josie Foster delivered the winning penalty to send her side through.It should be a welcome Christmas present for Alex Miller’s team, who now have a three week winter break to look forward to.A downbeat first-half quietened things after the drama in which t...
South Shields FC •

Final game of 2024 for SSFC Women against Sunderland West End in County Cup clash

It may be third time lucky for the Mariners, who have been waiting for a fixture for a number of weeks following their elimination from the Women’s FA Cup against Liverpool Feds.Although fixture postponements have prevented the lasses from playing a league game before the winter break, there is the chance to progress in a prestigious cup competition this week. They will face a strong Sunderland West End side who currently sit sixth in the NERWFL Premier Division table on 12 points, the same as S...
South Shields FC •

Naylor hopes for a "good battle" with SSFC Women against Sunderland West End this week

The Mariners have been longing for action for a handful of weeks after the Liverpool Feds Women’s FA Cup game almost three weeks ago, but postponements due to the bad weather have put to a stop any chance of a league game this side of Christmas.She said she was looking forward to the Harrogate Town match in order to move past the cup game.Naylor commented: “It would’ve been good to get back playing in the league, as it was a big focus in analysis for us after our FA Cup run, especially after not...
South Shields FC •

Match Report: South Shields 7-0 Rushall Olympic

The match was turned within 10 minutes when Nathan Cameron was red-carded and Shields never looked back from that moment.Blackett scored his first of three goals from the spot following that challenge inside the box, before Martin Smith made it two with a wonderful lob from distance.found his second and third strikes of the game soon after, culminating in a performance which rightfully earned him the man of the match award.Others may have had their claim too, meanwhile, as Tom Allan netted twice...
South Shields FC •

Miller: SSFC Women will be "focusing on making sure we stick to our game plan!"

Read below to find out what she had to say about Sunday’s game, as well as the bigger talking points among the lasses’ season so far, as we approach the winter break. “The team were really up for last weekend's game and were gutted to find it wasn’t going ahead. “I’m still feeling positive looking forward though, despite being frustrated with not having a game last weekend. “We’re desperately wanting to get a good performance and result under the belt, to bring ourselves back to our best before...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women return to league action with Harrogate Town up next

The Mariners will want to get back to winning ways after last week’s planned game against York RI Ladies was called off, which itself was a chance for the side to move past their Women’s FA Cup defeat to Liverpool Feds a week prior. This will be the team’s first league game in almost a month, since the 1-1 draw away to Hull United on Sunday, November 10th.Due to the DCFA Women’s Cup clash against Sunderland West End Ladies next week and the subsequent winter break which follows it, it will also...
South Shields FC •

Gatens urges SSFC Women not to "underestimate" Harrogate Town

The Mariners head into the match sitting in fifth place in the NERWFL Premier Division table, with a couple games in hand over some of the teams around them. Sunday’s visitors, meanwhile, have picked up just five points in 11 games, but every game in this league poses a unique challenge as she has alluded to. “No game is ever easy in the league and we can’t ever underestimate any team either,” she said, “as you never know what can happen in 90 minutes. “We will still go into the game with full c...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women visit York RI looking to get back to form after cup defeat

The Mariners were defeated by Liverpool Feds in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup second round proper, which put to an end the team’s historic journey in the tournament.They made history by making that stage for the first time but the immediate focus returns to the league, when Shields will come up against a fairly resurgent York RI side. Since the 3-1 win in September - Annece Legg and Sophie Greener got the goals that day - the hosts have climbed up the NERWFL Premier Division and they currently sit in...
South Shields FC •

Innes: SSFC Women can be "proud of" historic cup journey

Monica Innes has given her honest assessment after South Shields Women were knocked out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup against Liverpool Feds on Sunday. A difficult second-half for the Mariners saw them concede 11 goals, as the third-tier opponents showed their quality to advance into the third round proper. “Coming out into the second half, conceding the first couple goals I feel like confidence dropped within the team. “Having said that we kept going, we kept battling and we kept trying to play t...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women put to the sword in heavy Liverpool Feds cup defeat

South Shields Women were put to the sword in an 11-0 loss against Liverpool Feds in the second round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup on Sunday. It was a bitter blow for a Mariners side who had taken the tier three opposition - Shields play two tiers beneath them - to a goalless encounter at half-time. Nevertheless, the result puts to an end what was a fantastic journey for Alex Miller’s side, who knocked out Ponteland United, FC United of Manchester and Halifax FC to get here. A familiar line...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women host Liverpool Feds in Women's FA Cup second round tie

It will be a historic afternoon at 1st Cloud Arena with the lasses set to embark in uncharted waters, having reached this stage of the tournament for the first time this season. Liverpool Feds, meanwhile, entered the competition in the previous round and they withstood an early scare against sixth-tier side Thornaby FC Women (2-0 down in the first 10 minutes), to progress with a 7-2 win. Whatever the outcome on the pitch, there will be just cause for celebrations off it as the team looks to crea...
South Shields FC •

England "extremely excited" for SSFC Women's Liverpool Feds clash

The youngster linked up with the rest of the first team during pre-season, having progressed from lower in the club’s pathway into the set-up, and she has found that experience a blast so far.She highlighted the 3-1 victory over Ponteland United Women in the second qualifying round (she started that game) as being memorable for her. “On a personal level, being 16 years old and being selected for the squad in an FA Cup game is unbelievable!” When asked about her stand-out moments, there won't be...
South Shields FC •

Wootten: SSFC Women must use Hull United draw "to make us stronger"

It was a quiet day at the office for the usually high-scoring Mariners, as they dropped two points against a Hull United team who sit near the bottom of the NERWFL Premier Division.Optimists might suggest it was a point gained on the road, in what was the team’s longest away trip of the season, but the feeling within the camp is that it was a missed opportunity. “Last week was amazing and a real high point for all of us,” she said after the match.“There are ups and downs - we weren’t our best to...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women left frustrated by 1-1 draw against Hull United

South Shields Women were held to an unusually quiet 1-1 draw against Hull United Women on Sunday, in what was the team’s longest trip of the season.The Mariners made the long trip off the back of the team’s most impressive result of the campaign, a penalty shoot-out victory against third-tier Halifax FC Women, but they couldn’t replicate that performance this time round. Although the team fought and grafted, not enough was done going forwards which limited what Shields could have achieved on the...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women travel to Hull United this weekend for league fixture

The lasses are in high spirits after last week’s historic victory against Halifax FC Women on penalties in the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup. A tantalising tie at home against Liverpool Feds awaits in two weeks’ time, but the immediate focus this week is on Hull United.The visitors have won just one game in the league this season, a 1-0 win last week against York RI Ladies, and they sit in 11th place after six matches played.Shields got off to a dream start last season with a 4-0 win...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women's Halifax win "the most fun I've ever had" says Townsend

The Mariners knocked out Halifax FC Women, who play in the FAWNL Northern Premier Division, to reach the second round proper of the tournament for the first time ever. “The way every single player on our team pulled together to get the win was incredible. “1st Cloud Arena has become a stadium of dreams and I’m so honoured to be with this club.” That in itself was a big challenge but the team dug deep, in her words, to record a historic win.“We had to believe in ourselves and each other and dig d...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women win historic FA Cup tie against third-tier Halifax

In a game which seemed to have it all, Ashley Townsend scored twice to give Shields two well-earned leads at various stages, but two Halifax screamers saw the tie flipped on its head leading into the final 10 minutes.Ellie White would restore parity in the final minute, which sent the two teams - deadlocked at 3-3 - to penalties to find a winner.Eve Gatens slotted home the winning penalty to send Shields through to the second round proper for the first time in the club’s history. Head coach Alex...
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women host Halifax in Women's FA Cup first round proper

The Mariners reached this stage by knocking out fellow fifth-tier sides Ponteland United Women (3-1 away) and FC United of Manchester Women (3-1 at home), and they will be coming up against a Halifax side who are well-accustomed to the third tier. Although the visitors head into the tie bottom of the FAWNL Northern Premier Division, with one point to their name so far, they still represent a strong challenge to contend with. Shields, meanwhile, hope to reach the second round proper for the first...
South Shields FC •

Gowans: SSFC Women need to "dust ourselves down" after defeat

The Mariners fell to a 90th-minute winner from Chester-le-Street Town Ladies’ Jenny Ashton, which condemned the team to their first defeat in all competitions this season. “To lose to the last kick of the game is probably the hardest way to finish a game,” she reflected. “From my view it was just overall unlucky; the defence were solid all game, and for us to come away without any points feels unjust.”Imagining what the dressing room must have been like afterwards shouldn’t be too difficult, but...
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