Nathan Bell

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

Aspiring sports journalist

Two 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 •

Head coach Miller looks back on "rollercoaster" season for SSFC Women

Heading into the new year, the lasses were undefeated and were in a great position to secure the league title and get that long-awaited promotion into the National League.

By March, the club had a new head coach to steer the proverbial ship (Miller), and the team put together a run of six wins in nine matches from that point.

It wasn't enough for the title, but it could be enough for third place in the table if things go Shields' way over the coming weeks.

“As everyone knows in life, you get
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women win 3-2 against Sunderland West End on final day

An Ellie White brace and an Eve Gatens strike was enough to give South Shields Women something to smile about heading into the summer, with a 3-2 victory against Sunderland West End Ladies.

It was a bittersweet occasion at Wearmouth CW on Wednesday knowing that promotion was off the cards but Shields played for pride, and duly delivered with a result that reflected the team’s desire throughout the season.

They had to dig deep for it at times, with West End taking the lead twice through Alex Ro

Not a Lasses' Game? - Where We Are Now (#1)

For the north east’s first England representee Aran Embleton, (one of only 229 esteemed individuals with a cap to her name) that evolution has come at a pivotal moment for the region - a far cry from the “different” experience she faced during her heyday.

“There were 20 of us, maximum, that really played in the whole of the north east,” she recollected.

“There wasn’t a lot of funding involved. We didn’t have much. We struggled to get travelling expenses, we bag-packed. We did everything we cou

Not a Lasses' Game? - Player Pathways (#2)

More and more support is being given to younger girls so they have the opportunities and time to develop as a player before universities can set them up for success.

Monkwearmouth Football Academy, spearheaded by ex-professional footballer Jamie Chandler, has recently introduced a girls’ programme which aims to do exactly this.

“I think our approach has always been to give opportunities to passionate young players,” he shared.

“We have been very fortunate to have had a number of girls join us

Not a Lasses' Game? - A Journalist's Take (#5)

It is more important than ever to be ‘with the times’ in football, when it comes to being savvy and aware of social media trends.

Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC have bolstered themselves internally in recent years to provide first-class coverage of every game for their supporters to enjoy.

The independently-run Durham Women have done the same and it can be argued this coverage does wonders for a club needing to rely on themselves, rather than having a known brand name to attract supporter

Not a Lasses' Game? - Through The Lens (#4)

Johnston recently kick-started his own professional career by securing a full-time job with Creo Comms, a self-described ‘creative marketing agency’ based in Sunderland.

But he insists he couldn’t have done it without taking that daunting first step.

“Initially at the very beginning, I was running a local Italian car club here in the North East,” Johnston reflected.

“Purchasing a camera was really to improve our social outlook at future events. It was right round the time of the pandemic whic

Not a Lasses' Game? - The Grassroots Game (#3)

“It’s every other day I’ve got a young girl coming up to me and asking where they can find a team to get involved,” shared South Shields Women head coach, Alex Miller.

The secondary school teacher beamed with delight as she recounted the handful of experiences like it in recent weeks and months, and she for one is over the moon with how the women’s game is evolving.

It is becoming clear that the Lionesses’ success has created a trickle-down effect where teams at all levels can benefit from the
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women end season with away trip at Sunderland West End

Hopes at securing the league title were mathematically ended on Sunday when the lasses lost 5-1 to likely champions Barnsley FC Women, meaning Wednesday’s game has only pride going for it.

A win, depending on results over the coming weeks elsewhere, could be enough to secure Shields a top 3 spot for the first time since 2018-19.

Points-wise, this is already the Mariners’ most successful campaign, with their 41 points eclipsing the previous record of 38 points set in 2018-19, their inaugural ca
South Shields FC •

Greener: "It didn't seem to be SSFC Women's day" against Barnsley FC

South Shields Women forward Sophie Greener says it "didn't seem to be our day" following the side's heavy 5-1 defeat to champions-elect Barnsley FC Women on Sunday.

The damage was done midway through the first half, when two quickfire goals stunned a Mariners side who started the day with a slim, but not impossible, crack at the title.

Regardless, the result was a difficult one to take given it mathematically ended all hopes of a title win, and promotion into the FA Women's National League.

S
South Shields FC •

Foster "really proud and grateful" to be a part of SSFC Women despite title heartbreak

South Shields Women’s Josie Foster says she is “really proud and grateful” to be a part of the club, despite the news that silverware is no longer on the table this year.

She came on during the second half as the Mariners fell to a 5-1 defeat against champions-elect Barnsley FC Women, in what was the team’s final home game this season.

Shields made things difficult for themselves when the Reds scored twice in three minutes to secure a commanding 2-0 lead which couldn’t be overturned, even afte
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women's promotion dream ended with heavy Barnsley FC defeat

Results elsewhere mean that the Mariners can no longer win the NERWFL Premier Division, and they head into Wednesday’s fixture against Sunderland West End Ladies with pride to play for.

Although Shields will be comforted by Jaz Elliott-Wood’s bullet header (similar to her goal against Spennymoor Town Ladies a handful of weeks ago) it was nowhere near enough to match things up.

The first real chance on Shields’ part came from a free-kick. Elliott-Wood drifted the ball into the box and found Zoe
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women play Barnsley FC in final home match of the season

A long season for the Mariners is drawing to a close with two remaining fixtures in the way: promotion challengers Barnsley next, and Sunderland West End Ladies the following Wednesday.

This weekend’s tie appears to be the game to look out for, with both sides in the running for a shot at the title, and by extension, promotion.

Shields’ 3-1 win against Alnwick Town Ladies during midweek owes itself well to that, but hopes of lifting silverware this season were hurt by last Sunday’s 3-0 loss ag
South Shields FC •

May and White look back on "special night" with SSFC Women

The pair found the back of the net en route to Shields’ impressive night-time win, which guided them above and beyond the 40-point marker for the first time in this division.

First off, May got her long-awaited goal after she was afforded some time and space in the box - thankfully for her it swerved around the Alnwick defender before flying into the net unopposed!

“The girls are always behind me - the girls, Alex and Michael have been hoping for me to score for a long time and it’s finally ha
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women defeat Alnwick Town 3-1 in season-first evening game

Natalie May finally got her cherished goal for Shields in the first half, and her strike proved to be the difference-maker until Ellie White came on after the break and found two of her own.

Alnwick did grab one back from a corner, but they were unable to mount the pressure and challenge the Mariners, given there was only a few minutes remaining by the time they scored.

Shields grew into the game after a fairly cagey start - Sophie Curle was through on goal, and since she was surrounded by a h
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women host Alnwick Town under the 1st Cloud Arena floodlights

South Shields Women take on Alnwick Town Ladies at 1st Cloud Arena on Wednesday in what will be the team’s first midweek game of the season (7:30pm kick-off).

It is potentially a good time to play the first of the side’s three remaining games this season, to shake off any feelings of regret or sorrow after Sunday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat against Wallsend BC Women.

Alnwick will no doubt be feeling the same way given they will want to put their 3-1 home defeat to Barnsley FC Women behind them.
South Shields FC •

McMahon: SSFC Women were "nowhere near our best" against Wallsend BC

Michaela Sewell struck twice in the first half before Jessica White followed it up in the second half to put the Mariners to the sword.

The rain, which had called off a few games in the region, could have played its part but McMahon insists that can’t be labelled as an excuse.

She said: “The puddles weren’t ideal and did make it hard to play at times but it was the same for both teams and not really something we can use as an excuse.

“We were nowhere near our best today. The performance was m
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women defeated 3-0 by Wallsend BC in big promotion blow

The visitors were the stronger side from the off and they took the lead in the 23rd minute due to a fantastic free-kick outside the 18-yard box from Michaela Sewell.

Sewell found her second before the break, and Wallsend added another mid-way into the second half via Jessica White to cap off a match to forget for the Mariners.

There was one change from the side which swept past promotion contenders Spennymoor Town Ladies last week, with Josie Foster replacing Phoebe Dixon on the bench.

A torr
South Shields FC •

Rescheduled Wallsend BC match up next for SSFC Women

The games keep on coming for South Shields Women, who take to 1st Cloud Arena this Sunday for the rescheduled game against Wallsend BC Women (2pm kick-off).

Visitors Wallsend head into the tie winless in four (in all competitions) while the Mariners are in good form, having won their last three matches.

However, there is no room for complacency since the promotion fight is getting tighter with each game - Shields are currently two points off top spot with four games left.

This Sunday's game a
South Shields FC •

Elliott-Wood "never really forgot" heavy Moors defeat as SSFC Women exact revenge

The Mariners made up for the heavy 8-2 loss by securing a win which puts the team within striking distance of Barnsley FC Women, as well as the Moors who sit top.

Elliott-Wood insists that result was on the back of her mind and it served as a good reminder for the side about what it meant to lose by such a big margin, and what it means to turn things around now.

“For me personally it was definitely in the back of my mind and to be honest I never really forgot about it,” she reflected.

“In the
South Shields FC •

Curle and Elliott-Wood provide SSFC Women with first-class Moors win

The lasses responded in style to the team’s 8-2 defeat at The Brewery Field last month and they went two goals up in the first 20 minutes.

First, Jaz Elliott-Wood off an Eve Gatens corner, and second Sophie Curle who scooped up a mistake at the back and drifted around Sophie Miller before finding the net for the seventh game in a row.

Spennymoor did pull one back thanks to Autumn Colledge, but the game was seen out, not before Shields added to their tally through Curle who slotted home her pen
South Shields FC •

SSFC Women prepare for Moors test at Harton Welfare

South Shields Women host Spennymoor Town Ladies, in what will be the fourth tie between the two sides this season, this Sunday at Harton Welfare (2pm kick-off).

The previous three affairs have all been goal fests, so it is no surprise that the Moors and Shields have the division’s strongest offensive records, not only in terms of goals scored but goal difference as well.

Spennymoor have scored 64 to Shields' 58, and Shields are one up in the goal difference battle (+34 compared to +33).

The v
SportsByte •

The "really long journey” after life-changing ACL injuries in football

Sometimes you need to appreciate the “little moments” in life because all it takes is a snap to turn things upside down.

For football coach Alex Miller, her two ACL injuries have put her in an unforgiving situation where it isn’t known whether she will play for her side again.

The ex-South Shields Women skipper has stepped up in the meantime as head coach, as she looks up at a potential promotion into the FA Women’s National League with the Mariners.

She has recently undergone a procedure to
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